How To Paint An Ammo Can

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From the cabinets in your kitchen to a piece of piece of furniture to a fun craft, there are plenty of woods items you tin paint. And 1 of the best things most wood is that it accepts a variety of paints well, whether you opt for something that's acrylic or an oil-based formula. Painting woods is an easy way to change its await and give information technology some new personality, only it's not ever clear what pigment to use for different projects and applications. Here's what you need to know virtually the right paint to use for wood.

What'south Your Projection?

First, it's essential to figure out the nature of your project, significant you'll need to determine not only what yous're painting but too where it'southward located or going to be used. Are yous painting shingles on the exterior of your home? Or are you painting an outdoor deck that'll see a lot of foot traffic? How about kitchen cabinets that people will affect frequently, or a bathroom shelf that'll exist exposed to loftier humidity from the shower?

Knowing things like whether or not information technology'due south going to become moisture, how frequently someone's going to use it or touch it and what overall effect or expect yous want to achieve are all essential for determining what paint yous should use for the project. Wood accepts a very wide range of paints and stains, simply each of those can accept differing levels of durability and protection. Some paints are better than others in certain situations, and y'all'll need to know your item situation before y'all make your choice.

Paint Types and Formulas

The great matter most wood is that, every bit long as you utilise primer to information technology in most cases, any type of paint works well on it, depending on what function y'all need your project to serve. Generally speaking, paints to use on wood are water-based or oil-based. Acrylic and latex are the two nearly common types of water-based paints, while oil-based paints fall into two categories: synthetic or natural. Each of these is improve than others for specific applications.

Latex pigment is quick-drying, easy to make clean and better for the environs than other types. It's also less likely to discolor over fourth dimension. Notwithstanding, it's not the most durable choice, every bit information technology tin scratch and bit easily. Information technology's best for indoor wood items or surfaces that y'all won't touch or use very oftentimes, such as rarely used article of furniture, storage chiffonier doors, stair spindles and picture frames. Latex paint is often the well-nigh affordable blazon.

Acrylic pigment is ideal for home exteriors, although you lot can also use oil-based paint here. If the outside is made up of different materials, such every bit stone and forest, you're better off choosing acrylic. Materials similar rock and masonry need breathable pigment to allow wet and h2o vapor to pass through, and oil-based paint prevents this. Acrylic craft paints are also widely available and piece of cake to use and clean up if you're doing a simple DIY craft project using wood.

Synthetic oil paint, which is also called alkyd, is the best selection for applications where you need a lot more durability. Think everyday piece 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 rigid than flexible, water-based types so they're less likely to bit — even when people are walking on them — and they're too easier to launder clean because of this.

Natural oil paint, chosen linseed, is best for craft projects on which you want to create a warm, aged patina. It's typically much more expensive than the synthetic variety, which is why it's best for smaller projects.

Prepping for the Project

To assistance the paint adhere well and to ensure the finish looks its best 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 wash to make sure at that place isn't whatever dirt, dust, moss or algae, all of which can keep the paint from sticking to the surface. If you're painting woods deck furniture, a table or something else for the outdoors that people volition touch ofttimes, information technology's a wise idea to sand it before painting to give the paint something smooth to adhere to. Splinters and cracks tin also keep the finished production from looking its best, and they're uncomfortable to sit on. Let the surface or or item dry out fully before applying the paint, and requite it a few days to dry out and starting time curing earlier you use information technology. It's best to exercise outdoor wood-painting projects while the weather is nice.

If you lot're repainting an interior surface or piece of furniture such as kitchen cabinetry or a dresser, take a look at the existing paint or finish. If the item's current paint isn't chipped, cracked or bubbling, you can usually paint right over it; but sand the wood areas briefly to give the surface more than texture for the paint to stick to. If you don't need to remove chiffonier paint, it's still a good idea to clean the doors with a heavy-duty solution like TSP to eliminate all traces of grease and grime. If y'all exercise need to remove a little chip of paint, such equally a few chipped areas, y'all can sand them down. However, yous may need to use pigment stripper for items with paint that's very damaged. This is a product that softens the old pigment and then you can scrape and wipe it all off.

A discussion of caution here: If your cabinets or other painted home surfaces were last done in the 1970s or before, they may contain lead-based paint. If you use a testing kit and determine there's atomic number 82 in your paint, call the National Pb Information Centre or your local health section to observe out how to keep.