Tuesday, April 5, 2011

My secret time-saver weapon...

...is none other than my Kilz spray primer.  It's pricey - like 5 x the price of the stuff in the gallon, but for me it's totally worth it.  I've actually gone through 8 cans within the last week.  This spray primer can be sanded within 30 minutes of applying and then quickly painted over.  If I roll on the other non-aerosol type, I have to wait until the next day to sand and paint.  It dries to the touch within 30 minutes, but clumps like crazy if you try to sand it within 12 hours.  If any of you have applied oil-based primer, you also know that it's difficult to work with and requires quite a bit of elbow grease to sand smooth.  Not my spray Kilz - it sprays smooth and only needs a light sand with a 220 grit paper.


Because of its hefty price tag {$5-$6 a can}, I try to skimp where and I can and only prime the tops of low usage furniture, such as these end tables; the body does fine with a light sand.  If I'm working with wood that has a tendency to bleed, then the entire piece has to be primed to prevent the tannin from coming through the paint.  Your regular old water-based primer won't block tannin bleed... and neither will re-applying your paint over and over - believe me, I've tried.


I roll on 2 coats of primer if I'm working with a grainy wood like oak and I want to fill in some of the wood grain.  It doesn't get rid of it, but it definitely reduces it.


It worked like a charm on my oak dining room table.


Try it on your next project - you'll never go back to rolling primer again...I promise.
Here's a sneak of tomorrow's post.

Photobucket

20 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tip. I'll definitely give it a try next time ;)

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  2. Nice to know... I feel sheepish to admit i have never primed or sanded after I have painted a coat. No wonder my stuff never turns out the way I want.

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  3. Thanks for sharing your tip, Natalie! I love your dinette set and am still planning on painting our oak dinette! Just waiting for some warmer weather! Kim

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  4. Question: How do you know whether a wood will bleed?

    - Lil

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  5. I can't wait until tomorrow!!

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  6. haphazardlife,
    Certain types of wood have a tendency to bleed - redwood, cedar, mahogany and even a couple of chairs on my oak dining set did which meant I had to go back and re-prime them with a stain blocking primer. I hope this helps.

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  7. Love the tips! Can't wait to see the after pics!!

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  8. Thanks much for the information. Love your blog.

    Lil

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  9. thanks for the tip Nat!! I re did a computer hutch a few months back and that spray primer would have saved me some time :) What brand paint do you use for the painting part?

    for some reason it will only let me comment under anonymous but this is Traci (Burnham) Price

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  10. OK I have a question.
    After using the spray primer on your dining room table, and after sanding it,
    how did you paint your table?

    Can you email me?
    I have a project coming up.
    What is your favorite paint?

    Laura
    White Spray Paint

    lmh136@yahoo.com

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  11. Good to know a few of your favorite tips.

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  12. I am going to try this. I find rolling on primer so BORING.

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  13. I love this primer also. You're oak kitchen table turned out so beautiful. Love it. I'm off to read more of your blog.

    Warmly, Michelle

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  14. Thanks for the tip! It is certainly very helpful to many of us.

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  15. I've been using this stuff alot, too! :)

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  16. Have you ever tried using tung oil on your oak furniture? The properties of t.o. are supposed to help the grain to almost disappear on oak when after applying it you would go ahead and primer then paint! I wish I would have known this prior to painting my solid oak rails! : /
    Maria Ricci
    fra_maria@sbcglobal.net

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  17. Meant to add: grain and bleeding.
    Maria Ricci

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  18. This is also my primer of choice. I use it On anything that needs a quick prime. Works great on hard plastics as well as covering up silicone caulk so it can be painted over.

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