Stripping latex paint + stain

[CajunRider]

I built a couple cabinets and stained & waxed them but thanks to Andrew (aka Maxwell Smart), LadyRider wants them painted white. No problem I said, so I lightly sanded the surface, then paint them with a good latex primer, then painted them with white latex acrylic. The latex does not adhere well. I've gotta strip!

I've got the boom box and the appropriate music. What else do I need to strip the acrylic latex, primer, Johnson wax, Minwax stain etc. ?

[Postman]

I never thought of this before until Marc Adams mentioned it in a class at his school. He said he could remove finish from a piece with a card scraper faster than someone could do it with stripper and avoid all the mess and smell. To prove it he gave a little demonstration. He even did irregular shapes with the curved portion of a scraper. It would be tough for someone not used to using a card scraper or knowing how to sharpen one though. Otherwise, Bix stripper seems to work pretty good. If you are planning on still making the cabinets white you might want to try spraying white lacquer.

[TDHofstetter]

I b'lieve I agree that a scraper would do your best jib right now - for most of it, anyway. Really tough little spots can be stripped like crazy with DOT3 brake fluid (I'm serious, try it).

I don't think you really have to get everything off the surface; if you can bring it to a smooth surface, then shellac it, I think you'll find that paint will adhere to the shellac just fine.

-- Tim --

I'm a
HOARSE
WHISPERER.

[CajunRider]

In the end I took a heat gun, tape a 1 1/2" putty knife to it and went to town. Took the latex, wax, poly right out in no time. A couple hours of sanding afterward and all is well. No chemical.

[dbriski]

I think your trouble spot was the wax. The primer should be able to stick to the stain, but nothing is going to stick to the wax. Next time before painting I thing you can use a solvent like Mineral spirits to take off the wax.

Glad you got it done easily.