Wood Stripping with Walnut Shell

An interesting string about stripping a wood ceiling with Walnut Shell Grit on contractortalk.com. The before and after pictures in the initial post are terrific examples of what can be accomplished with the right blast media.

Some highlights from the job:

• Used Extra Fine Walnut Shell Grit at 60 psi
• Screened media after blasting to re-use multiple times
• Stripped both lacquer and stain
• Minimal etching - sanded areas where grain was raised

Thanks to 'Sand Pot' in Seattle for the post.

Fluted Wood Columns

Question: I am needing to strip 80 years worth of paint from some fluted wood columns. The columns are in good condition and worth saving if I can remove the paint effectively. What media and grading do you recommend? How much media do I need?

Response: Corn cob grit will be the best option to protect the wood from being etched or 'raising' the grain. If the paint is too difficult to strip using this media then a Fine Walnut Shell Grit will be a better option taking care to protect the wood surface. Depending on how difficult it is to strip the paint I would conservatively suggest 2-3 pounds per square foot will be required.

Slightly edited from the Shop Talk Forum.

July 4th BBQ

Take a look at your wood deck or concrete or stone patio while you are grilling over the weekend. Does the surface need some attention? A few tips to begin the cleaning and restoration process:

Wood Decks -- Dry abrasive blasting with Corn Cob Grit can strip dirt, soils, stains and coatings without damaging the wood or raising the grain. Avoid harder media such as sand (don't ever blast with silica sand anyway) or glass or coal slag as these will definitely etch the wood and can cause damage. The main benefit of dry abrasive blasting versus high pressure water is that the dry surface can be re-sealed immediately - a one weekend project instead of two or three.

Concrete or Stone Patios -- Stripping paint off concrete surfaces requires a more aggressive abrasive such as Crushed Glass Grit. Stone which can be softer than concrete might demand Crushed Glass Grit but Walnut Shell Grit may be a better option since it is not as aggressive and stone is easier to clean (typically no paint or coatings to remove).

Final tip -- Enjoy the BBQ first, then start the work!

Wood Stripping

Question: I’m renovating a house built in 1917 and I would like to remove the years of built up paint off the 6 panel doors and trim that was used in the house. There are 15 doors and probably a 1000 lineal feet of various finish boards. Which Machine and Media should I purchase? Approximately how much media will I need?

Response: Either the KF110DM or the KF65DM will work with the Corn Cob Grit or Walnut Shell Grit. The Walnut Shell Grit will offer a more aggressive stripping action but the surface may require some sanding depending on the surface finish you require. Corn Cob Grit will be more ‘sensitive’ to the wood surface but will not strip as quickly.

The quantity of media required will depend on how aggressive the blasting that is required. Multiple layers of durable paint will demand more media; however, both Corn Cob and Walnut Shell are re-usable. If you are blasting in a clean area you can pick up the media and re-blast it a few times – just be careful to not pick up anything that could be blasted and damage the wood surface.