Antique Wood Table Restoration: Stripping a 19th Century Choate Hollister Dining Table

Restoring antique furniture is one of my favorite parts of what Bryan and I do here at Woodsongs by Russell. There’s something incredibly satisfying about taking a piece that’s been loved, used, and worn for more than a century and slowly revealing the beauty that’s been hiding underneath. In this project, we’re continuing our restoration of a 19th‑century Choate‑Hollister dining table — a gorgeous piece with great bones and a whole lot of history.

In Part 2 of this series, we focused entirely on stripping the old finish. This table had layers of age, grime, and stubborn finish that needed a combination of methods to remove. Here’s how we tackled it.

Using Walnut Shell Blasting to Remove Heavy Finish

We started with walnut shell blasting, which was an interesting method for removing finish from antique furniture without damaging the wood underneath. Walnut shells are gentle but effective, and they’re especially helpful on pieces with curves, carvings, or detailed profiles — all of which this table has in abundance.

The blasting helped us break through the toughest areas quickly, giving us a clean starting point for the more delicate work ahead.

Citristrip for the Stubborn Spots

Once the blasting was done, we moved on to Citristrip. This step is all about patience. We applied a generous coat, let it work its magic, and then scraped away the softened finish. Some areas needed a second pass, but that’s the nature of antique restoration — slow, steady, and methodical.

Citristrip was especially helpful on flat surfaces and spots where blasting can’t quite reach. We might try something different in the future, though, due to its propensity to discolor wood.

Sanding the Curves and Details

After stripping, we sanded the table by hand and with power tools, depending on the area. The curved aprons and legs required a lighter touch, while the flat surfaces could handle more aggressive sanding.

This stage is where the wood really starts to reveal itself again. Seeing the grain come  to life is always one of our favorite moments.

A Whole Lot of Elbow Grease

There’s no way around it — stripping antique wood takes time and effort. Between blasting, stripping, scraping, and sanding, this table demanded plenty of hands‑on work. But that’s exactly why we love these projects. Every hour spent brings the piece one step closer to shining again.

What’s Next

With the finish fully removed, we’re ready to move on to repairs, refinishing, and bringing this Choate‑Hollister table back to its former glory. If you haven’t watched Part 1 yet, you can check out the deconstruction process on our YouTube channel.

Stay tuned for Part 3, where we’ll start rebuilding and refinishing this beautiful piece.

Happy woodworking!