To Paint or Not to Paint

Some woodworking enthusiasts find that painting their projects would be an insult to the beauty of the wood. For the most part they couldn’t be more correct. Part of the beauty of making something out of wood is giving it a nice stain and letting the grain of the wood speak the story that it has written all over it. 
For some people though they really prefer the look of painted wood and feel that it is the only way to get that completed and professional appearance that you see so many times in different furniture stores. 

When you are painting you will want to always paint along with the grain of the wood. Take your time to make sure that the wood is actually soaking up all of the paint that you are putting down on it. There is a happy medium when it comes to applying paint. Too little paint and you are going to be doing layer after layer. If you use too much, then it can clump up and streak which will only make you have to go back and sand it down before applying another coat. Because the wood you are working on will vary in terms of how much paint or stain it is able to absorb you should always do a little trial run to check for its absorbability.

The humidity and weather will play a big part in how well your wood absorbs the paint that you are applying. When you do go to paint the wood make sure that you don’t do it in direct sunlight. You may think that the direct sunlight is actually helping the paint dry quicker and it does. That, however, is not what you want from your paint or for your wood. You want the paint to take its time while it’s drying so that it has plenty of time to absorb as much of it as it can. You can choose from latex or oil-based paint. Paint comes in different sheens that range from flat to glossy. If you think you are going to be cleaning the surface a lot, then a glossy paint is typically recommended. In terms of choosing latex or oil-based the decision is mostly on personal preference. Remember though that if you are using oil-based paint that you will have to have supplies like mineral spirits readily available for cleanup. Because of all the chemicals that are involved when it comes to oil-based paints, many people simply opt for the water-based simplicity of latex paints which come in any color you could possibly imagine. When it’s time to paint your wood make sure that you have thoroughly sanded away any burbs and splinters that may have been created through the process of crafting. Then you will want to take a rag and make sure to wipe away all of the small sawdust particles that can cling to the wood. Once you have done this you are ready to begin your painting or staining. Whether you choose paint or stain it is important to pick one of them so that you help seal and protect the wood, even if it’s a clear polyurethane satin finish. Protect your wood.
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