our fun friend bruce makes any regular old day feel like a celebration by proclaiming it to be, for instance, “donut-hole-sunday” or “pink-shirt-tuesday”. following in his tradition, mrs. jones is officially declaring today, the last day in january, to be fresh-start-monday. official observances will include priming everything in sight, and trying (one more time) to get a handle on the new points plus program.
the priming means that there will be beautified things to show you soon. and since several lovely readers have written lately to ask about primers, this seems like a good time to share a few things i’ve learned along the way:
1. unless you’re using chalk paint®, don’t skip it. seriously. (it’s like me thinking i can get away with that jersey maxi-dress and no spanx.) whatever the project, your results will be so much better for it, and not priming won’t save the time or effort you might think.
2. use the right primer for the right task, and don’t forget about sanding sealer for those few particular projects. here are the ones on my shelf:
kilz premium – great for almost every task. indoor/outdoor, water-based, quick re-coat time.
zissner cover stain – to keep those pesky pink/red/brown stains on old furniture from “blooming” and seeping through your fresh paint. shellac-based, so it’s kind of sticky & smelly, but the only way to go over old mahogany or cherry.
stix – a super-bonding primer that will stick to almost anything…great for turning pvc pipe into gilded curtain rods and priming slick old veneered surfaces. needs to dry at least three hours before topcoating, but is water-based, and tintable.
enamel undercoat – either benjamin moore or fine paints of europe – it’s what you have to have under an oil-based enamel for smooth coverage and high adhesion. oil-based. spanx.
happy fresh start monday.
catherine says
I assume I cannot use “stix” on a veneered pine or ash or maple (light wood under stain) beast of an old china cabinet? You know, it has that mahogany/cherry looking stain and shine on it, from the 80s. I bet you anything you will tell me I got to use that oil based Cover stain after I sand. …..tell me it ain’t so?
Cat
catherine says
oh and I forgot, totally crack me up on the points plus and spanx…..Ditto
stephanie says
cat, you have me there….if you don’t mind adding a can of stix to your inventory (i know you, you’ll always use it for something else that comes along!) i would give it a try on the veneered piece after just a light sanding. you might try one drawer or small section…stix and then paint, and see if you have any “blooming” stain come through. if so, you’ll just have to re-prime.
the pieces i’ve had to re-do with zissner are the older ones, ’40s & ’50’s era. and of course if you’re using a dark paint color over it, it won’t matter…the “blooming” only affects lighter paints, and it’s not an adhesion issue, it’s a color situation.
good luck! send “afters”! xx
catherine says
S: THANKS for your comments on my blog. You are too sweet. My niece started it and I have not edited that entry yet about the sideboard you helped me on and was going to put in your link etc and rave about you AND THEN tell you about my blog. I am going to change it and will let you know. Plus I am doing a post on you
Barbara Renfrow says
please add me to your newsletters/email barbrenfrow@yahoo.com
stephanie says
thank you barbara! i will do that just as soon as my improved site is up and running – hopefully in the next 3 to 4 weeks….we’re adding a mailing list & newsletter then.