Refinishing Question: Removing old stain/dye

[Chris Hedges]

I am refinishing a 1960 Brunswick Gold Crown pool table and have removed the finish with soygel. What is the best way to go about removing the old colorant before moving on to the new colorant?

Chris

[Scott Holmes]

Really depends on what is actually left on the table...

So called "green" strippers, in many cases do not remove all the finish. Color can be removed by bleaching but I suspect there is still finish on the wood. A chemical stripper with methylene chloride will remove the old finish and the old stains pigment. I would try that before attemping to bleach it, if it's even needed after the stripper.