Paint for a tea tray

bouicca21

I’ve got an small wooden tray that is the perfect size for a small teapot and mug or cup and saucer.

It’s looking a bit battered so I’m wondering about painting it. Do I need to buy a special type of paint? I’m thinking maybe a taster pot of the stuff you paint walls with would do (?)

Fire_Fox

Testers are usually emulsion, which is not stain/ heat/ water resistant.

You would need sandpaper, a quality stain block wood/ universal primer, a couple of coats of hardwearing paint intended for woodwork/ furniture/ metal (satin, gloss or chalk finish).

The MSE DIY board regulars recommend Zinsser brand primers. Many of Wilko's own brand paints are highly rated and well priced.

HTH!

Mr.Generous

Tester pots are not even as good as emulsion, they are colour samplers and don't have any of the properties that make paint hardwearing, washable or whatever.

-taff

You could buy spray primer and spray paint. You can find hardwearing enamel type sprays quite easily.
Or you could give it a sand and paint with a satin or gloss varnish.
Or do a bit of decoupage and varnish.
If you wanted to see ideas you could head to the hell that is pinterest to while away a few hours decision time...:)

bouicca21

It’s beginning to sound as though tarting the thing up (it is already either painted or stained) will cost more than getting a new one!

PS i’ve Never understood Pinterest!

Slinky

Can you find somebody who has some leftover chalk paint? Requires very little preparation to the existing surface you're painting on top of. We chalk painted a dresser on top of the existing varnish and was a very easy job. Quite expensive to buy the paint, hence looking for somebody else's leftovers.

Mojisola

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You would need sandpaper, a quality stain block wood/ universal primer, a couple of coats of hardwearing paint intended for woodwork/ furniture/ metal (satin, gloss or chalk finish).

bouicca21 wrote: »

It’s beginning to sound as though tarting the thing up (it is already either painted or stained) will cost more than getting a new one!

Ask around family and friends - it's likely that someone will have enough left-overs for you to do a small project like this for nothing but your time.

maman

You could line it with an attractive paper like wrapping paper and then varnish or buy a piece of sticky backed plastic (used to be called Fablon).

Eenymeeny

What ever surface I used on a tray I would always use a silicone mat to protect the surface. This also helps to make it non-slip avoiding accidents. I have a particularly accident--prone OH so find them useful when serving bowls of soup etc. Ikea do magnetic ones too. HTH

VfM4meplse

Nothing more to add apart from to endorse requests for left-over paints and spray laquer to seal (I think I saw some in Lidl for £2.99 just the other day, so perhaps an appeal on Freecycle might work?).

I love serving afternoon tea on a tray, but always use trivets. Part of the joy is sticking my stainless steel teapot on the hob after I've boiled the kettle, ditto super-heating the milk. This prolongs the joyous teatime experience every day and the added bonus is that each and every item has been bought in perfect condition from the chazzer

[Deleted User]

sounds like an excellent project to breathe new life into something that looking a bit battered (like me ) I would sand it down first with a slightly rougher sandpaper, then a very fine one, a couple of undercoats I often use old emulsion on at least one of them The a decent paint as a top coat The inner tray lining I would probably cut and stick some fablon mainly as a way to keep the inner tray easier to keep clean. the rest would look nice in a bright contrasting colour I don't know what your kitchen colour is (mine is white and chrome ) but I like to accessorise with very bright primary colours like bright red, or deep blue or daffodil yellow. I have a pine tea tray that I did with a plain white inlay and a bright scarlet rim and handles.I picked this tray up at a boot sale for 30p several years ago and breathed new life into it .I am lucky that I have a conservatory that I like to do my 'tarting up bits of junk' in (as my DDs call it ) I just like to think its spared going into landfill and has had an extended life I wouldn't bother with testers as they aren't brilliant, and are basically just colour pots to give you a rough idea. But you can buy small amounts of paint at almost any outlet for a pound or two . My grandchildren over the years have all benefited from bits and pieces that I have salvaged and all have been pleased with their book cases ,desks and shelves. Its a nice hobby and one I really enjoy