Removing The Toxins From Refinishing
Posted by Paige
Starting a refinishing project this summer? And can’t stand the smell? Consider using eco-friendly refinishing supplies. They work just as well as the caustic stuff, but will leave you, and the environment, feeling better.
Traditional varnish and paint strippers contain highly toxic, and smelly, methylene chloride and other caustics. The Blue Ridge Eco Shop carries Back To Nature Ready Strip which is soy based, biodegradable and water-soluble. It is also easy to use, for us non-technical furniture refinishers. The paste changes colors when it is ready to be scrapped off. Simply spray with Ready Strip wash and scrap away. Ready Strip Plus takes off up to 5 layers of paint and vanish with one application.
Recently, a UVA School of Architecture professor and his student, came into the store to buy supplies to refinish several pieces of furniture. The next day he came back and was beaming about how well the stripper worked, ‘better than the caustic stuff,’ he said. And bought an extra gallon bucket of the stuff. At the Eco-Shop, we’ve refinished a few pieces of furniture including a chest, our dining room table and benches and most recently, a bed at the Habitat Store (thank you to those who attended our demonstration at the Habitat Store!) and have had success across the board.
Once finished stripping and sanding, try one of our many Velvit Oil stains to protect your project. The Velvit Oil is soy based, rather than petroleum based. It actually bonds with the wood, which leaves you with a long lasting product, one that won’t need to be refinished. Leaving your finished product, VOC-free and beautiful.
