Shabby Chic; Volume III

steve_2012

yes, this makes a form of chalk paint thats used by thousands of people, there are other methods but start with that and you wont go far wrong.
ive not tried this but with your chairs spindles ive read that using a small scouring sponge (sponge side) can help especially with the first coat, if you try it can you let me know how it works, ive never tried a spindly chair as there a bit awkward.

Hoploz

Ok I will give this a go. The chairs don't have round spindles, but there is some moulding (they are wheat sheaf design) so it might get in to that better than a brush.

Don't hold your breath, I am in the planning stages right now, but I will post when I get on to the job.

I did a set last year when I did it all properly, sanded them all down and primed then actually used spray paint. This time I planned to sand-prime-brush paint. I sanded two, primed one and then we suddenly moved house so it has been on hold!

chalkysoil

you can paint any old paint on to almost anything, the thing is it might not wear very well, especially on chairs. Chalk paint is pretty strong once it's been waxed or varnished to finish it off. Some people start off with home made chalk paint, then change to emulsion to finish off on the top coat.


I've got a stool in my bathroom that is vintage unsanded varnish, then Wilkos primer, then emulsion, it's holding up pretty well but it gets very little in the way of knocks.


I get my Plaster of Paris from The Range, it's about £6 for a lot.

anolan91

to get a smooth finish i have been adding windscreen wash to my paint (has to be concentrate) add about 10 % and it thins the paint lovely

hannahsmamma

anolan, how did you come up with the idea of using windscreen wash ? I am intrigued!

chalkysoil

& me, I read this on the web

Paint types. For the weathering on my Oakway loco, besides chalk, I used a combination of acrylics (Polly Scale and Testors Acryl - sometimes mixed together) with water, alcohol or Acryl thinner, Floquil and regular Model Master with laquer thinner and oil paints with turpentine. All these different paint/thinner applications came in handy. One type of weathering couldn't have possibly produced the results that I was after.

A few "rules" here regarding paint/thinner types. Water has a great deal of surface tension, whereas, laquer thinner, turpentine and alcohol flow very well. In other words, while water has the tendency to bead up on a surface, the others will flow freely along ribs, inside corners, crevices, etc. If I need to thin a water based paint, I'll most likely use Acryl thinner, alcohol or even Micro Set or Sol instead. Recently, I learned of another thinning medium for the water-based types of paint. Windshield washer fluid - the blue stuff that you can pick up by the gallon at any convenience store, dept. store, etc. for next to nothing cost-wise. Brian K. passed this one along in a post on the Intermodal list, and he learned of it from a gentleman by the name of Jay Styron. You would use it just like you would use Acryl, water or alcohol. Evidently, the flow characteristics are wonderful and it's safe for the paint, decals, clear coats, etc. While I haven't tried it yet, with what I've heard about it so far, I will be very soon.


and this


What are the best thinners and / or additives for latex? (Latex = emulsion)




Naturally most people would expect me to say to use water. Some guys would suggest


regular tap water others would suggest distilled water. Both will work just fine but, I now thin


the paint with an alcohol/water mix OR better yet.... Windshield washer fluid. Yep......


Windshield washer fluid... Anybody's. Cheap stuff from AID auto stores or NAPA etc.... If you


get the blue windshield washer fluid that is common around the country don’t worry, the blue


tint does not change the colors of the paint. The interesting thing about most windshield washer


fluids is the soap content. They all have some. The soap is what slows the drying process of


latex paints. Not the alcohol. The alcohol evaporates fast and leaves the soap and water behind.


Water goes next leaving the soap. The soap eventually leaves. Slowly. This does slow down the


drying time a bit which allows the paint to “flow” more and results in an even better finish on


almost any kind of part.

steve_2012

so maybe worth using this 50/50 with water when you mix the POP.

Hoploz

Blimey you guys are real pro's! Can't believe the stuff I'm reading on here! Amazing!
P.s. thanks for being friendly to a newbie ... It isn't always the case on all boards!

Seakay

choille wrote: »

I am using eggshell - do you think it will be cleanable?

It cost me a fortune coz I bought it from a paint co on-line out of impatience = I live in the middle of no where. I

eggshell should be very cleanable - it's an alternative to gloss and should be very hardwearing. Traditionally it is oil based but you can get water based versions now

Seakay

Hoploz wrote: »

Blimey you guys are real pro's! Can't believe the stuff I'm reading on here! Amazing!
P.s. thanks for being friendly to a newbie ... It isn't always the case on all boards!

the more the merrier! We're all self taught or have learned from others on here, and once you get going you'll be sharing and we'll be asking you questions too!