Help with identification of worktop finish

[banjerbill]

Hi. I have always thought my wooden worktops were oiled but recently there has been some minor flaking of the finish. Ah. I thought varnish then, so I applied some varnish stripper to an piece I had removed during a minor remodel of the kitchen. There was no bubbling of the finish but I was able to get down to bare wood fairly easily with a scraper. The scraping produced a fine orange/ yellow dust but none of the horrible gunk normally associated with chemical stripping. Trying scraping on a non treated part did not produce the same result so the stripper must have had some effect. Any ideas as to what the finish is and the best way to remove it. I would prefer not to sand it heavily. I don't mind a light sand at the end to give a nice finish. I intend to oil it when stripped.

Thanks

Bill

 

[ED65]

From what you've described I'd say the worktops are varnished Bill, but it's difficult to say without knowing what's in the stripper and other variables.

Trying scraping on a non treated part did not produce the same result so the stripper must have had some effect.

What did you get? There are a few rule in/rule out tests to help determine if you're dealing with shellac, a varnish of some sort or lacquer and these include examining the scrapings produced by a sharp edge, looking for small flakes, curls or dust.

 

[banjerbill]

The scrapings are small flakes.I did wonder if they were shellac, the finish was quite impervious to to heat and water, would shellac do that? I have only tried a cheap stripper ( Panther paint and varnish remover) so far. It has made the removal of the finish easier and I like the fact it does not produce a smelly, sticky mess. I am not sure if it is actually removing the finish or just softening it to make scraping easier.

 

[ED65]

I am not sure if it is actually removing the finish or just softening it to make scraping easier.

I think the latter.

Depending on what they're made from strippers work in different ways, some do the classic thing where the old finish sort of melts into a liquid and others make the finish sort of peel off the surface. It sounds like you're using a stripper that's not quite strong enough but is still capable of softening the finish, which is good enough sometimes IMO. Better than the mess you sometimes have to deal with!

How's the Panther stuff for smell?

 

[banjerbill]

Hi ED65,

Sorry for the delay in replying, been away. You have confirmed my thoughts on this matter, better a little more scraping than a gooey mess

The Panther product smells of Ethanol but it doesn't list ingredients on the tin. Its not too fumy in use so I think this is the road I will go down.

Bill