Chalk paint Disaster April 13 2014, 1 Comment
So the weekend is here and I am all pumped up to get working on a few accent tables that have been sitting around waiting for my attention. I have tried Annie Sloan's chalk paint and it is amazing! Although I decided with all the chalk paint recipes circulating and all the paint I have sitting in my storage I would mix up a few of my own colors. To my understanding you should be able to apply chalk paint to furniture without priming. I had this nice maple accent table and decided to get started so I gave the piece a cleaning and began to apply my homemade chalk paint. I mixed a 1/2 cup of plaster of paris with a 1/2 cup of hot water and mixed until smooth. Next I added 1 1/2 cups of a nice antique white latex paint by Behr. After stirring very well I began to apply the paint. It took 2 good coats but the paint looked great. When all was done I decided to do my finger nail test and low and behold it easily scratched off. I was disappointed but decided to line up 2 more tables. This time I decided I would give them a quick scuff with steel wool then prime with an oil based primer, then apply my chalk paint. I waited 24 hours then very hesitantly ran my nail across one of the tables. Don't know where I am going wrong but again they scratched. If anyone has any advice for me I would be glad to hear from you as to where I am going wrong.
Comments
Peggy on January 04 2015 at 02:47PM
I’m relatively new at this, but what seems to be working for me is a mixture of 2 cups latex paint, 5 tbs plaster of Paris mixed with 3 tbs of cold water. I’ve done 4 or 5 pieces without sanding or priming and so far so good. Maybe you have to wait until it has cured for a day or so before the fingernail test.
I did discover that if you use a wax sealer, the wax is not permanent and the projects have to be rewaxed every few months so I have switched to finishing with polyacrylic.
Good luck to you.