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- 1). Check and see what type of stripper is needed for your piece of furniture. Use a cotton swap to first apply a small amount of denatured alcohol and then lacquer thinner to see which one dissolves the finish. If the finish does not dissolve with either, you'll need a liquid paint stripper
- 2). Remove the hardware from the chest of drawers. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws that are securing the handles to each drawer.
- 3). Strip off the old paint and finish from the chest of drawers. Apply the stripper to the chest of drawers using a paintbrush or spray bottle.
- 4). Wait at least 10 to 20 minutes and then scrape the old finish off of the wood using a plastic scraper. Use a piece of steel wool to remove the old finish from corners or carved details.
- 5). Sand the surfaces to make them smooth and remove any left over patches of paint. Use a handheld sander with low-grit sandpaper and lightly go over the entire chest of drawers.
- 6). Clean off the chest of drawers to remove dust and other material using a vacuum.
- 7). Apply the new stain or finish to the chest of drawers with a paintbrush. Remove excess stain with a cloth or rag.
- 8). Apply polyurethane to the chest of drawers with a paintbrush to seal and protect the new finish.
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