Enamel Paint on Wood

Do your crown molds crave for a subtle sparkle? Your chair rails wait passively for a varnish that spells gloss? Well, if your crown moldings and chair rails have heard my questionnaire and are winking away to confirm their desires, then here is your chance to fulfill their wish! Applying enamel paint on wood is the answer. Enamel paint on wall panels is a prerequisite to adorning your walls with style. So, let this Buzzle article paint your imagination and your walls! After all, when walls are said to possess ears to eavesdrop, we may presume that they have a heart to flutter as well!

What is Enamel Paint

Enamel paint could be defined as any paint that has a hard, glossy or opaque finish to deliver as its ultimate product. Application of enamel paint on wood is similar to varnish that is used for painting fingernails. It is, indeed a polish that makes the surface look shinier and increasingly reflective. Enamel paints, apart from being used on wood, could be used on any surfaces in the kitchen bathroom, bedrooms, living area ... almost anywhere, where a translucency of sorts is wished for.

Enamel paints are hard, glossy, and water-resistant. A type of enamel paint called oil-based enamel has a pungent odor when applied, while water-based enamel is easier in terms of application and does not possess an intolerable odor. Water-based enamel is also referred to as acrylic or latex paint. Enamel paints are available in a variety, defining splendid finish and texture. Eggshell paint is a type of enamel that is not exactly glossy and not completely matte and delivers a perceptible reflectance of light. Heat resistant paints or enamels are used to paint barbecue grills, boilers, furnaces, engines and wood stoves. Heat resistant paints or enamels are also used in painting any glass piece that is exposed to heat or any glass appliance that becomes hot when in use. Enamel paint when used on wood makes the surface more durable and keeps the regions such as patios looking fresh. Using enamel paint on wood also provides a good coverage for ugly stains.

How to Use Enamel Paint on Wood

Here are some easy, step-by-step instructions to assist you in your painting endeavor.

1. With the help of fine-grit sandpaper, scrub the wooden surface. When you sand any wooden surface you ensure that no edge or surface area is left rough and unruly. You need to prepare the piece of wood furniture or a wainscoting surface before you apply the enamel. If any discrepancies are left, the enamel has an inherent property to make the rough edges or surfaces prominent.
2. The next step is to apply a primer as an undercoat on the surface. It is necessary that you choose a primer shade that matches or is of a lighter tone than the enamel you have decided to apply.
3. Using a brush, apply the undercoat evenly. Make sure that your brush strokes are smooth.
4. Leave the undercoat primer to dry for four to five days.
5. Before painting the surfaces with the enamel, use grit sandpaper on the surface to get rid of any further uneven surfaces caused due to the primer application.
6. Brush off all the dust stuck on the surface area. Use a soft, preferably muslin cloth, to wipe the surface.
7. Now you could commence the painting activity without any second thoughts! Paint the furniture surface or the wooden surface with a paint brush. With long strokes that promise evenness to the surface, a thin coat of enamel is preferred at first. If you find that the surface requires a darker, thicker coat then you are free to apply a second enamel coat.
8. The brush marks will vanish once the paint dries. You should allow the paint to stand for a good amount of time.
9. The average enamel paint drying time is about a week. To hurry up with the drying process, you could use a dehumidifier or put on the air conditioner. Try not to paint the surface during the rainy season. It will take very long for the painted surface to dry. The paint, if needs to dry fast, must face open windows that lets in the air. A well-ventilated room is the key. To bulk up the painted surface, paint the surface with two thin coats rather than applying a thick one in the first go.

Enamel paint could serve to be the perfect emulsion for your walls. You, sure, are personifying surfaces. Oh! ... If only walls could speak!