How to paint lumber black?

[ps2cho]

Hi guys,

I have no experience with painting.

What's the best way to stain regular construction lumber black?

I have a DA, and hit it with 80grit then sprayed it black from a rattlecan, but it doesn't look perfect.

What's the procedure for a newbie to get a more shiny smooth finish?

Thanks!

 

[sucker_fish]

Did you prime it before painting?

 

[ps2cho]

I am using Rust-oleum painters touch 2x ultra cover paint + primer.

 

[fishgate]

A lot has to do with the quality of the wood. Lower quality wood has more open grain and needs more sanding as well as filler to make it totally smooth. Multiple coats of paint also help in that respect. I'd hit it with a coat of kilz first and then spray 3-4 coats of color if you are looking for shiny smooth.

 

[Hudzon]

Cheap and easy way
1. Sand surface smooth with no deep scratches (use filer if needed)
2. Prime 2-3 coats sanding with 320 grit between
3. Spray Color coat, use light coats many layers sand at the last coat with 400 grit and spray one more layer and sand with 600 grit or 1000 grit
4. Now spray clear coats several thin layers and sand after 5-10 coats with 600 1000 and 2000.
5. Then Buff with rubbing compound, then swirl compound (maybe one or another) and later after a couple week cure you can use car polish or a jewelers rouge...

 

[Snausy]

Well if you want a shiny smooth surface you need to get much finer than 80 grit. 80 grit is my first level of sandpaper to remove material and level joints etc. Then it's on to 120 then 220.

Hudson is using finer sandpaper because he's talking about sanding paint. I think you should START by sanding the wood much finer than 80. Then follow his directions.

My .02

 

[brvheart]

Cheap and easy way
1. Sand surface smooth with no deep scratches (use filer if needed)
2. Prime 2-3 coats sanding with 320 grit between
3. Spray Color coat, use light coats many layers sand at the last coat with 400 grit and spray one more layer and sand with 600 grit or 1000 grit
4. Now spray clear coats several thin layers and sand after 5-10 coats with 600 1000 and 2000.
5. Then Buff with rubbing compound, then swirl compound (maybe one or another) and later after a couple week cure you can use car polish or a jewelers rouge...

"Cheap and easy" LOL

 

[woodnaquanut]

Shiny smooth? Construction lumber?

Really?

Cover it with some better wood first.

 

[Snausy]

I just spent way too much money on some nice Poplar for my canopy.

I agree with your general idea woodnaquanut, but if he's just going to paint it with a can of rustoleum...

Nice wood can get expensive and it should NEVER be painted over with a can of black spraypaint imho.

 

[woodnaquanut]

Poplar would be the exact wood I'd use to paint if looking for a 'shiny smooth finish'. Very small, tight grain pattern.
Construction lumber, usually douglas fir or similar, has a very LARGE grain pattern. Much harder to get 'shiny smooth finish' because the grain is hard to hide.

Now stain grade lumber, Oak, Cherry, Maple, Walnut, etc. gets much more expensive.

Don't buy hardwoods at HomeDepot, Lowes. Those are the most expensive places. Find a hardwood supplier that sells to cabinet shops. Much better selection and prices. If you live in the NE USA look for local mom/pop lumber mills. Some great deals to be had.

 

[Snausy]

Wish I saw that post before I went to Lowes to get my wood. It was indeed expensive.

 

[hllywd]

I'd use a sanding sealer on any lumber I planned to finish with a glossy, smooth paint finish. It will seal up the grain preventing it from raising when your paint soaks into it.

Apply the sanding sealer according to it's instructions, allow it to dry then sand, prime, and paint with quality materials. Kilz would not be my choice of a primer for a woodworking project.

 

[sleepydoc]

If you're simply painting and want a really smooth surface, you can putty or another filler to fill in all the small voids in the wood surface. Poplar is also an excellent choice of wood.

To the OP - this isn't overly difficult, but you seem to be pretty inexperienced with projects. Do a lot of reading before proceeding, otherwise you'll just end up wasting money and getting frustrated.

 

[uncleof6]

Depends on how involved you want to get:

 

[woodnaquanut]

So Uncle, just what is that? It looks like a piece of granite, polished.

Please tell me it's not styrofoam you sanded smooth and then painted!

It sure is shiny!

 

[uncleof6]

k, won't tell you its granite, becasue it isn't. Won't tell you it is styrofoam, cause it isn't.

Its just a chunk of wood, that has been sanded, filled, (repeat as needed) painted > sanded (repeat as needed,) clear coat > sanded (repeat as needed) then buffed out. It is called an "Automotive Finish," and is applied the same way, the only difference is the substrate and amount of work required.

Is it worth the effort? Not really, unless you want this specific look. It is "painting wood black" taken to the extreme. However, getting a smooth finish on wood requires most of the process. (Indicated in a few posts above.)

 

[cody6766]

did you just wake up and decide to burn 10 hrs making a black mirror out of a piece of wood? haha. Well done. I've done some paint work on fiberglass stereo components and loved/hated doing it. There's nothing like spending 12 hrs building something to turn around and spen 20 hours sanding, priming, sanding, painting, sanding, sanding sanding.

 

[tallball158]

You can use some wood putty, and sand it down with some fine grit sand paper.