How To Seal Acrylic Paint On Wood Effectively
Painting your wooden furniture with acrylic paint is a simple, easy, and fun task that you can conveniently do by yourself. DIY acrylic painting is a cool solution to your home renovation requirements. Instead of throwing away your mother’s old heirloom chair, why not update its look by giving it a new and fresh coating.
Giving it a paint makeover can significantly change its look. Thus way you won’t have to spend and buy a new piece of furniture and at the same time, you get to keep your mother’s precious chair. It’s definitely a win-win situation.
You can just easily buy a can of acrylic paint in your local home depot store. Just make sure that you get a good quality paint and the right of set tools for your redecorating job. Don’t forget to add a layer of coating, varnish or sealer over your acrylic paint to protect the paint from peeling, flaking, or chipping off.
An acrylic paint sealer is an important step in order to achieve a successful painting project. In this article, we’ll teach you some techniques on how to use acrylic paint on wood and seal it.
Here’s What You’ll Need:
- Sand Paper
- Cloth or Tack Cloth
- Wood Primer
- Paintbrush
- Sponge brush
- Acrylic Paint
- Wood sealant or Varnish
How To Use Acrylic Paint And Seal It On Wood
There’s nothing more frustrating that coming home and realizing that after spending lots of time and effort on your renovation project, your newly coated furniture is already chipping off on the sides. There are different ways to protect your paint from peeling or acquiring scratches. Just follow the instructions below.
1. Set-up your workspace in a well-ventilated area
Before you begin your renovation project, set-up your working space in an area that is well-ventilated. I suggest doing it outside in your backyard. An acrylic paint usually gives off a strong smell. This is why its important to work in an area with lots of room to avoid getting a headache from it.
2. Sand the surface
Use a 140-grit to 180-grit sandpaper to smoothen the surface of the wood. This will help prepare your furniture for the application of the acrylic paint.
3. Clean the surface
After sanding, clean the surface first. Make sure that there are no dust and dirt left on the surface. A wet cloth can do the trick. Wipe off the entire surface of your chair to get rid of any residue. Another option is to use a tack cloth to absorb the dirt easily.
4. Prime the surface
Inspect your chair and see if there are any cracks and holes in the surface. Then fill it up so that the surface is entirely smooth. Apply a primer over the entire surface. A primer will allow the acrylic paint to be fully absorbed by the wood.
5. Apply the acrylic paint
Apply a coating of acrylic paint over the chair using a paintbrush. Pick a nice and striking color to complement your room. If your living room is all white, you can use a red color to make your chair pop out.
6. Let the surface dry
Once you’ve finished painting the chair, let it dry for at least 24 hours. This allows the paint to be absorbed by the wood completely.
7. Apply a varnish or sealant
After letting the acrylic paint sit overnight, apply a coat of sealant or varnish. Using a sealant is important because it protects the furniture from peeling or cracking of paint. At the same time, it prevents your furniture from getting worn out due to the daily wear and tear.
Different Types Of Top Coat Or Sealant
There are different types of top coat that you can use for your painting renovation.
- Polyurethane. This type of top coat is usually used on stained wood. This may be durable but it can become yellowish over time.
- Furniture wax. If you prefer having a flat finish, then a furniture wax may be a good solution. It’s simple and easy to apply. Just apply a small amount wax on a clean cloth and rub it over the surface of your furniture. Let it sit for a while and buff it.
- Clear Top coat. This works best with spray painted furniture. If you want a glossy finish, a clear glossy top coat can do the job. This prevents your furniture from getting scratch marks easily.
- Glaze. A glaze also functions as a top coat. There are two kinds of glazes, a clear and dark. A dark glaze is more suitable for old furniture.
Tips On Applying A Top Coat Or Sealant
1. Apply thin coats
Some painters tend to speed up the process of sealing the paint by applying thick coatings. However, doing the exact opposite produces the best results.
2. Use a glossy top coat
Most high-gloss paints are tough and durable. This helps prolong the condition of your paint job. However, a glossy top coat depends on your preference. Not all painters want a super glossy furniture.
3. Let your top coat or sealant cure completely
Don’t mistake a dry coating for a fully cured finish. It normally takes up to three weeks until your furniture fully cures. Once the top coat dries, let it sit and breathe for at least three weeks before using it or putting heavy items on it. In case you put newspapers or magazines on top of a furniture that isn’t fully cured, the ink from the paper may get transferred to your furniture and leave a permanent mark.
4. Skip the top coat
In some cases, some furniture doesn’t require any top coats or sealants. This includes furniture or items that have a high-gloss paint which is very durable. At the same time, it is pretty easy to clean. Other items that don’t require a sealant includes furnishings that you don’t normally touch on a daily basis such as photo frames, figurines, and other decorative objects or furniture that are not of use.
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