There will come a time when your wooden furniture needs some repainting jobs, and to do that, you need to remove first the old paint coating. In doing so, you will need to have excellent paint stripper to help you completely remove the old paint without harming the wood surface.
Today, there are several brands of paint stripper in the market. Even the professionals are having a hard time choosing which one fits the job. The reason for that, there are numerous variables to be considered such as safety of an ingredient, easy to use, price, and surface applications.
In order to ease your task, we have written here a complete guide to help you choose the best paint stripper for 2020. Likewise, we also included a comparison chart and an in-depth product review for our top 8 best paint strippers for wood 2020.
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Best Paint Stripper For Wood (January 2022) – Top 8 Picks & Reviews
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR The Best Paint Stripper
Most people are having a hard time choosing between price and quality. For us, we still stick with quality as long as the price does not greatly differ and the job gets quickly done. Below are some of the important variables you need to consider upon choosing a good paint stripper.
1. Surface Application
Before you buy, recall what surfaces do you intend to use the paint remover. Different surfaces have varying effective means of removing the paint. For instance, large areas like metal sidings, removing the paint by heat application is more efficient compared to scraping it or applying paint removers.
Paint removers are ideal for wood furniture or other projects which requires care in the removal of the old paint coat.
2. Chemical Safety
These products contain chemicals which might be dangerous to one’s health. Make sure to check the label if it does not contain any methylene chloride or dichloromethane (DCM) ingredient.
Despite its strength, DCM has short and long-term health consequences. Its short-term effects include dizziness, lightheadedness, and short quick breaths. This happens because DCM inhibits the blood from dissolving oxygen.
Meanwhile, its long-term effects include kidney and lung damage, and worse is cancer. DCM is a potential carcinogen which is why it is strictly prohibited to be used as an ingredient.
3. Categories of Paint Strippers
Aside from different brands, this product also comes in various form and applications. The three main types of paint removers in the industry are solvent, caustic, and biochemical.
However, due to technological advancement, a few other categories are present in the market. Choose the one which best suits your purpose and gives you more convenience.
- Solvent:
This type removes paint by gradually decreasing the bond between paint molecules which are then dissolved for easier removal. Aside from the harmful DCM solvent, other solvents used are acetone, toluene, ketone, and alcohol. - Caustic: This type is made from sodium hydroxide or lye solution. When applied on top of the old paint surface, it creates a soapy reaction which gradually loosens the grip of the paint towards the surface.
To be effective, it needs to stay on the paint surface for a few hours as its action is gradual. This type is slower compared to solvent paint strippers but they are much safer to the user. - Biochemical: This type works similarly to the solvent ones. The main difference lies in the source of the solvent. Biochemical paint strippers use solvents that are extracted from plants, thus, safer and more environment-friendly.
Examples under this type include citric acid, terpenes, lactic acid, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) which is derived from soy oil and paper.
Top 8 Best Paint Stripper for Wood reviews 2020
1. Dumond Chemicals, Inc. 3301 Smart Strip Advanced Paint Remover
FEATURES
- Capacity: 1 gal
- Removes: any coating from surfaces
- Area Coverage: —-
- Material: biodegradable, water-based
| pros | cons |
| • Biodegradable, water-based | • Slightly messy but works as expected |
| • Easy to apply | ? |
| • No harmful odor | ? |
Best for Overall
We choose this paint stripper as our top pick for 2020. It amazingly exceeded our expectations from this product.
First of all, this product is extremely friendly because it is biodegradable, water-based, and no harmful caustic ingredients. It can work almost seamlessly with any types of surfaces starting from wood, metal, stone, concrete, plaster, glass, and plastics.
This paint stripper can take out 5 layers of paint from a window panel molding. Just apply a thick and even layer of this product on top of the paint surface and cover it with plastic. Let it stay for around 24 to 36 hours. It is expected to dry and crack. This makes it much easier to peel off from the surface.
Overall, this remover can cover around 50 square foot of painted area with a 1/8” to ¼” thickness of application. This is a total saver.
What we don’t like about it is expected to apply a thicker amount for paints with several layers.
2. Dumond Chemicals, Inc. 1005N Paint Remover
FEATURES
- Capacity: 5 gal
- Removes: any coatings
- Area Coverage: —
- Material: biodegradable
| pros | cons |
| • Friendly and biodegradable | • Consumes much water if the application is thick |
| • Easy to rinse off with water | ? |
| • Easy to use and effectively removes paint | ? |
Best for Heavy-Duty Tasks
In our second spot, still another product from Dumond Chemicals, Inc. but this one is much suitable for heavy-duty paint removal.
The chemicals used for this product are biodegradable, no harmful odor, and safe to use.
This remover can take out lead paints even for a 1800s house. Just apply about 1/8” to ¼” thickness of this material on top of the paint. It is slightly messy but no worries as it is not harmful to the hands and easy to rinse off with water. After, let it stay for around 36 hours.
As expected, it can remove the paint without scratching the wood surface. It makes the job more convenient to accomplish.
Note: It is slightly messy to use and you need to use a large volume of water if the application is thick.
3. 2 Pack Trimaco 10188 Paint Stripper
FEATURES
- Capacity: 2packs (100g x 2)
- Removes: paint
- Area Coverage: removes up to 1.34gal
- Material: safe to use
| pros | cons |
| • Budget-friendly | • Needs to apply more when removing oil-based paints |
| • Simple to prepare and use | ? |
| • Easy to peel off | ? |
Best for Budget
This paint remover hit our third spot because it provides effective paint stripping abilities at such an affordable price.
