Picked up a pair of white lacquer painted rocking chairs today for the front porch for a good deal. I think it’s lacquer – very shiny and chips very easy. I figure that even being under the covered porch, (open on 3 sides) the lacquer wouldn’t hold up to the weather very well at all. So, I’d like to paint them with some 100% acrylic house paint or whatever you all feel would hold up best – paint brands, etc? I’d like to scuff sand them with fine sandpaper and then just paint but really have no idea of the compatibility of these 2 paints. The goal is to have a very durable finish that is washable (probably by careful use of a power washer).
Thoughts? TIA
Replies
House paint will chalk and leave everybody that sits in the chairs with white backsides.
Hhmm go to know that good paint will chalk under a porch. I will never paint a chair again.
Thanks
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If it chips easy, you are kinda between a rock and a hard place. It will continue to chip with wood movement and even with flex paint on top it will get ugly.
Is there a dip strip place nearby? I'd think that is best, then prime and paint with Krylon or Rustoleum.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
How's the big white puppy? I bet it would look nice sitting on a white rocking chair on a porch, eh?
LOL.
He's HUGE.
My daughter claimed a black female one today..3 down, 5 to go.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Any new pics?
tavern
Peach full,easy feelin'.
Didn't see the white one. He's cool.
Thanks for your thoughts Sphere.
The dip/strip would probably cost at least 1.5 to 2x the cost of the chairs themselves. Probably won't go that route, but it's looking like "spray bomb" might be the best way to go paint wise.
Have a good one.
If just a little chipping then, yea, go head and spray em any way.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Yea - the reason I mentioned the chipping was to illustrate that I was pretty sure it was lacquer. As far as I know lacquer is one of the most brittle paints. I once had a car painted with lacquer. Looked very nice, but was fragile...
I'd still dip..there is a place here that would be about 5-10 bucks each chair. But hey, this is Ky. Gotta use up that moonshine dregs.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Last time I had some chairs dipped I'm thinking I paid about $120 a chair.... I think it's a combination of the chemicals required, the special set=up to do it, and then the disposal of the chemicals. Maybe I'll make a few calls for some pricing...
Shoot, thats insane.
I got 6 chairs at a yard sale and all of them cost 60 bucks. It was a paint, not a clear finish too. I know some clear poly fins cost more.
They reuse the dip tank methylene Chloride, so disposal is only for the solids in the tank, and that is just dried paint, no hazard.
I think some lye tanks are oneshot use, maybe that is what you were dealing with.
edit: you are in NC, never mind,,the air quality laws are way different there. I think the price is affected by that enforcement.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Edited 2/11/2008 8:42 am ET by Sphere
If it were me I'd spray the works with spar polyurethane. The difference between spar and normal poly is in the amount of flexiblity it has so it handles the temperature changes better.
On second thought you would get a yellow tint on the white chairs with the poly so that's not really what you're asking for.
Best of luck
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Matt ,scrap the areas which are chipping with a sharp paint scraper until the edges are smooth & then spray with cans of enamel .nothing else well last with your power washer,plus its cheap & dries very fast be tween coats/ coat until you no longer see the flaked area sanding lightllywith 280 grit between coats . I was a refinisher for 15 years this is an easy one ,best of luck!
Thanks for your response.
There is only one chipped spot about the size of a dime so that's not a big deal. I guess I should sand the entire surface before I paint too? Do you recommend wet sand or dry sand? I'm fine with canned spray paint as long as you think it will stick OK - like you said - can't get much easier than that!
Regarding the pressure washer, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that. If whatever paint is applied has adhered properly it will hold up fine as I have enough experience with the pressure washer to know how not to damage stuff.
Matt dry sand with 120 dry lube paper (the grey stuff/dry wall paper) norton makes the best,&yes it will bond great just dust 2 coats on to start with out sanding between those. then use 280 grit between the rest and it will be durable for many years & smooth as ababys bottom, just keep in mind that a great finish should feal as good as it looks. 85% is in the prep! On the dipping side I say never dip it hell on the joints / just like making furniture joints _by hand is usually best !!!(for me any how) good luck Dan
Edited 2/11/2008 4:18 pm ET by woodguydan
Ok - thanks much guys.... I've got the plan. I'll go pick up the stuff tomorrow at Blowes when I go for some work stuff. I think they even sell that Norton paper.
I have customers who own a Dairy Queen. I've spray painted their wood chairs several times now. Not because the paint doesn't stick, but because their chairs take a beating what with all the young, energetic customers. Usually, the paint is chipped all the way down to bare wood.
I clean them first (TSP), lightly sand, prime any bare spots and use a spray can. 1 spray can will do almost 3 chairs. It's a quick and relatively inexpensive way to spruce them up for another season. If these chairs were in a residence, one paint job would last for a looooong time.
As an aside, they're looking into replacing them with brushed aluminum chairs because the old ones are starting to get a bit rickety. No amount of paint will fix that.