Spray paint pip question

[Deleted]

I am getting a free changing table I want to paint. Per Pinterest I can do this with spray paint? That makes my time constrained (read: lazy) heart happy.




This is the table. Do I need to sand it? Use primer? Any tips? I'm pretty much a terrible DIYer so the bulk of my confidence rests in the balance.

[mrs.jacinthe]

You can! If you buy the good spray paint, you don't have to prime. Also, make sure you get the paint that will spray at any angle, given the design of that table. Also, I would very lightly sand with a fine grit and if there are any and you care, fill any deep gouges with putty before you paint.

You will probably need a few cans of paint - at least 3, 4 might be safer. Use a bunch of light coats. You can put on multiple coats with only a few minutes in between coats with no problem. Since it'll be getting use as a changing table, I'd also buy a can or two of clear enamel or lacquer to put on top once the regular paint is dry, so it'll be easy to clean.

[kaylie]

I'm personally not a fan of spray painting anything for babies. The chemicals/smells make me nervous. I would use a low voc combination of primer and semi-gloss paint and just brush it on. If you add Floetrol you can avoid brush stroke marks.

[downtoearth]

I'm pretty hippie, but I agree with mrs.jacinthe - yes, use light coats and spray paint works fine. Also anything we painted we left outside or in the garage for a week to two weeks to get rid of the odor/vapors. Even the new crib mattress was aired out for a week or so before coming in the house.

[prazenjc]

Dec 27, 2013 15:12:42 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

I'm pretty hippie, but I agree with mrs.jacinthe - yes, use light coats and spray paint works fine. Also anything we painted we left outside or in the garage for a week to two weeks to get rid of the odor/vapors. Even the new crib mattress was aired out for a week or so before coming in the house.

I think you will be fine with spray painting, too, if you air it out as downtoearth describes. We had some spray painted items in the nursery for Preston (3.5 yo now) and did this.

[auntie]

Dried spray paint is fine for babies. But the act of spray painting is probably not good for a pregnant woman.

Is the weather where you are conductive to painting outdoors. Spray paint shouldn't be used indoors. I know of a woman who died a couple years ago spray painting wicker in her garage with the doors open- she developed aplastic anemia.

If you can get someone else to do this for you, I'd recommend using a quality "tractor" paint, doing multiple light coats and degreasing the piece with mineral spirits after lightly sanding.

Otherwise, use a primer, no VOC latex paint and brush it on.

[mollybrown]

I'm not handy at all, and I've spray painted furniture and had it come out great. It really is dummy proof.

Be aware that it might not be as easy as those pictures make it seem depending on the finish of the changing table. The last thing I spray painted was an outdoor wood bench, and it basically ate the first 2 cans of paint with primer. It looked like I hadn't done anything to it. It took cans 3 and 4 to make it actually look white. Don't give up if it doesn't look great right away.

[auntie]

Dec 28, 2013 12:36:05 GMT -5 mollybrown said:

I'm not handy at all, and I've spray painted furniture and had it come out great. It really is dummy proof.

Be aware that it might not be as easy as those pictures make it seem depending on the finish of the changing table. The last thing I spray painted was an outdoor wood bench, and it basically ate the first 2 cans of paint with primer. It looked like I hadn't done anything to it. It took cans 3 and 4 to make it actually look white. Don't give up if it doesn't look great right away.

DS's Eagle Scout project involved cleaning and a cosmetic resoration of a vintage rail stutch stand and signal. I was amazed by the amount of paint the project took- somewhere in the neighborhood of 30+ cans.