When to Strip Furniture?
DIY Furniture Repair
If you've scrutinized the finish and learned it's not original or if the refinishing job is a bad one, you may want to strip and refinish the piece.
Another prime candidate for stripping and refinishing is a piece that was originally finished in a wood finish but has since been painted over. Usually you'll find that the paint was applied directly over the original finish, making it easier to strip because the paint pigments have not been able to penetrate the wood grain. Stripping and refinishing this kind of piece often exposes beautiful wood hidden under an opaque finish.
Keep in mind, however, that some pieces were made to be painted; stripping them usually uncovers inferior or unmatching wood pieces that will not finish well. If the paint has been applied to raw wood, it's usually an indication that the piece was meant to have a painted finish. In such cases you may still want to strip furniture paint to repaint the piece, or you may be able to simply repaint over the old color. To find out whether the paint is directly on the wood surface or atop another finish, scrape the paint or apply solvent to it in a small, inconspicuous area. If the paint pigment remains in the wood grain, it was probably painted originally; if not, the paint is over a natural wood finish and refinishing may be in order.
Another case for stripping is if the finish is so far gone or damaged that it simply cannot be renewed. Old finishes can become brittle or flaky as a result of age and mistreatment. Finishes can also be damaged by water or fire and often can't be restored without stripping and refinishing. Water can make some finishes lift and discolor permanently, while heat and smoke can blister or blacken finishes.
Yet another reason to strip and refinish a piece: You don't like the finish color or shade. For example, if you're putting a piece in a particular room or with another piece of furniture, you may want to blend or match the room's other furniture or the area's decor. But again, before deciding, consider the piece itself: If it's a valuable piece blessed with an original finish, you'd be better off saving the finish and buying another piece of furniture to fill your need!
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Source: B.Hingley
