skip to main content

Paint for bookcase - water based or oil

dchall_san_antonio

17 years ago

We just fired our painter for harassing our cleaning girl. He left us with a primer coat on the last bookshelf to be painted. Thus far he has used enamel on all the other wood. With reference to this bookshelf (already primed for oil), and to future trim paint that will need to be painted, is there a water based paint that will serve us well? The color for all the woodwork, if it matters, is raw white (the stuff they put color in to make off white colors).

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

beachartist
17 years ago
Make sure that you use INTERIOR paint. Exterior paint has a flexibility feature that allows it to expand and contract a bit outdoors. This is a menace indoors because cleaning it makes it sticky over time, and the weight of the books would make it stick too. I have used many water based paints that are fine on different shelves. Just make sure you let them "cure" for a few days before you start putting your books on the shelf.
Having fired your painter, if you are doing the job yourself, the water based products will be a lot easier on your lungs and to clean up too.
housekeeping
17 years ago
I think I'd wait for at least several weeks to a month before reshelving my books, because even after they are not sticky, the paints are off-gassing with chemicals that won't do the books any good.

If you must shorten the time, you could put mylar down on the shelves under the books, and along the sides where the books might touch the upright sides. But if you have fine or collectible books, I'd wait at least a month, and then probably still put down mylar.

I keep company with several thousand books, some of which are considered valuable and my best books live on permanently mylar-covered shelves.

And many thanks for being proactive on behalf of your household worker, as inconvenient as it was to yourself.

Molly~
Related Discussions
Should I buy this bookcase? Help me decide!
Q
Comments (40)
Karinl, thank you! Sometimes you see a piece and you just KNOW it's the one. That's what happened here. With the cabinet, and with DH! Lindac, how old do you think it is? It would be fun to know. I'm feeling really good about this purchase. I'm anxious to git 'er done! The floor. I come up with crazy ideas and DH always says "we can do that". I was apprehensive about putting a rug in the room because the doors are our only access to the back yard. Four grandsons and muddy feet...you get the picture. I have always loved inlaid floors, so we thought a wood rug was the way to go. The design came out of the scary place I call my brain. Drew it up in Auto Cad with a detailed measured plan. The natural oak is the flooring we installed in the rest of the downstairs rooms. Off we went to Lumber Liquidators with a piece of it. We first had to find something that the tongues and grooves fit together correctly. We settled on the teak because it fit, we liked the color, and there were only 3 boxes left so we got it for a song! It was important to me that the contrasting wood be real as opposed to stained in the event we ever have to refinish the floor. Don't want to lose the contrast! DH cut every little piece to fit. He then routed grooves into the cut ends and inserted splines where tongues were needed. It all went together like a giant puzzle. Not bad for prefinished hardwood flooring! Sorry for the novel. Aren't you glad you asked?
...See More
Oil Based Primer-Water Based Paint on Cabinets?
Q
Comments (3)
Yes it will work just fine. Primer is primer, whether it's acrylic or oil, both are formulated to accept either topcoat. Michael
...See More
Unfinished Maple Bookcases: Paint, Ladquer, Gel Stain . . . ???
Q
Comments (4)
It's easy to get a perfect finish on painted furniture when you spray it, but it's true it is hard to get it perfect without spraying. I would stain them if they were mine, just because maple looks great stained and stained furniture is easier to take care of, but this probably depends on what else is around in the room as well. If you stain, you want to stain, let dry, apply one coat sanding sealer and then at least one coat of poly. There are water based finishes on the market now but I don't like any of them. Lacquer can only be sprayed so. You want to lightly sand after the sealer coat because applying any first coat of finish on stained wood will raise the grain and make the surface very rough. The easiest way to apply stain is with a staining pad. Using gel stain or not won't make a difference to your wrist.
...See More
Unfinished Maple Bookcases: Paint, Lacquer, Gel Stain . . . ???
Q
Comments (7)
Gmp3 and Lazygardens-- Thank you both very much for your help. GMP3--I'm going back and forth between wanting them to look built-in, though I think that's still my preference. I was trying to save some money by finishing them myself. I've never used a sprayer so I'd probably hire someone. Any thoughts on what that might cost (I have no idea, so even an educated guess might help). Lazygardens--If I went with the natural maple (and it is very pretty, so it wouldn't break my heart to do this), do you have any recommendations for a topcoat (oil v latex/acrylic, method of application, even a brand you like) and should I apply a sealer/primer first? I know that Minwax makes aerosol cans of its polyurethene--any opinions about those? Many thanks!
...See More
dchall_san_antonio
Original Author
17 years ago
...if you are doing the job yourself, the water based products will be a lot easier on your lungs and to clean up too.

