How Much To Paint Motorcycle Frame

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From the cabinets in your kitchen to a piece of furniture to a fun craft, there are plenty of wood items you can pigment. And i of the best things almost wood is that information technology accepts a variety of paints well, whether you opt for something that's acrylic or an oil-based formula. Painting wood is an easy manner to change its wait and give it some new personality, but it'south not e'er clear what paint to use for different projects and applications. Here'due south what you need to know nigh the right pigment to use for wood.

What's Your Project?

First, it'southward essential to effigy out the nature of your projection, significant you'll need to determine not only what y'all're painting only also where it's located or going to be used. Are you lot painting shingles on the exterior of your dwelling house? Or are you painting an outdoor deck that'll see a lot of foot traffic? How nearly kitchen cabinets that people volition touch often, or a bathroom shelf that'll be exposed to loftier humidity from the shower?

Knowing things similar whether or not it'southward going to get wet, how often someone'southward going to use it or touch information technology and what overall effect or look you want to accomplish are all essential for determining what paint you should use for the project. Forest accepts a very broad range of paints and stains, but each of those can have differing levels of durability and protection. Some paints are better than others in sure situations, and you lot'll need to know your particular situation before you make your choice.

Paint Types and Formulas

The bang-up matter nearly wood is that, as long as you utilize primer to it in about cases, any type of paint works well on it, depending on what part you lot need your project to serve. Generally speaking, paints to apply on wood are water-based or oil-based. Acrylic and latex are the two most common types of water-based paints, while oil-based paints fall into 2 categories: synthetic or natural. Each of these is better than others for specific applications.

Latex paint is quick-drying, easy to clean and ameliorate for the environment than other types. It'south as well less probable to discolor over time. Notwithstanding, it'southward not the nigh durable choice, equally information technology can scratch and chip easily. Information technology'due south best for indoor woods items or surfaces that you won't touch or employ very often, such as rarely used piece of furniture, storage cabinet doors, stair spindles and picture frames. Latex paint is often the nearly affordable type.

Acrylic paint is ideal for dwelling house exteriors, although you can too employ oil-based paint here. If the exterior is made upwardly of unlike materials, such every bit stone and wood, you're meliorate off choosing acrylic. Materials similar stone and masonry demand breathable paint to allow moisture and water vapor to laissez passer through, and oil-based paint prevents this. Acrylic craft paints are too widely available and easy to use and make clean up if you're doing a uncomplicated DIY craft project using wood.

Synthetic oil paint, which is besides called alkyd, is the best selection for applications where you need a lot more than immovability. Think everyday article of furniture that'll get used and jostled often, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, interior trims like baseboards and door frames that'll get kicked and touched often, and flooring indoors and out. Oil-based paints are more than rigid than flexible, water-based types then they're less probable to chip — even when people are walking on them — and they're also easier to wash clean because of this.

Natural oil paint, called linseed, is all-time for arts and crafts projects on which you desire to create a warm, anile patina. Information technology's typically much more expensive than the synthetic multifariousness, which is why it's best for smaller projects.

Prepping for the Project

To help the pigment attach well and to ensure the finish looks its all-time when everything is dry, it's important to prep your wood to get it ready. If you're painting an outside surface or item, give everything a thorough launder to brand certain there isn't whatever dirt, dust, moss or algae, all of which can proceed the paint from sticking to the surface. If you're painting wood deck piece of furniture, a tabular array or something else for the outdoors that people will impact ofttimes, it'south a wise idea to sand information technology before painting to give the paint something smoothen to adhere to. Splinters and cracks can also keep the finished product from looking its best, and they're uncomfortable to sit down on. Let the surface or or item dry out fully before applying the paint, and give it a few days to dry and start curing before you use it. It's all-time to do outdoor wood-painting projects while the weather is dainty.

If you're repainting an interior surface or furniture such as kitchen cabinetry or a dresser, take a look at the existing paint or finish. If the particular'southward electric current paint isn't chipped, cracked or bubbling, you can usually pigment correct over information technology; just sand the wood areas briefly to give the surface more texture for the paint to stick to. If y'all don't need to remove cabinet pigment, information technology's still a skillful thought to clean the doors with a heavy-duty solution similar TSP to eliminate all traces of grease and grime. If you do need to remove a little bit of paint, such as a few chipped areas, y'all can sand them down. However, you may need to utilize paint stripper for items with paint that'due south very damaged. This is a production that softens the old paint and then you can scrape and wipe it all off.

A discussion of caution here: If your cabinets or other painted dwelling house surfaces were last done in the 1970s or earlier, they may comprise lead-based pigment. If you use a testing kit and decide there'due south lead in your paint, call the National Lead Information Center or your local health department to find out how to proceed.