NEVER USE CITRISTRIP EVER AGAIN! - Wood Stripper Comparison

In this video I compare 2 common chemical strippers for wood projects. I also try out a very new product called QCS by Stripwell. Link is below to order:

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[craigathonian]

Years ago i played with the original Citris-trip and found that it's more of an oil-based stripper, where upon coming across disgustingly old, worn out furniture, it actually helped the old dried out wood grain. yes it darkened the wood, BUT so does any finish. One of the old classical wood finish techniques uses Boiled Linseed Oil as a pre step to finishing the wood, where it requires a long period for the oil to solidify. A great step that brings out the iridescence of certain woods like Mahogany and Curly Maple, but also conditions and helps preserve the wood in or for the long run.
This is where, i found, the beauty of using Citristrip ... primarily for the neglected, worn out, old timers !

My latest experimental escapades has led me to a new favorite for stripping all the rest. Just as you found here with your experiment, i love this new solution from Gary at Stripwell. My toying with the products application was the opposite, i brushed it on in several thin coats, {since it was a vertical slant.}....waited and scraped...then scrubbed...then rinse-wiped clean. What a wonderful miracle product ! Not caustic, nor overly smelly ! Really has become a favorite for old classically finished wood. { Meaning, don't know how it would work on Polyurethane types.} Thanks for a great demo-video. Really appreciated this....especially love seeing a great classic table ❣

[lateinbloom]

I've been using Citristrip for well over a decade mostly because its low VOC (better for the environment and I can apply it inside), easy to apply (I like that it's a gel) and its ubiquitous at Home Depot. But a few years ago, I noticed the consistency of it was suddenly a bit different. The thing that made me first notice is was that I actually use it to clean brushes dried hard with latex paint, and I used to be able to just rinse them clean with water before after the stripper had done it's job. Now the Citristrip is a bit stickier, which theoretically should be better, but it doesn't appear to be water-soluable like before, so now I have to use odorless mineral spirits or Krud Kutter to "rinse" the stripper, and it usually takes like 5 days soaking in Citristrip to get the brushes clean instead of like 1.

It turns out that the old version of Citristrip used to contain NMP, which is why it actually worked _and_ was water-soluable. But an EPA ban went into effect around 2018 or so. A couple references here:

[bloomingbeauty]

The best I've seen on this. I watched someone else brag about citrus strip but I kept wondering why the wood looked darker and thought it was just my mind. This explains allot.

[watcherwatchmen]

Lots of older furniture had shellac finishes and don't require fancy strippers. To check if it's shellac:
Dab a little denatured alcohol or lacquer thinner on one section of the wood finish. Try to find an inconspicuous spot.
If it is shellac finish, it will liquefy and dissolve.
You know it's a lacquer finish if the test spot turns a little white in color.
A result of softening without dissolving suggests there is shellac present but that it has been mixed with lacquer as well.
Any other response and you're probably looking at a different wood finish. Use the over the shelf strippers for that.

[lisachap]

Thank you for this video! I would never have found QCS Stripwell without it and for me, that stuff has been a miracle. I'm refinishing two 8' solid mahogany doors and sidelights that had a thick layer of cracking marine varnish and the Citristrip was getting me nowhere. Enter QCS and their great customer service and I'm well on my way. Even though this isn't the application the product was made for, and it's taking multiple passes and lots of scraping, I don't mind spending more to use a product that doesn't take my breath away and isn't caustic. QCS is the real deal, and your demo was so helpful.

[margesullivan]

I am perplexed by many of these comments because I just started to strip my hardwood floor a couple of days ago with Citristrip, and I am amazed at the transformation so far! I wish if I could actually show you. It looks like the brand new hardwood floors that were installed 18 years ago. I will admit that it is a messy job, but folks like this guy are giving me more tips on how to reduce the mess. My daughter and I have paced ourselves to strip small areas at a time twice a week for as long as it takes to complete 900+ sq ft, plus several stairs. The alternate is $3, 200 to sand etc, which will require us to leave our house for a few days, plus pay for a pod rental to store our furniture, and pay to have furniture removal and replaced.

[jodidavis]

You’re not only great a blending color on woods and restoring but you’re educational as well. Thank you.

[captaincoyote]

Oh woe is me…woe is me! I have a quart of citristrip in my basement! I won’t use it anywhere near wood projects now! I guess I’ll use the rest of it to strip old paint from painted-metal projects. Nice comparison…I can’t help but feel that it must have been a pain to get the three sections looking the same. I personally HATE veneer, but that table is gorgeous. So nice job on your presentation.

[aok]

I recently used QCS and found it be a treat to remove finish with. It was so easy to use and had the best results. It’s pricy (shipping is the main problem) so I will buy larger quantities to offset that cost. Thanks for a terrific comparison.

[janetchase]

Thank you for your video. A note: mineral spirits are very toxic and you should wear gloves, eye protection and a respirator when using. I'm afraid others will watch this and assume mineral spirits are non toxic.

[AFistOcat]

Just so you know, if your varnish is thin, the QCS Stripwell works great, but if it's thicker, it's best to use Klean Strip or something else. You also end up using a ton of the product, and at $37.95 a bottle, plus $7 in shipping, it's definitely a costly investment.

[TrentTomas-bp]

Made us buy the strip well and can confirm this stuff gets the job done well.

[mkofftiger]

THANK YOU! I have awaited a video demonstrating exactly this.

[islandblind]

A tip: I've found that lacquer thinner works better than mineral spirits as an after-wash. Lacquer thinner will often remove any softened finish that your scraper missed, especially if the piece has a lacquer finish.

[meme-duxj]

For stain removal i used a scrub brush and liquid sandpaper. Wipe off residue immediately with a paper towel and let dry. Maybe even dry in the sun. Works beautifully.

[corinnestevens]

Thanks so much. I have a bedroom set from the 70’s that I have been wanting to strip, but it has lots of “nooks and crannies”. Also I need to do the work in the room that it’s n. This will be perfect for the job. Thanks so much for your research!🙂

[janehop]

I have never tried QCS but I had the other 2 brands. I was taking the finish off of 2 bathroom cabinets, preparing to paint them. I tried Citristrip and and didn't like the results. So I bought some Clean Strip, and it worked GREAT. I had results similar to yours. I agree, I would never use Citristrip again.

[TheJoetuffguy]

For me, when using Citristrip, once I’ve scraped the excess off you have to follow up with a cleaner to remove the residual. I use a product called Afterwash. I’m doing exterior redwood trim to be painted so I think it can handle the Afterwash which seems like lacquer thinner. Doing vintage furniture I would caution against it since you want as gentle of a product as possible on delicate highly prized items

[joelongtin]

Very unhappy with Citistrip. It left splotches on my dining room table. I’ll never use it again. Other products have not darkened or left splotches on previous projects.

[wiseoldman]

The citress wax addiitive made it almost impossible to remove from a metal hvac register. Worked after a few days, but the stuff turned into good that was almost impossible to wipe off. Back to old school stripper.