Tips.. Tips... and Tips

Mkay, friends. In the last 3 days I've gotten 1 FB message, 2 texts and a phone call asking me questions about projects that you guys are doing. LOVE <3 that I can help. However, I am not an expert and am taking things step-by-step and often bouncing ideas/questions off my family, my local Home Depot paint guru (who now recognizes me and asks about my projects.. yah, it's that bad), and the internet. So, after a lengthy email to my girlfriend who is also pregnant taking on her own DIY project, I decided to do some research to find some tips/helpful do's and don'ts of painting wood furniture. I hope this helps. Take a look (via http://asoftplace.net/):

Do what YOU like. I’m not telling you to paint grandma’s priceless armoire, but what good does it do to live with a piece of furniture that you don’t like just because someone says, “But it’s WOOD”?

Start small. Pick something inexpensive and small to practice on. A old wood chair is a perfect first project.

Clean it really well. A good scrubbing with soap and water will do a long way for creating a surface that will hold paint. If it’s really greasy or grimy, there are products you can use to clean it better but I’ve never used them.

Evaluate the surface. If its slick and shiny, you’re going to need to sand or use a liquid deglosser (liquid sandpaper). If not, you can skip the sanding step.

You may not need to prime. I only prime if it’s a piece that will get heavy use. If it’s just going to get looked at vs. sat on, jumped off and banged around, I usually won’t prime.

If you’re using a dark color, get a tinted primer (in black or grey). It makes getting an even finish so much easier.

If you want a really durable finish, you can use an oil-based primer with a latex paint. Just don’t use latex paint over oil-based PAINT. That will make you a big ole mess.

Take care of any drips or streaks when they happen. When I’m spray painting, I keep a foam brush handy to wipe away and runs or drips.

If you miss one, wait for the paint to dry REALLY well and sand it away then repaint.

Be patient! This is the hardest step for me. Letting your piece dry well between coats will go a long way toward avoiding problems in the finish like bubbles and crackling.