Family heirlooms, an old favorite chair, or just a change in decor—sometimes it makes eminent sense to strip an old varnish, shellac, or paint finish from a still usable piece of wooden furniture. Once the piece has been brought as close as possible to its original raw wood state, it can be restrained and refinished. The process can result in a reconstruction of a valuable old piece at much less cost than buying a new piece.
The amount of up-front expenses for a furniture stripping business depends on the level of service you plan to provide to your customers. The least expensive setup (and the most expensive service to sell) is hand stripping; considerably more expensive are operations that offer cold and hot dipping. For hand stripping, you’ll need tarps and level work surfaces, a selection of stripping chemicals, a set of brushes of various sizes and firmness, wooden scrapers, disposable rags, and steel wool. You’ll also need containers for the safe disposal of flammable rags and other debris, and for disposal of used chemicals. To protect yourself, you’ll need heavy rubber gloves, safety glasses or a face shield, and a strong ventilation system. For dipping, you’ll need several tubs large enough to fully accommodate a piece of furniture and hold caustic chemicals and acids. You’ll also need to arrange for safe disposal of large quantities of the solutions. Charge an hourly rate for your time and the use of chemicals, tanks, and tools. You can offer the client an estimate of hours, but be careful not to lowball the price for intricate pieces.