Spray paint is applied at high speed and adheres to surfaces perfectly, especially porous surfaces.
To remove spray paint from wood, sand it off, use baking soda and boiling water, or use acetone.
To remove spray paint without damaging the wood, use solvent-based products or sand it off.
Can You Remove Spray Paint Without Damaging The Wood?
You can remove spray paint without damaging wood by using solvent-based products, such as acetone or rubbing alcohol, or by sanding it off.
Solvent-based produces will dissolve the paint particles and soften the coating, making it easier to scrape it off. They are wood-friendly and won’t damage its surface (as long as you don’t leave them for too long).
Sanding will also remove paint without damaging the wood surface and will remove imperfections and smooth out the surface, at the same time. It involves wiping the surface with sandpaper until the paint is worn off.
Spray paint is hard to remove from porous surfaces as it’s applied at high speed and penetrates the surfaces deep.
How To Remove Spray Paint From Wood?
To remove spray paint from wood, do the following things.
- Sand it off.
- Use Baking Soda and Boiling Water.
- Use Acetone.
- Use a Paint Stripper
1. Sand it Off
Sanding is the easiest way to remove spray paint from wood. It involves gradually wiping sandpaper to the surface until the paint is worn off.
Sanding will also remove imperfections and bumps from the surface and leave a smooth surface behind.
To sand paint off, use medium or coarse-grit sandpaper as fine-grit sandpaper won’t remove it.
The tools you need for this project are listed below.
- Sandpaper of different grits
- Paper towels
- Rags
- A vacuum
- A power sander
Here is how to do it:
- Wipe the surface with a clean rag to remove dust nibs and filth that can dull the sandpaper.
- For large surfaces, use a power sander.
- Sand the surface with medium or coarse-grit sandpaper (150-grit and downwards).
- Inspect the wood every 5 minutes to see if the paint is off.
- Once the paint is removed, clean the wood with water to remove dust.
2. Use Baking Soda and Boiling Water
Baking soda is naturally occurring alkaline powder that will remove paint and won’t damage a wooden surface.
The tools you need for this project are listed below.
- Baking soda or soda ash
- A bowl of hot water
- Rags
- A waterproof bag
- A turning stick
Here is how to do it:
- Mix a few tablespoons of baking soda in hot water.
- Stir the mixture thoroughly using a turning stick.
- Leave the mixture to settle for a few minutes.
- Damp a rag with the mixture, and use the dampened rag to wipe the surface repeatedly.
- Wait 15 minutes.
- After a while, baking soda will cause the spray paint to bubble.
- Wipe the bubbled paint with a clean rag or scrape it off.
- Clean the surface with water and leave it to dry.
3. Use Acetone
Acetone is an alcohol-based solvent that will penetrate and dissolve the paint particles and liquefy the coating. Once the coating is liquefied, wipe it off with a rag.
Rubbing alcohol is a natural spray paint remover, so you can use it as an alternative to acetone.
The tools you need for this project are listed below.
- A bottle of acetone
- Clean rags
- A paint scraper
- A waterproof bag
Here is how to do it:
- Clean the painted surface to remove dust and dirt.
- Pour acetone into a bowl and dip a rag into it.
- Use the dampened rag to wipe the painted surface repeatedly.
- Wait 15 minutes.
- Wipe the surface off with a rag or scrape it.
- For leftover paint, re-apply acetone and re-do the steps.
- Remove the acetone residue from the wood using a clean rag.
- Allow the surface to dry.
4. Use a Paint Stripper
Paint strippers are chemical-based products formulated with paint-removing additives. The paint-removing additives penetrate and dissolve the spray paint, causing it to lose adhesion and come off.
The tools you need for this project are listed below.
- A paint stripper
- A putty knife
- Paintbrushes
- Rags
- A waterproof bag or paint container
- Mineral spirits
Here is how to do it:
- Apply the paint stripper compound over the painted surface.
- Press the compound until the surface using a paint scraper and wait 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, scrape the compound with the spray paint together.
- Wipe the wood with mineral spirits to neutralize it.
- Leave the surface to dry.
Other methods you can use:
- Pressure Washer – You can use a pressure washer to remove spray paint, but it’s not recommended. That’s because pressure washers use a lot of water, which can be bad for a porous surface such as wood. However, use pressure settings between 1500-3000 PSI if you want to do it.
- Paint thinner – for removing dried spray paint.
- Sandblasting – for large surfaces.
- Scrape the paint off – for small stains.
- Soap and water – it works for fresh stains.
- Nail Polish Remover – Only if it contains acetone.
- Vinegar.
