Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - redo nice table

I have a kitchen table that is about 15 years old and we put all kinds of junk on it. Paper had stuck to the table and my dad had stained it I think and left it outside to dry and all kinds of flying dust and things like that got on it and the stain dried with it on there. The paper was also painted over. How would I strip the old stain and redo it so that it's nice looking again? By the way it's probably been stained 5 times over the years and it's never been stripped.

Do I need to go out and buy an electric sander? Please recommend one too. Thanks, Chet.

Chet,
I transferred your question here... this sounds like George's bailiwick and I'll bet he will be able to help out.

Chet:

A good stripper will remove the finish and some (not all) of the stain. You may have to use a paint scrapper to remove the newspaper (after you apply stripper). You may need to bleach the table after it's been stripped - this will depend on the color you have vs. the color you want. Oxalic acid (wood bleach) is available in most better paint stores and is quick and fairly easy to use.

As for suggesting a sander, I'd let your pocketbook be your guide, combined with how much you plan to use the sander in the future. Personally, I've been using the same Makita palm sander (1/4 sheet) for 15 years - I can't seem to wear it out. Bosch, Ryobi, Craftsman and Black & Decker all make good sanders. Look for one that's easy to handle, does what you want, has available service and is priced right.

If you have any further questions, feel free to drop back by this forum or email me.

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George T.