Each pack has the capacity to remove approximately 2/3 gallons of paint. First, dissolve 1 pack of this remover in water. The water added must be enough to make the whole solution slightly viscous but not that diluted.
After creating the solution, apply a sufficient amount on top of the paint to be removed. Let is stay for like 24 hours. The result is a hardened layer of paint which is very easy to crack and peel off.
Overall, this product works best with water-based or oil-based paints and latex.
4. Citristrip QCSG801 Paint & Varnish Stripping Gel
FEATURES
- Capacity: 1 quart
- Removes: dried latex and oil-based paint
- Area Coverage: —-
- Material: biodegradable, zero methylene chloride
| pros | cons |
| • Able to strip multiple layers of paint coats | • Nothing can go wrong with this product |
| • Pleasant citrus smell | ? |
| • Biodegradable ingredients | ? |
Best for Pleasant Smell
Hitting the fourth spot on our list is the Citristrip Paint Stripper. Aside from effectively removing multiple layers of latex and oil-based paints, you would love the citrus-like smell it has which makes it suitable for indoor applications.
Another worth admiring from this product is its moisture holding capacity. Most paint strippers require sitting for like 24 to 36 hours on top of the paint. Along the process, you need to make sure that it stays moist to continually act on the paint to be removed. However, for this one, it can hold much moisture needed for sitting 24 hours without any hassle.
Overall, this product has wide versatility, price is competitive, and quality is exemplary.
5. Blue Bear 605 Pro Coating Remover
FEATURES
- Capacity: 128 oz
- Removes: enamel, urethane, varnish, lead-based paint,
- Area Coverage: 125 sqft
- Material: biodegradable, zero methylene chloride
| pros | cons |
| • Versatile remover | • Slightly messy but manageable |
| • Simple to prepare and use | ? |
| • Works on various surfaces | ? |
This fifth paint stripper in our list has great versatility as it can remove lead-based paints, varnish, enamel, urethane, and water-based paints. Aside from being effective, you are safe to use it as it does not contain methylene chloride, zero caustic chemicals, and harmful fumes.
You can vary the thickness of application depending on the thickness of the paint to be removed. The average horizontal coverage of this remover is 125 sq foot for every gallon while for vertical application, that is, 75 sq foot for every gallon.
Likewise, you can readily apply this paint remover at various surfaces such as wood, drywall, rubber, plastic, tile, veneer, and terrazzo.
6. Elephant Snot Graffiti Remover
FEATURES
- Capacity: 1 gal
- Removes: paints, varnish, enamel
- Area Coverage: —-
- Material: biodegradable, no harmful fumes
| pros | cons |
| • Simple to use | • Leaves little spots which can be wiped off with a cloth |
| • Excellent remover for porous surfaces | ? |
| • Easy to rinse off | ? |
Best for Porous Surface Removal
When you want to remove paints and other coats from any porous surfaces such as wood or unsealed walls, this sixth product on our list are most suitable.
Its chemical composition has an enhanced penetration ability to seep through pores and gradually dissolve those coats. After applying a sufficient amount of this remover on the surface, let it sit for a few minutes. You can also slowly brush or wipe the painted surface to help hasten the process. After, you can rinse it with water from your garden hose.
Sometimes, it leaves small spots on the surface which needs to be manually wiped off with a cloth
7. D Super Remover New Generation Paint Stripper
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FEATURES
- Capacity: 32 oz
- Removes: polyurethane, lacquers, shellac, latex, oil-based paints, varnish, epoxy
- Area Coverage: —
- Material: biodegradable, zero methylene chloride
| pros | cons |
| • Fast acting | • Nothing can go wrong with this paint stripper |
| • Very straightforward to use | ? |
| • Safe to use on concrete, wood, and metal surfaces | ? |
Best for Overall
We like this paint remover as it has the best quick action time, a minimum of 15 minutes up to 30 minutes. Unlike other products which need to sit for like 24 to 36 hours, it does work but takes a long time for a reaction to complete.
Similar to other known products, this one is very safe to use for it does not contain methylene chloride and no harmful fumes. So far, it works as expected in effectively removing various coats such as latex, oil-based paints, lacquers, shellac, polyurethane, and epoxies.
We find this product as a complete saver, helping you to renovate your old-looking furniture.
8. STRP Max Paint Stripper Liquid
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FEATURES
- Capacity: 64 oz
- Removes: paint, varnish, enamel, epoxy, polyurethane, lacquer
- Area Coverage: 25 sq ft for vertical area
- Material: biodegradable, zero methylene chloride
| pros | cons |
| • Quick reaction time | • So far, this product has always lived up for its claim |
| • Less messy application | ? |
| • Can remove multiple layers | ? |
| • Safe on your concrete, wood, and metal surfaces | ? |
This product is best known for its fast-acting stripping action. After applying a sufficient amount to cover the entire coat, let it sit for 5 minutes. Once 5 minutes is up, you can slowly peel off the paint from the surface without damaging it.
This paint remover is very safe to use on your wood, concrete, metal, and glass surfaces. The biodegradable and zero harmful fumes making up this remover make it good for indoor applications.
