The order in which you paint occasionally
puzzles a beginning finisher, particularly with a chair or a bench. Generally, the best policy is to start with the areas that
are least seen—bottom parts, legs, and the like. For the last coat it is best
to begin high and work down.
On panels, the molding must be brushed first, then top to
center and bottom to center. After the primary panel, brush the top and bottom
rails and legs. The rails are brushed right to center, then left to center. Don't
work an area from corners to the center.
On chair or table legs, paint around with the turnings,
holding the brush close to the ferrule.
Some Helpful Hints
Here are tips on painting outdoors after you have put a new
rail on the porch stairs, or put a fresh piece of siding on the outside of a
house, or maybe even tackle a bigger job.
1. A white blotter will give you a great idea of the color
of paint when it is dry.
2. Never paint in very cold or frosty weather.
3. Do not paint wet or moist surfaces, or dirty and greasy
surfaces.
4. Shellac any knots in the wood to avoid pitch or sap from
coming through the paint.
5. Do not paint over blistered, loose, cracked, or peeling
paint. Take out these imperfections.
6. Do not apply second or third coats until former ones are
dry.
7. Putty all holes after the first or priming coat.
8. Don't use cheap paint oils—use only pure linseed oils.
9. Do not use old worn-out brushes and expect a great job.
10. Brush the paint in. Don't flow it on.
11. Do not prime using ocher or cheap paint.
12. Several thin coats are better than one thick coat.
13. Any paint can become insect repellant by adding a couple
of teaspoonful of citronella, D.D.T., or oil of wintergreen to every gallon.
14. When you keep paint, it is a good idea to show on the
outside label the color and how much is still in the can.
15. To get rid of lumps in paint, cut a piece of screening
to the size of the paint can. After stirring the paint, insert the circle of
screening and let it settle. Any lumps would settle below the screen,
maintaining the top portion clear.
16. Paint odor can be minimized by adding a teaspoonful of
vanilla to every gallon of paint.
17. For painting a ceiling, a long-handled roller, made by
securing to a broom handle, would save much bending and ladder moving.
18. Steps that are in current use must be painted alternate
steps at a time. While one set dries, paint the other set. Thus an entrance
needed is never be blocked.
When painting walls, naturally, it is commonly needed to
size the plaster or surface on which you are going to paint. A plaster wall
would have a considerable amount of absorbent capacity for whatever liquid.
Apparently if this wall could be coated using an impervious film and the
absorption of the paint diminished, the net result might be a saving in expense
and an even color on the surface when it dries. When part of an area —hardware
or decoration—is to be left unpainted, you could mask the area or cover it with
petroleum jelly such as Vaseline. After painting, any droppings can be removed
readily.
© 2011 Tip Writer