Stripping Walnut

Q: How can I remove the flecks of white paint that remain in the pores of a walnut desk I’m stripping? The wood is veneer, so sanding is out of the question.

A: Walnut, like oak and ash, is an open-grained wood. This means it holds paint in tiny pockets below the surface, just as you’ve noticed. The good news is that the amount of sanding needed to remove the bits of white paint might be less than you think. I'd try gingerly with a palm sander and a 120-grit abrasive. Even with veneer, it’s unlikely you’ll go through. Use light pressure, especially around edges. Another approach is scraping with a cabinet scraper. Both methods remove a little bit of wood, but that's okay, even with veneer. Just be careful and proceed slowly. Sometimes a brass-bristle brush and paint stripper is effective with open-pored wood, too.