Can I Spray Paint Wood? – Detailed Guide

Markets offer many types of spray paint, each intended for a specific purpose. However, to spray paint your old furniture or any wood, you need to get the right spray paint for a professional and high-quality finish, as not all are suitable for every type of wood. Certain factors should be considered before spray painting the wood.

In the case of bare wood, the foremost step is to prime the wood that gives it a solid base coating to get a professional finish, as this type of wood absorbs an ample amount of paint. Furthermore, previously varnished or painted wood must be primed perfectly to avoid various issues, including chipping, bubbling, etc.

Can I Spray Paint Wood On Wood?

You can easily spray paint wood using the correct spray paint type. Nevertheless, the right type of spray paint and identification of the wood type is essential to get the perfect finish. In the case of bare, varnish, and already painted or stained wood, the foremost step is to prime the wood, helping the paint to absorb perfectly.

Furthermore, bare and raw wood is a high paint absorbent. Applying the extra layer of primer reduces paint usage, which prevents the paint from wastage and saves money and time. Another benefit of priming the wood is reducing the underlying color or adhesion issues, leading to a consistent and smooth finish. You need to follow the steps while spray painting the wood.

How To Spray Paint The Wood?

Materials

Following are the materials that are needed for spray paint for wood:

  • Paint scraper
  • Primer
  • Drop cloth
  • Sandpaper
  • Electric random orbital sander
  • Paint sprayer
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Enamel
  • Shop vac

Preparing The Wood

The first and foremost step is to prepare the wood by applying the primer layer. The extra layer of primer prevents the wastage of paint and saves time and money. It is recommended to start painting wood outdoors for better ventilation. Additionally, you should maintain a dust-free and clean surface for the wood.

To adhere to the new primer, you must scuff sand the whole part of the wood or furniture. Using a vacuum, the dust can be cleaned next. Grab the microfiber damped rag and clean up the residual dust from the wood. After that, remove the loose finish or flatten the flaky or damaged area of the wood by scraping or sanding for a smooth finish.

Safety Equipment

Another critical step involved in spray painting the wood is to collect all the necessary safety equipment for protecting the eyes, nose, throat, and hands from irritation and various health issues caused by inhaling the spray paint. All you need are rubber gloves, masks, and eye protection glasses. It is recommended to spray paint the wood in an open space with proper ventilation to reduce the harmful effects of the spray paint.

Use Spray Paint

Using the correct type of paint is necessary as only some spray paints are suitable for some types of wood. Aerosol spray paints are considered highly affordable and available in a wide range of colors. These spray paints offer a better finish and are a good investment. After priming the wood, flip the wood upside down and start painting from the bottom.

Press the nozzle and keep the spray paint from a far distance. Apply the paint using long strokes to cover the whole area of the wood, including the edges. Slightly overlap the painting spray to have an even and balanced paint coating. If too much paint is applied onto the wood piece, dripping and many other issues arise. To overcome the dripping issue, apply the second layer of paint after drying the first one.

Professional Sprayer

Airless Sprayers

Airless spray paints are considered one of the most influential and highly recommended sprayers for wood. The best part of these sprayers is that they pressurize the paint through the tip and hose designed to atomize the coating. Furthermore, these sprayers can paint a wide area in less possible by using less paint than HVLP sprayers. Another noteworthy feature is that they have a larger storage capacity.

HVLP Sprayers

These sprayers make use of turbines to create air pressure. In these paint sprayers, the paint goes into the paint cup, where the air blows that picks up the paint, sending it to the nozzles. These paint sprayers are highly versatile and delicate and offer better paint control while applying the paint on larger wood pieces. They also have a larger paint capacity.

Best Primer For Wood Spray Painting

Primer is the foremost and highly significant option offering a smooth, even paint coating. The wrong choice of primer can cause various issues, including scratching, peeling, dripping, etc. One of the best primers is the Canned Off shelf primer provides an excellent finish. The primer can be applied with a sprayer or Off shelf aerosol rattle can.

Apart from this, adhesion or bonding primer in a gallon or quart-sized container is easy to apply with airless or HVLP sprayers that bind the paint perfectly to the wood. Before applying the primer, the pro-tip is to do a scratch test by applying the primer to a small part of the wood and letting it set overnight. If the primer is absorbed perfectly and does not come off, it’s adhesion. While on the other hand, if it comes off, you must change the primer.

Spray Painting The Varnished Wood

The significant step for painting the varnished wood is to apply the paint with the proper technique to bind and stick the paint on the wood properly and correctly. As the varnished wood is glossy, you must address this surface by sanding it to make it less glossy. This step helps in achieving a perfect and smooth finish. The primer that suits the varnished wood is the bonding primer.

Spray Painting Already Painted Wood

You can easily spray paint the already painted wood. For this, you first need to sand the wood piece to clear out imperfections and even the surface. The next step is to prime that wood piece or old furniture that, prevents paint wastage. The number of coatings that should be applied depends upon the sanding and priming of the wood. If you forgot to apply primer, you need to do an extra coating of paint to have a perfect and balanced finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind Of Spray Paint Works Best On Wood?

The Rust-Oleum brand spray paint is one of the most recommended and highly durable paints suitable for wood painting. The results of this paint are excellent, offering high-quality coverage, a shorter drying period, and high durability and reliability. In addition to being highly affordable, it is also easily accessible.

Do You Have To Sand The Wood Before Spray Painting?

Preparing the wood for spray painting requires sanding. Sanding smoothens and evens out the surface of the wood by clearing out the imperfections. After applying the primer, this step should be done as the primer layer raises the rough textured surface, creating a fuzz.

Is Spray Painting Durable On Wood?

Spray paint is highly durable on wood if priming and sanding of the affected area are done perfectly. The best part of these spray paints is that they provide a better painted and smooth finish to old furniture and various wood pieces.

How Do I Get A Smooth Finish With Spray Paint On Wood?

To get a smooth and perfect finish with spray paint on the wood, you will need first to sand the wood using a fine-grit sanding block. After that, apply the layer of primer that reduces the usage of paint, preventing it from wastage.

How Long Does Spray paint last?

The maximum duration of spray paint is almost 2-3 years. As well as the brand you choose, the durability of the spray paint will also be influenced by it. Krylon and Ironlak stay for 3-5 years, whereas Montana spray paint lasts more than ten years. Hence durability depends upon the type of spray paint and the wood as well.

Wrapping up Spray Paint For Wood

Spray painting the wood is an easy yet technical process as it involves selecting the correct type of spray paint for a specific kind of wood. Furthermore, to get the perfect finish of the spray paint on the wood, the foremost step is to apply primer and then sand the wood piece to remove imperfections and clear the surface. After that, apply the aerosol spray paint that uses pressure for the painting process.

These paint sprays make use of long strokes for paint spraying. Moreover, HVLP and Airless paint sprayers are considered the best for spray painting wood as they are highly durable and offer better quality coverage and less drying period. You can easily paint the varnished and already painted wood by following the above-listed steps and procedures.


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