First use of milk paint

[Lou Jacobs]

I’ve just used milk paint for the first time, as I find both the colors available and the finish so appealing. I really don’t know any of the nuances of using the material and wonder if you can offer some advice. I read (too late) about adding a binder to the paint to help with adhesion. Is this necessary? In what circumstances? How much sanding between coats? What kind of “topcoat” is desirable and/or possible to protect and/or change the reflectivity? Here’s my first coat on a small sycamore bowl. Thanks loads!

 

[Dan Stromberg]

I'll be following this one with interest. Are you using the kind that comes in powder form and you mix with water yourself, or are you using the premixed cans?

 

[hockenbery]

Milk paint offers many rewards and can be used to achieve a wide variety effects.
Your bowl is one of many pleasing effects..
I suggest looking for a demo by Kimberly Winkle (stool & others) or Al Stirt (milk paint bowl)

I like using it where I want multiple colors. We use “old fashioned” that wood craft sells.
Many woods get a reddish color when painted which adds to the colors.
Surfaces that have high spots will reveal different layers when cut back

Here are two examples -
cherry ball my wife did black milk paint over texture sanded back to the wood.

Sapeli Seed jar sand carved feather pattern painted black over blue then sanded back with 400.
Shows black, blue, and wood. Trying for an old look.
The second sapeli is near natural color to give a sense of the color change in the wood from the milkpaint.

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Al, thanks for the suggested videos. I’ll look for them.
Dan, yes, this is powdered milk paint. Mixed with water roughly 1:1 by volume. They suggest just mixing what you can use in a limited time, as apparently it spoils pretty quickly. I used about a tablespoon of powder and same amount of water. Covered this 8 1/2” bowl pretty well and had some left over. It is the brand that Al mentioned, from Woodcraft. We have a new Woodcraft in Baltimore that just opened on Monday. I bought it there.

 

[Dan Blankenberg]

Lou,
I’ve used the 1:1 milk paint 3-4 different times now. I’ve applied two coats, sanding with 320 between applications. I think it has its place in the shop. Works well for me on smaller pieces like cereal bowls and the like. Interested in others suggestions on different ways to use the product.

 

[Dan Blankenberg]

Here’s another example of milk paint.

 

[Lou Jacobs]

These are quite beautiful Dan. Is there a finish over the paint?

 

[Dan Blankenberg]

These are quite beautiful Dan. Is there a finish over the paint?

Yes. 3 coats wipe on satin poly over the paint and 3-4 coats of Danish oil on the interior. I like to get the poly applied and let it set up well before I start the Danish oil process.

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Wonderful! Thanks Dan.