Researchers from Sweden and US have successfully developed the Transparent Wood as an eco-friendly alternative.
The treated material which looks like clear plastic, has all the same insulating and environment friendly qualities as regular wood but lets through much more light.
Researchers working on the product believe it could one day be used in construction and design as an alternative to plastic or glass, but there’s a long way to go before it makes it to your living room.
A group of scientists from the University of Maryland worked on this composite material. To create it, materials scientist Dr. Liangbing Hu boils the wood in a bath of chemicals, stripping away any lignin, which gives the wood colour.
As the New York Times reports, this leaves behind the basic cell structure of the wood. Next, he pours clear epoxy over the block, encasing and protecting it.
Dr. Hu has authored a paper on his team’s achievement, which has been published in the Advanced Materials journal. Speaking to the Times, he said: “This can really open applications that potentially replace glass and some optical material.”
Transparent wood is also being developed on the other side of the world, at Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.
Like Dr. Hu, Professor Lars Berglund uses chemicals to remove the wood’s lignin and replaces it with a polymer, creating fine strips of wood which are 85 per cent transparent, according to FastCo Design.
Berglund hopes the material will one day be used in eco-friendly solar cells, as a readily available and renewable alternative to glass.
The material does have its limitations, however. Currently, the blocks which can be produced are very small – the largest pieces made by Dr Hu have only been around one centimetre thick and a few inches wide, while Berglund’s sheets are generally paper-thin.
There’s also concerns about how affordable and efficient the brand-new technique could be made.
However, new technologies are always expensive at the start, and as research continues, the scientists hope the production process will become more scalable and affordable.
Solvent paint remover takes off all kinds of finishes, even contemporary ones. They are usually very gentle on the wood and won’t damage it, which is why they’re used in the antique trade. There’s no discolouring and solvents get the wood cleaner, deeper down into the grain. On the downside, you tend to use more of it so it can end up more expensive than a caustic stripper. Solvents can also cause burns, smell awful and must only be used in a very well-ventilated space. Last of all, you might have to work a bit harder to remove heavy paint build-ups than with a caustic paint stripper.
More expensive and messy to use
Not so good at removing heavy paint
No damage or staining
A clean, finer finish
Perfect is you want the natural look
The best product for stripping old, damaged items like beams
Caustic paint removers take off most finishes and are particularly good at getting rid of thick layers of paint and varnish. They give off fewer fumes than solvent-based paint strippers, are cheaper and tend to work faster. On the other hand caustic products usually contain a very strong alkaline which may react with chemicals in the wood resulting in staining or scorching of the wood. This is more common with dense woods such as mahogony and some types of oak, especially old oak. Caustic substances also cause burns if you get them on your skin.
Perfect for removing heavy paint build-ups
Great for complicated mouldings
Best reserved for stripping pine doors that will be repainted or stained
Works best of all on plaster, stone and metal (May not be suitable for aluminium)
What’s the best paint stripper for wood? You can always test drive a few different products to see which best suits the job and matches your capabilities. Just carry out testing in inconspicuous areas and keep your test areas small.
Does the paint you’re stripping contain lead?
Most paints manufactured before 1960 contain lead, so if you’re stripping something older than that it’s wise to check. You can pick up a lead testing kit at your local decorating centre or DIY store.
If you find lead the British Coatings Federation have produced a leaflet about how to deal with it, which you can read here: “Old Lead Painted Surfaces – A Guide on Repainting and Removal for DIY and Professional Painters and Decorators”.
How do chemical paint strippers work?
Chemical paint stripping and varnish stripping products partially dissolve the paint or varnish. You can buy paste and gel paint stripping products, handy because they’re so thick that they stick to vertical surfaces, perfect if the item you want to strip can’t be moved.
4 steps to stripping paint from wood
Obviously every product is slightly different. But as a general rule your first step is to apply a thick layer of stripper with an old paintbrush you can throw away afterwards. Make sure you force the product into any carved, intricate areas. Don’t paint it on like emulsion, dollop it on generously then work it into the surface
Step away! Different products work over different timescales. Leave it alone until the product has done its thing, according to the instructions
Once the paint has softened, scrape it off with a metal scraper. You can use steel wool to get rid of stubborn areas of paint or varnish, and old toothbrushes and wire brushes are also useful
If there’s still some paint left, reapply the stripper and go through the process again until it’s all gone. Then, if the instructions tell you to, wash the piece to neutralise the chemicals
Paint removal from wood – safety recommendations
Wear old clothes
Chemical paint strippers give off fumes, some of which are toxic. If the instructions say you should only use it outdoors, obey them!
Whatever product you use it makes sense to wear gloves and a face mask
To avoid causing damage to the surrounding area, lay old newspaper, a tarp or drop sheet underneath the item you’re working on
Never leave the lid off – you don’t want fumes evaporating into your workspace
paint remover and varnish remover products
We highly recommend Panther Paint and Varnish Remover, one of the best wood strippers on the market for day to day paint and varnish removal on flat surfaces. It’s great for removing varnish from wood, and paint. It’s a remarkable product, highly effective and incredibly fast, removing as many as six layers in just five minutes. It’s a gel, sticking conveniently to vertical surfaces. And it’s ideal for removing water, oil and solvent-based paints, varnishes and lacquers.
We also love Peelaway One and Peelaway Seven, both used to restore antiques and decorative items like carved fireplaces, coving and ceiling roses. They work by dissolving the paint and pulling it out of the nooks and crannies.
Peelaway 1 is better suited to paint aged 30 years and older, the old-style metal and lead based types. Peelaway 7 works better on modern paints dating from the last 30 years or so. For some projects you might need to bring both into play, using Peelaway 7 on the newer layers and Peelaway 1 on the deeper layers. Like many paint remover products it’s caustic, so always try a test patch first.
Here’s a link to an old blog post in which we give the Peelaway paint remover a rigorous trial.
You’ve stripped it. Now it’s time to choose your wood finish. We have a huge selection of amazing products designed to breathe new beauty into your wood, whether it’s a gorgeous old floor, a splendid piece of antique or vintage furniture, a pine door or rococo picture frame.
Here are some ideas to help you get creative with your good-as-new wood:
Polish it to a stunning mirror-like sheen with a deep-nourishing wax product
Colour it with a vast choice of superb wood stain shades
Oil it
Preserve it
Lacquer it
Dye it
Re-paint it
paint and distress it for a cool shabby chic look
Any questions? We’re always delighted to help. Just get in touch. Otherwise, we wish you the best of luck with your next wood stripping project.