These are both of the reasons I wanted to used the water based paint. Are there any brands or "model numbers" I should look for, or stay away from?

And many thanks for being proactive on behalf of your household worker, as inconvenient as it was to yourself.

They seemed to be getting along great...until.
spanky_md
17 years ago
Definitely wait a few weeks before shelving your books to give the paint time to cure. It hardens as it cures. If you put books on the shelves too soon, they will mar the paint and could stick to it a bit, too.

I would go with a semi-gloss. Benjamin Moore is a good brand. You could also look into CabinetCoat, which is an acrylic resin paint, I think---more durable than latex but still water based. I used it on trim in our house and was very pleased with the results. It's more self-leveling than latex and brushmarks just settle out. It does tend to form drips and sags more than other types of paint AND it dries quickly so you need to be vigilant about checking your work as you go.

Here is a link that might be useful: CabinetCoat paint
Michael
17 years ago
I also endorse the Cabinet Coat. It will take some practice, but the results are wonderful.

You can also use Muralo Satin Flow or Impervo Waterborne.

Michael

Related Stories

DIY PROJECTS Cool Tip: Mimic Stain With a DIY Color Wash

Get the look of an oil-based stain without all the bother, using this easy wash made with paint

COLOR Paint Your Bookcases to Transform Your Room

By Laura Gaskill

Give your shelves some color for a whole new look. Here are 10 examples, from subtle to bold, and some styling tips to try

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 11 Garden Retreats for the Creatively Inclined

By Luisa Rollenhagen

Finally finish that novel, opera or oil painting you’ve been working on by drawing inspiration from these peaceful retreats

SAVING WATER Xeriscape Gardens: How to Get a Beautiful Landscape With Less Water

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Conserve water and make gardening much easier with the xeriscape approach’s 7 principles

ARCHITECTURE Want to Live by the Water? What You Need to Know

By Duo Dickinson, architect

Waterside homes can have amazing charm, but you'll have to weather design restrictions, codes and surveys

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Create a Secret Doorway Behind a Bookcase

By Mitchell Parker

Hide your valuables (or unsightly necessities) in a room or nook that no one will guess is there

HEALTHY HOME Get the Lead Out: Lead Safety at Home

By Laura Gaskill

Keep your family safe by properly testing for and dealing with lead in old painted surfaces, water and soil

PAINTING What to Know About Milk Paint and Chalk Paint — and How to Use Them

By Karen Egly-Thompson

Learn the pros, cons, cost and more for these two easy-to-use paints that are great for giving furniture a vintage look

PAINTING How to Paint a Room: Prep to Painting

Find out the steps to take for the best results when doing it yourself

PAINTING Knotty to Nice: Painted Wood Paneling Lightens a Room's Look

By No. 29 Design

Children ran from the scary dark walls in this spare room, but white paint and new flooring put fears and style travesties to rest

Sponsored

Davidson Builders

1 Review

Franklin County's Full-Scale General Contractor

More Discussions

T&G Exterior Ceiling - Restoration/Treatment

2

Help ID’g Sherwin Williams Color Match

1

Exterior colors and design

0

Painting office: One bold color, or color + lighter accent wall?

6

I need help choosing a front door color.

0