The Best Paint for Unfinished Pine Desk Furniture
It is important to choose a strong finish when applying paint to a piece of furniture. Oil base paint will give you the strongest finish compared to latex paint. Latex paint is a water based product that does not withstand excessive use. Latex paint is porous, which means that it is flexible. You do not want flexibility when you paint furniture because it will easily chip or scrape off. Oil base paint provides a solid, airtight finish that does not easily chip. Does this Spark an idea?
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Preparation
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Lightly sand the surface of your desk using a 220-grit sandpaper, including all edges. Unfinished furniture often has sharp edges. Always sand with the grain of the wood, not against it. If you sand against the grain, you will create scratches. Use a clean, soft rag to wipe off the dust after you finish sanding.
Priming
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If you use an oil base paint, you should also use an oil base primer. Your local paint store will have both paint and primer. Cover the desk's pulls and hinges with painters tape, or you can remove the hardware for easier painting. Use a four-inch or six-inch sponge roller to paint the flat areas. This will give your desk a fine finish. Use a paint brush for all areas that you cannot roll. Apply primer, and allow it to dry. Primer usually dries within two hours or less.
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Sanding
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Use 220-grit sandpaper to lightly sand the desk after primer dries. The purpose of using primer is to raise the wood grain and to provide a base coat for your paint. Primer also helps to seal the wood. When you sand a primed piece of furniture, it will leave behind a smooth surface for your paint.
Painting
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Pour approximately one quart of paint into another paint pot. Add 1/4 of an inch or three caps of paint thinner to your paint. Thoroughly stir the paint thinner into your paint. Paint thinner will keep your paint from becoming too sticky. Oil base paint becomes sticky and hard to apply very quickly. Paint thinner makes oil base paint easier to work with, and the application will be smooth and even. Allow oil base paint to dry overnight before applying a second coat.
Speed Dry
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Jap Dry can also be added to your paint to help speed the drying process. There are specific instructions on the label indicating how much product to use per gallon of paint. Jap Dry is often used by professionals when humidity levels are high. High humidity will cause all types of paint to dry much slower. High humidity levels can also cause your paint to sag on vertical surfaces. Do not try to apply your paint too heavily. Your desk will have a much nicer finish if you apply two lighter coats.
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