**cmeon**

[chuicafina]

What is the paint that you use on your blocks? I know I've asked you before, and I should have written it down, but I didn't.

I have some scrap wood that I want to make blocks out of for DS for Christmas. They're leftover 2x4's from building our chicken coop, so they'll just be triangles, squares and rectangles, but hopefully still fun for him to play with. Do you happen to know of any reason I shouldn't use 2x4s for this? They're not pressure-treated, so I don't think there's any chemicals added or anything.

Thanks...hope it's okay that I'm asking you all these questions!

[cmeon]

Go for it- if they're not treated, they're fine.

I use the Martha Stewart line by Plaid- I find the best selection at Michael's, and get them for around $1 each when they go on sale + 20% coupon or whatever. They have really nice coverage compared to the other popular brands, and I love the High Gloss in particular. The satins are okay, too, though- I water them down for the blocks so they sort of act like a stain- but, I've used them on other projects, and they really just need two coats for perfect coverage.

I think I mentioned it before, but, I sand down the paint with a 320grit paper after I do the wash of paint- it pulls up the fibers of wood and leaves it feeling really scratchy. That quick sand makes it perfectly smooth again. And then drop the blocks on the ground a bunch to knock off all the colorful sawdust.

Oh, one more thing to know- 2x4's here are usually of wet southern pine- it can have sap pockets hidden in it, which are super messy- just something to be aware of while you're cutting.

[chuicafina]

Thank you for all those tips!! I'll look out for sap pockets, and for a 20% off coupon to Michaels. Can't wait!!

[cmeon]

They go on sale like every other week- but, they sell them in little $20 10 packs that you can apply a regular old 50% off coupon to, if you don't feel like waiting for the perfect on-sale + 20% total purchase coupon storm.

They also mix really really well- so, you could just grab a few and make your own colors off of them! When I do that, I mix in cheap little medicine cups and make more than enough for the first coat, in case I have to do touch ups after drying and sanding the first coat. Wrapping the cups in a piece of foil keeps the paint wet for a few days.

[chuicafina]

Thanks for all your help cmeon! Hopefully I'll have something to post soon.