Painting
If you don't complete your painting
project in one day, wrap your paint brush and tray
in a plastic bag. They won't dry out and you will only
have to clean-up once. Also, the proper way to wash
out a brush is to run it under warm water gently tapping
it on the sink bottom. Run a wire brush through the
bristles to remove all of the paint build-up.
Prepping
a Surface
Prepping a surface for paint is an important step
for a successful painting project. Scrape all loose paint or varnish,
lightly sand the surface and then clean with TSP, a heavy-duty
cleaner called Trisodium Phosphate. TSP comes in a powder, which
mixes with water. This is perfect for prepping kitchen cabinets
for new paint. It removes grime and years of dirt.
Since distressed paint is in style, TSP is an excellent
cleaner for already painted and distressed surfaces. Keep it in
a spray bottle for quick and easy use. You can find TSP at hardware
stores. It is important to follow the directions on the package
for measuring and always use gloves.
Furniture Painting
Enhance a vintage chest with a fresh coat of paint. It's easy! The overall painting process takes a few hours, but in a weekend you can easily transform dated and worn pieces into trendy fresh design elements for any room.
Preparation: Dull any glossy finish by sanding with medium grit sandpaper. Dust the area and then clean with either mineral spirits or tri-sodium phosphate (TSP). Once the surface is dry, priming is the next step. Oil-based primers are recommended for heavily varnished finishes or dark woods. Water-based primers will be fine for previously painted new wood or light wood. Painting with a high quality product is extremely important. Satin, semi-gloss and gloss finishes are perfect for furniture. Two to three coats are suggested. Mini-rollers and foam brushes are great for furniture because they eliminate bristle brush marks. It is important to apply the paint evenly with light coats. |
Steve
Burgess Visual Arts
