Question for Citristrip users

[FloridaClay]

I am using Citristrip to take off an old very badly done refinish someone did on my little Pathé cylinder machine's wood case years ago. If you've used the product, how long do you recommend letting everything dry after removing the old finish and cleaning everything up with mineral spirits before starting to apply the new finish?

Clay

[Henry]

Please take care to provide adequate, and I do mean abundant, ventilation. I had a bad episode awhile back using orange stripper, such that I won't use it anymore.

[Phonofreak]

I have been using Citristrip for close to 20 years. I like it because it doesn't stink or get you high like the traditional strippers. I pour a little on a flat surface, and when the old finish lifts., I use a plastic putty knife to scrape it off. The Citristrip will not damage the plastic knife. For a vertical surface, I pour on a paper towel and blot it on the surface. Again, I use the plastic putty knife. I wipe all of the stripped surfaces with a paper towel. After that's done, I'll spray water on the surfaces and dry with a paper towel. That removes the residue. Citristrip is water soluble.I don't like mineral spirits because it is slow, and I don't like the smell. What I like about Citristrip is that it sill leave the stain and doesn't damage glued joints. After the item is clean from residue and dry, I use Howard's Restore-A-Finish, and it brings back the original stain. Then for the outer finish, you can use Bulls-eye Orange Shellack or varnish.
Harvey Kravitz

[FloridaClay]

Thanks to all for the comments. The Citristrip worked extremely well and was super easy to use. I did notice a headache the day that I used it, but that may have been a coincidence. I think if I should ever use it on anything larger than the small Pathé case I will try to work outside just to be safe.

Harvey, I had already begun applying new shellac before reading your suggestion about Restore-A-Finish and have mentally filed it away to try next time. I have used it to good effect on some damaged surfaces, but never thought to give it a try in this context and am intrigued by the idea.

Clay