Looking at an old piece of wooden furniture with potential can be both fun and daunting. You know exactly how you want it to look like, but there are carvings you need to remove first. We will teach you how to get carvings out of wood so you can get that refinishing project started.
2 Ways To Remove Wood Carvings
Instead of buying new furniture, you can turn it into a personal project. Can you imagine what you could do with old furniture if you knew how to get carvings out of wood? Let’s start!
How To Remove Carvings With Filling
Things you need:
- High-quality wood filler
- Sanding block
- Gloves
- Sandpaper with different grits
- Palette knife
Step 1 – Clean any filth stuck in the crevice of the old furniture. Try using an old toothbrush and some soapy water.
Step 2 – Dry the furniture.
Step 3 – Prepare your wood filler and follow package instructions. A crucial part of knowing how to get carvings out of wood is the quality of your chosen wood filler. Make sure to use high quality and high-performance products.
Step 4 – Press the filler on the carvings and remove any excess with your palette knife to create a smooth surface.
Step 5 – Reapply filler if necessary. Generously apply wood filler in the wood carving until it is completely filled.
Step 6 – Sand the surface. Sandpaper with 100-grit or less will remove any excess fillers on the surface while smoothing it. After putting your sandpaper on your sanding block, start sanding the surface.
Step 7 – Prepare the piece for painting using 150-grit sandpaper, and smoothen it further with 220-grit sandpaper.
Step 8 – Prime and paint your furniture. It is best to use an oil-based spray primer and spray paint for better durability.
How To Remove Carvings Using Sanding Tools
Filling, as a method of removing carvings, is advisable for decorative inlays or carved-out designs. But some furniture is more ornate, with bulky designs and deeper recesses. You will need some help from sanding devices.
Things you need:
- Radial bristle discs
NOTE: Bristle discs are usually color-coded based on grit. When dealing with softwood, be careful with your grit choice. DO NOT use a steel brush when dealing with the crevices of ornate carvings to avoid damage to the wood.
Step 1 – Follow manufacturing instructions when using the sanding disc.
Step 2 – Follow safety precautions when dealing with any machine.
Step 3 – Turn on the machine and start sanding the ornate designs. You can change your bristle discs for other areas you deem necessary.
TIP: Use 50-grit discs for more aggressive pieces, like hardwood. The 80-grit discs are safe for softwood and can work well with cracks and crevices.
Conclusion
If you understand how to carve wood, it might seem like a waste to eliminate ornate carvings or decorative inlays. But creating a new piece from an old one is the best way to make use of old wooden furniture. The act of creating is the reason why knowing how to get carvings out of wood becomes a valuable asset in woodworking. Learn more wood carving tips here!