How do you get a smooth paint finish on furniture?

14 years ago

I bought several pieces of furniture I plan to paint a creamy color (such as heirloom white). My brother originally told me I could use his high-end commercial paint sprayer.

I spoke with someone at SW today & he said I need a different kind of paint sprayer to achieve that effect (HVLP sprayer). I don't want to drop that kind of cash on a new sprayer & haven't found a place to rent one. I am just wondering if there is another way to get a silky-smooth finish on this furniture.

I know the sprayer will be quickest route to go & have the best finish, but I cannot spend $500-1K on a new paint sprayer. I don't want to use regular canned spray paint because some of the furniture will be in my little girl's room & we'll eat off the dining room table.

Oh, dear THS gods, what have I gotten myself into? How do I resolve this. I must paint these pieces, so doing something else is not an option for me.

Featured Answer

glenster_jr

14 years ago

I've never used it, but the Wagner 2400 HVLP sprayer gets good reviews and is around $100.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

redbazel
14 years ago
I know next-to-nothing about sprayers, but here are some furniture painting tips from one of my favorite blogs....

Red

Here is a link that might be useful: FAQ Life in the Fun Lane
revamp
14 years ago
Follow the same instructions for cabinet painting. You can use brushes (high quality brushes--Purdy at a minimum) and a high quality self-leveling paint. Lightly sand between coats and you're golden.

:)
Related Discussions
getting a smooth finish on sphere
Q
Comments (7)
You can get a finish like polished marble if you take the time and do the work. There are several approaches but they all involve basically polishing the surface. This can be accomplished regardless of the aggregate, but the finer and fewer...the easier the polishing is. Large, hard aggergates require very aggressive polishing. The beautiful Terazzo floors that have come back into fashion lately are an example of big, chunky aggregate in a mortar bond that is highly polished. But a combination like that requires a diamond polisher and a lot of work. Reducing the aggregate to extremely fine sand or a "microaggregate" such as flyash permits polishing with sandpaper and a great deal less elbow grease. Cement pastes are relatively easy to polish...it's the aggs that are as hard as...well, rock. 'Cause thats what most of them are. Little rocks. You can build up layers of a paste-type mix on a 3-D shape by actually painting them on until you get the thickness required. However...curing must be under absolutely ideal conditions or it will crack to pieces. Pastes must maintain near perfect hydration throughout the entire cure or they will fail. But if you can overcome that hurdle, you can start with an old wood rasp to knock off any high spots and then work your way through progressively finer & finer sand papers until it has a mirror finish. Wet sanding is generally easier and is much less hazardous because it eliminates the very fine and dangerous dust. Best of luck and be sure to let us see the results no matter how you wind up finishing it.
...See More
Craft wood: how to get it smooth to varnish/paint?
Q
Comments (8)
I have painted for more than 25 years and love painting on wood services. The wood you purchase at Michael's sounds like a very lightweight balsa wood. It is very difficult to get it entirely smooth. As a painter I learned many years ago to use brown paper bag to sand. Try sanding and tacking prior to painting. If using acrylic, try mixing your basecoat with sealer first (Jo Sonja has a great all purpose sealer). Then use a piece of brown paper bag to sand. It does work.
...See More
How do you get rid of your old furniture?
Q
Comments (24)
"Well, the biggest piece is a 20-year-old Ethan Allen sofa. The fabric was navy in a former life, but is faded & torn now. Conceivably, someone might want it to reupholster. Perhaps I could sell it for cheap then give the money to charity." No offense, but it doesn't sound like an item that many people would want or could use. Reupholstering is pretty pricey anyway so that wouldn't be anyone's bargain. I'd suggest paying to have it removed. As you say, that gives someone some money for doing the labor. And before I get jumped on by those who will say 'beggars can't be choosers' etc, I think that in today's world of mass production when there are a lot of decent items being discarded, charities shouldn't be expected to come haul off decades old, faded and torn heavy furniture. That is a service to you, not the charity. I've called Salvation Army and also a homeless assistance agency here in my town, similar to what has already been described. They have a 'showroom' in which families transitioning from shelters to permanent homes can pick out what they need. Then again I tend to be a serial remodeler, unfortunately. So the stuff I've been discarding is relatively new and although not top of the line, still in pretty good condition. I do have a massive tv armoire that was cheap to begin with and now has the back coming apart, the door hanging etc. I'm going to have my son take that to the trash station when I get ready to replace it; I wouldn't donate it because it is junk. Ann
...See More
How do you paint metal patio furniture..LynNM, inside please!
Q
Comments (11)
Yikes! Having a numb finger for two weeks would freak me out. Glad it's gone! I will definitely get one of those doodads. Did you spray primer on it first? I remember now, we had beautiful cool Spring days and that's when I was working in the flowerbeds so much, and suddenly it got hot with high humidity and stayed that way until this week. I melt in humidity. I love the green you used, but I'm thinking it would be too dark for that corner of the porch. I'll probably look for ideas online.
...See More
homebodymom
14 years ago
I can't help with painting advice, but have you tried posting this on the painting forum? Maybe they can offer some help.
Beautiful furniture by the way!
wishiwasinoz
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you all!!! I think I'm set. I LOVE the air compressor info. from In the Fun Lane. What a beautiful blog! Thank you again & I'll be sure to post pics when they are all complete (quite possibly in 2013!).
polly929
14 years ago
We used a paint sprayer attached to an air compressor on similar furniture pieces:

