does anyone know the type of finish on a bowling alley?
i have access to a piece full width by 7′ long want to use it as a work bench top
i want to remove the finish and start new i think sanding would on kill the paper to fast any comments would help
Replies
Try a stripper.
right a stripper but im not sure what the finish is so im not sure what stripper to get
Easy to test. To test an unknown finish, first wet with denatured alcohol. If it gets tacky, the finish is shellac. (Not likely here.) Then do the same thing with lacquer thinner. If it starts to dissolve it is lacquer. If these two solvents don't dissolve it it is some kind of varnish. Methylene chloride is an active ingrediate in many of these. It is real nasty stuff so major (not just opening a window or two) ventilation is in order. The safe strippers, (this is a relative term) Peel Away, CitriStrip etc. work very slowly.
The stripper that will attach the most finishes and will be the fastest and most complete is one containing methylene chloride. Look for the one that is the heaviest. MC is heavy and the can that is the heaviest will contain the most concentrated MC.
You don't need to know the finish to use an all purpose stripper.Howie.........
Bowling alleys are not going to have a shellac finish nor are they going to have a lacquer finish. However, BOTH of these finishes will be removed by commercial strippers, as will the more probable varnish finish. Get the stripper that weighs the most in the can--it will contain the most methylene chloride, which is what it will take to remove the finish. Use in good ventilation, preferably outdoors.Gretchen
thank you all for your support, looks like it will be spring before i do any stripping outside of course so that gives me time to build the table and mount the top, again thanks a lot
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