How to Remove Paint From Wood Doors & Refinish Them
- 1). Lay drop cloths on the floor, preferably outside or in the garage with the door open. Place the saw horses on the drop cloths. Lay a door on the saw horses. Insert the Phillips head drill bit into the drill and remove all hardware from the door.
- 2). Put on your dust mask and safety glasses. Place the 150-grit sanding belt on the hand-held belt sander and plug it in. Use the belt sander to sand all of the flat surfaces of the door until the paint is completely removed. If there are no panels on the door you can completely strip it with the sander without using a paint stripper. Sand both sides of the door and the edges.
- 3). Use a spray-on paint stripper for door panels where the belt sander cannot reach. Put on the rubber gloves before using the stripper. Use the stripper according to the directions. Strip both sides of the door. It may take more than one application to strip the old paint. After applying the stripper, allow the door to dry. When dry, use the sandpaper to sand the panels of the door to remove paint stripper residue.
- 4). Open the can of stain and thoroughly stir it with your paint stick. Dip the rag into the stain and apply it to the door. Wipe off excess stain with a dry rag. Allow the door to dry overnight and stain the other side.
- 5). Use the soft bristle paintbrush to apply the water-based polyurethane. Allow it to dry and then apply the polyurethane to the other side and both edges. Water based polyurethane dries within about two hours. Reinstall the hardware.