Replies

1. 
   Gretchen | Dec 11, 2004 04:09pm | #1

   I have done this and the answer is to work quickly and VERY carefully. I was fortunate in that I was removing shellac and therefore it was "only" denatured alcohol and very controllable.
     You can mask it off and then as you are working up to the leather just be careful that stripper doesn't wick under the tape.  Work in very small areas--is it paint (oh, lord!) or varnish, or shellac that you are stripping?

   Gretchen
1. 
   mtburton | Dec 11, 2004 09:19pm | #2

   Bad news Gretchen.  It's Polyurethane.  Did you mask it with masking tape?  I am concerned about the masking tape itself damaging the leather.

1. 
   Gretchen | Dec 11, 2004 10:40pm | #3

   Well, at least it is a clear finish and not paint.  My leather top was on a Victorian desk and so was a bit "separate"--the wood didn't actually touch the leather so I was able to just rub with my steel wool to the edge of the wood.  I may have used a ruler or shim to protect the leather while working close to it. Is your top the kind that is glued down?Gretchen

1. 
   mtburton | Dec 12, 2004 01:30am | #5

   Yes the top is glued down.  I think I will try the blue tape and work in very small areas.  Thanks for the advice.

1. 
   Gretchen | Dec 12, 2004 03:28am | #6

   And as you strip use something like a thin piece of cardboard butted up against the tape until you get all the liquid away from the leather--if that makes any sense.

   I am trying to recall what I did in more detail. I may have started out using a ruler--but it got contaminated so you need to use something renewable each time you come up to the leather.  Maybe poster board strips--or even laths.Gretchen

2. 
   lwj2 | Dec 12, 2004 01:20am | #4

   Any chance of removing the leather panel before you strip?The blue and green painters tape is fairly low tack, might not damage the leather, dunno.Good luck, let us know what you decide on and how well it worked.Leon Jester, Roanoke VA

2. 
   jazzdogg | Dec 12, 2004 03:41am | #7

   Before you grab a can of chemical stripper, you might want to try using a well-tuned card scraper - at least for the desk top; they're easy to control, and can leave a surface that's ready for refinishing, or a thorough sanding, starting with 220-grit abrasive.

   Good luck,

   -Jazzdogg-

   Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.

1. 
   Gretchen | Dec 12, 2004 05:47am | #8

   That could be the answer to prayer if the area outside the leather is not too large. Or if it is , if you could go "close", again working in small areas and strip near the leather. DON"T DRIP!!Gretchen

3. 
   JohnWW | Dec 13, 2004 06:31pm | #9

   Definitely try a card scraper first, if you damage the leather with stripper or tape there isn't a good fix.  A card scraper, properly sharpened, is a very effective tool, it is always my first choice for removing a finish.  A scraper is also much more pleasant to use than the chemicals.

   John W.