The easiest way is to buy a ready-made table, painted and varnished by the manufacturer. But if you have some carpentry skills, make an original table with your own hands. Of course, do not forget that after you need to apply some kind of protective coating (paint or varnish). In this article we will talk about how to do it yourself, that is, to paint.
By the way, a factory decorative coating, no matter how high-quality it may be, will rub over the years, fade, crack. Paint may peel off. To continue to use the table without problems, it is advisable to restore it, to give a beautiful look. And this is quite do-it-yourself.
to contents ↑Why does wood need painting
Everyone knows that natural wood is a fairly strong and durable material. It is used not only in the manufacture of furniture, utensils, household goods and interior items, but also in construction. Under the influence of external environments, wood, one way or another, deteriorates over the years:
- swells or, conversely, supersaturated;
- decays under the influence of moisture;
- burns out, dims or darkens;
- warps and deforms;
- attacked by woodworkers;
- frayed, chipped.
To avoid this longer, the wood is protected and strengthened with various impregnations, decorative coatings.In some houses, where the wooden products are properly maintained, cabinet furniture serves more than one generation.
So, in your apartment there is a wooden table, which has been serving faithfully for many years. You want to extend his life by painting yourself. It's time to find out how and how to do it better.
to contents ↑What to paint
To paint wooden furniture with your own hands, including a table, will not be difficult if you know what materials to use in the work. The staining technology itself is similar to other types of painting.
The selection of a suitable coating depends on the particular operation of the furniture. The kitchen cutting table is subject to numerous influences from the outside, as is the dining table. Wooden furniture on the veranda, terrace in the gazebo or just in the yard is subject to increased atmospheric influence. The surfaces of decorative tables, more used as pedestals, are less exposed to mechanical stress.
For processing furniture used indoors, the best protective coating would be waterborne acrylic paints. They are non-toxic, therefore applicable for internal use. Lie down well and dry quickly, so a layman can paint it with his own hands. They have a wide palette of colors and shades. After drying, the wood provides excellent moisture protection.
Water dispersion allows simple correction of flaws in the work until the paint has dried: just rinse with water. The dried decorative coating becomes immune to moisture. It is not afraid of ultraviolet exposure, frost-resistant.
However, acrylic paints are subject to abrasion and mechanical stress. Aggressive chemical environments are also not desirable for such surfaces.
To paint the dining table with quality, you can choose any water-based paint or varnish. But for outdoor woodwork, alkyd mixtures are often used. They create a strong, durable protective coating that perfectly repels water.
At one time, oil paints were widely used. But with the advent of cost-effective analogues (oil paints have an unreasonably high consumption), as well as more environmentally friendly in composition, they have lost their relevance.
You can also paint the table with enamel; these materials do a good job. On the surface, a durable coating is formed, sufficiently resistant to various influences, light-sensitive, possessing corrosion resistance. Enamels and enamel paints have a decorative appeal, as they are glossy (although there are also matte mixtures). Nitro enamel compounds - Quick-drying, they need a quarter hour to set.
By the way, the choice of a suitable type of coating directly depends on the type of wood from which the table is made. Oily (coniferous) wood species are more susceptible to waxing than coloring.
We have already mentioned that operating conditions and the nature of the environment play an important role in the selection of materials for painting wood products. If you plan to restore a previously painted table with your own hands, experts recommend selecting a coating according to the characteristics similar to the old one.
to contents ↑Painting works
When you have decided on the paint, you can proceed to further actions. And the first is the purchase of related materials:
- painting tools: brushes, a roller with a pile (for painting countertops) or a mechanical spray;
- pans for paint (in which we wet the roller);
- personal protective equipment (gloves, mask, glasses, if you spray);
- wood preservative;
- primer on wood (to ensure better adhesion of the base and paint, plus reduced consumption of the paint mixture).
This is a basic set of materials. If desired, you can purchase a means for finishing varnishing. And if for a start the table should be “sanded” and cleaned of the old coating, then apply:
- solvents and chemical cleaners of the old coating;
- metal sponge;
- a set of sandpaper with different abrasive.
You will definitely need rags, unnecessary newspapers or plastic film to protect the area in the radius of the work from accidental drops of paint. You can safely use water paints indoors. But if you have to work with non-aquatic, it is better to move the furniture from the room to some non-residential premises.
Please note that even if the packaging of the purchased paint indicates “quick-drying”, it is still worth letting the coating dry thoroughly. This means that you can use the table again not earlier than in a day, or even more. This, for example, applies to water-dispersion mixtures, since water evaporates longer than organic solvents. And until the coating finally hardens (dries), it is very vulnerable.
The table prepared for staining is first treated with antiseptic impregnation. The next step is priming. Use the instructions for use indicated on the package. The primer has dried, it remains to be painted.
Traditionally, multi-layer painting. The first application - the paint is well rubbed. They let her dry completely. Then you can apply subsequent layers, arranging technical breaks for the drying period. Experts advise: it is better to apply several thin layers than one thick one. Yes, it will take longer, but painting with your own hands will go better.
In order to qualitatively process the product in all places, especially when it comes to a large table, it is better to disassemble it into parts. Switch to painting the second side of the countertop only after the opposite has completely dried. How to check if the paint is dry? At the very edge, touch with your finger, if the paint does not stick, it means it has dried.
A little patience, attention and accuracy in the work, and painting the table with your own hands will go without a hitch. Note that with your own hands it is easy to carry out not only standard painting, but also an unusual design. The tabletop painted in one color can subsequently be decorated with various artistic applications, which are on sale in a large assortment.
