Quick tips in using Vintage Paints
Hi fellow chalky paint enthusiasts
My name's Nigel and i have been in the paint industry for over 35 years from making paint, selling paint and using paint as an avid DIY'er. I run Chalk finish paint classes, paint technique classes and have taught 100's of people (mainly ladies) how to get the best and unique looks to your projects.
If you follow me on Facebook then you know how much I love to paint old furniture. It’s such a fun hobby but I also upscale and sell for a bit of extra cash and enjoyment. I know most people love and use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint but at Only Green we have made the Da Vinci range of Vintage paints since 2013 and am proud our range is not imported , made in New Zealand and is eco friendly and best of all is much more affordable than the Annie Sloan range.
I may know paint from a technical aspect but learn something new in chalk vintage painting everyday which is what is so exciting about this craze so hopefully some of my suggestions will be helpful if you’re new to chalk paints or even if you’ve been using it for a while. So today I’ve put together my top painting tips and tricks.
My top tips for vintage chalky painting:
(1) Da Vinci Distressed Chalk Finish paint is super thick. (if you find too thick you can thin with water , this will also help paint go further thus saving you money) So before you start any project make sure you shake the can very well. !
(2) There’s really no need or little prep to your furniture, most furniture will take the paint very well, even those with a shiny finish. So the only prep you need to do is to make sure the piece is clean and free of any dust/dirt. However I still suggest a light scuff over the furniture with a 220g sandpaper particularly if varnished as may have had a silicone based cleaner like Pledge which will deter paint from sticking. ( I think this is a bit like an insurance policy)
(3) Use a high quality brush such as our Da Vinci paint brush. There are expensive brushes out there specifically for chalk paints, but really think them a waste of money.
(4) Chalk finishes paint do show brush strokes, so make sure to paint in the same direction if you want a smoother finish and don’t switch it up (which I am sometimes guilty of doing), unless you want to antique later with dark wax or patina the paint then bruh marks can look awesome.
(5) Da Vinci paint dries really fast, so I recommend you pour the paint from the can into a separate container and using that while you paint. I’ve found this really helps keep the paint fresh and will last longer.
(6) if applying a second coat, applying a effect coat or wash or want to distress in some way make sure the paint is completely dry before . This shouldn’t take long, but it’s not easy to layer like latex paint unless it is totally dry
(7) Paint indoors and out of direct sunlight. This paint is so thick (and while you can thin if it becomes too thick) and dries so fast, really warm conditions and direct sunshine will accelerate that process even more and then it’s really hard to work with.
(8) it is best to wait overnight to distress or sand down their furniture after painting just to allow the paint to cure. Having said that I never wait and I think it turns out fine, so go with your gut!
(9) (Don't wash brushes in sink waste will go into the drain and is damaging to the environment). I always wash in the garden under a hose and since the paint is mainly chalk it will just go into the soil safely.
(10) Chalk paint goes a long way. we have sizes from 100ml to 4ltr so buy only what you need to minimise waste and save money.
(11) I often using white as my base will intermix testpot colours with white to create tones, shades and effects creating multiple colours without the expence of buying numerous cans of paint.