Most of my info came from Life in the Fun lane, I posted questions on the paint forum, but got very few responses.
nkkp
14 years ago
If you have an air compressor, buy an automotive paint sprayer. You can get them from an auto paint store for around $50. I can't remember the size tip we got (maybe a 17), but if you tell the workers there what you are doing they can find the one you need. I have a gravity-fed one. Love it.
igloochic
14 years ago
You can get the right finish by using the right paint for the project, sanding between layers, and most importantly, using high, very very high quality brushes for the type of finish desired (paint, varnish, etc all use different brushes).

But all of that aside...who cares. I just want your entire project to fail so you will give up and sell the cabinet in the second picture to me....it's DEVINE!!!!!! LOL ummm and good luck (except on that piece LOL) Is it stored in an unlocked garage?????
wi-sailorgirl
14 years ago
I've done a few pieces (a buffet turned bookcase, banquette, dresser and nightstand) and I'm about to do a new table (yeah .. new but purchased at an outlet store ... don't like the color) all with high quality paint (either Fine Paints of Europe Eco Satin or Ben Moore Aura) and an awesome brush (Omega, available from FPE) and I've been thrilled with the results. Nary a brushstroke in sight. It may be a different story when I attempt the table which will require very LONG brushstrokes, but I really think it's all in the paint. As long as you use a good paint with great self-leveling characteristics you'll have a nice finish.

As an alternative to spending a lot of money on tools you may not use again, have you looked into having it professional sprayed? I have no idea how much that costs, but it might be better than investing a lot into very specific tools.

That table is going to be gorgeous, by the way.
wishiwasinoz
Original Author
14 years ago
I'm doing the chairs in the set in this style & hopefully in the fabric below, if I can just pull the trigger. I want it to go on sale.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

igloochic -- I live in a far, remote island village in Alaska only accessible by sea plane. Good luck finding me! :-)

The piece is from a discontinued line from Lexington called Betsy Cameron's Children. That particular piece is Casey's Cupboard 111-309. I found it at a consignment store last week & had to have it. Depending on how they wash up, I will probably change out the curtains. Isn't it gorgeous & won't it be so sweet in my little girl's room?
ttodd
14 years ago
My smoothest paint finishes have always come from a commercial sprayer that DH uses at work. I can't help but touch everything that he paints for me - it's like glass.
roobear
14 years ago
Here's another blog, with a how to paint furniture post-she didn't use a paint sprayer or do any sanding, just different products from the paint store. I think her buffet table came out looking like she sprayed it and she says it's held up fine.

Here is a link that might be useful: Just a girl blog
liljenster
14 years ago
That's funny roobear, I was about to post the steps from JAG's blog. I love the way her furniture turned out. I read her blog daily.

How do you get a smooth paint finish on furniture?

glenster_jr

Comments (13)

redbazel

revamp

Related Discussions

homebodymom

wishiwasinoz
Original Author

polly929

nkkp

igloochic

wi-sailorgirl

wishiwasinoz
Original Author

ttodd

roobear

liljenster

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

How do you get a smooth paint finish on furniture?

Comments (13)

Related Discussions

wishiwasinozOriginal Author

wishiwasinozOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

wishiwasinoz
Original Author

wishiwasinoz
Original Author