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Latest Articles
Regular Vacuuming of Your Rugs
If an area rug under the table, to remember, the equivalent boundary extends parties, carpet should always be greater than the table itself. I...
on Mar 27, 2020
Pros and Cons to Having a Chicken Pen When Selling
Have you been noticing a lot of people getting chickens in their backyard lately? It is a growing trend even in metro places like Seattle and...
on Mar 23, 2020
Do-It-Yourself Helpful Hints for Painting
DIY painting can be an enjoyable low-cost way of improving your home interior. It is one of the easiest home improvements which most people can do...
on Mar 22, 2020
If You Own an Older Home, You May Want to Consult a Professional
We all have heard of many older houses described having good bones. It's intended to mean that an old house is solid, suitable for living, stands...
on Mar 22, 2020
New Jersey Local Builders Associations
Find a local builder or council, please contact the home builders' association (HBA) in your area.
on Mar 22, 2020
Popular Articles
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
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Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
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Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
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Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
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Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
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Removing Paint or Varnish from Wood
by Michigan State University on May 12, 2012
Using paint remover or related chemicals may cause extensive damage to the finish, so please consider some of these other options to be green and safe.
Wipe off water-thinned paints with a wet cloth. Wipe surface immediately with a dry cloth to prevent water damage to the finish. Caution: water will make shellac finish sticky.
Remove fresh oil-based paint by rubbing the spot with a cloth saturated in liquid solvent-base wax.
For paint stains that have dried, cover the spot with boiled linseed oil. Let stand until softened; then remove with a cloth dampened with boiled linseed oil. If any paint remains, remove with rottenstone and oil, using the same procedure as prescribed for alcohol stains; or gently scrape off the paint with stiff cardboard, a plastic bowl scraper, or a fingernail.
Removing by Sanding
- Sanding with power or hand sander. If you are working on a fine piece of furniture, sanding is not recommended because it also removes the wood.
- When sanding old paint or varnish from the surface, use open coat, coarse sandpaper. Fine sandpaper clogs up quickly, making it ineffective as a paint remover.
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Michigan State University
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Articles Archive
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