ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 12, 1996 TAG: 9605130154
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: D2 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Antiques & Designs
SOURCE: KATHY SUE GRIGG
From the mailbag:
Q: Do you have a recipe for milk paint?
A: Combine equal parts milk (whole, skim or buttermilk), lime and paint colorant (powdered tempera paint or paint colorants available at art supply stores). Mix ingredients and crush or remove lumps.
You can clean up with soap and water, but once it dries it's there to stay.
Milk paint gives an authentic look to a new piece of furniture or to one you may be restoring. If you're painting over an existing finish (paint or stain) and don't want to strip - sand first, always going in the direction of the grain in the wood.
Allow four to six hours before adding the second coat of paint.
Milk paint can look a lot like a pickling finish. Sometimes using two different colors (blue over white, red over black, etc.) provides a more authentic look. It was very common to have a build up of colored layers of paint on early painted furniture.
People would spruce up their furniture in the spring by scrubbing it then adding a fresh coat of paint.
Sanding key areas after the paint is dried can give an aged look to a piece of furniture. Once again, sand in the direction of the grain. What you want is to reveal some of the bottom layers of paint. The key areas are on the corners, edges, knobs and tops. These are the areas that would commonly show wear.
Wear a mask when mixing the paint because of the lime and work in a well-ventilated area. Give yourself room to work. Pick a place where you can leave the piece and return because this finish takes several steps and four to six hours of drying time between coats.
Once you're satisfied with the paint finish, you may want to apply a coat of linseed or tung oil as a finishing coat. This will add a luster to the patina (finish), as well as darken a little.
To estimate the amount of paint you need, a batch with two ounces each of milk, lime and colorant should give you enough to paint a ladder-back chair or coffee table.
You may want to start with something small, such as a wood box or small table because, believe me, once the milk paint has dried it is a finish that will last for centuries.
Kathy Sue Grigg is an associate at Surfaces Inc. If you have ideas, questions or comments about her column, write to her in care of The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010.
LENGTH: Medium: 54 linesby CNB