Comments on: How to Paint a Smooth Finish! http://news.snodcraft.com/2009/06/16/painting-a-smooth-finish/ The Workmanship is in the Detail! Hand-made Decorative Wood Crafts Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:10:20 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Donna http://news.snodcraft.com/2009/06/16/painting-a-smooth-finish/comment-page-1/#comment-68 Donna Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:30:11 +0000 http://news.snodcraft.com/?p=594#comment-68 Good Question! You are right, certain woods make better outdoor birdhouses. We'd suggest cedar if you like the weathered unpainted look. We used cedar fence planks for ours - cut to size of course. Another suggested wood is exterior plywood, or even interior birch plywood, but the key to a lasting finish no matter the type of wood (except cedar) is primer first, and then an application of house paint. No varnish, spray-on or other is needed when you use house paint. Sanding after the 1st and 2nd coats of paint works. If it still has rough places after that - sand some more! Thanks for your questions and comments. Loved hearing from you! Best regards, Donna Good Question! You are right, certain woods make better outdoor birdhouses. We’d suggest cedar if you like the weathered unpainted look. We used cedar fence planks for ours – cut to size of course. Another suggested wood is exterior plywood, or even interior birch plywood, but the key to a lasting finish no matter the type of wood (except cedar) is primer first, and then an application of house paint. No varnish, spray-on or other is needed when you use house paint. Sanding after the 1st and 2nd coats of paint works. If it still has rough places after that – sand some more! Thanks for your questions and comments. Loved hearing from you! Best regards, Donna

]]> By: Pam Van Vickle http://news.snodcraft.com/2009/06/16/painting-a-smooth-finish/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Pam Van Vickle Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:37:23 +0000 http://news.snodcraft.com/?p=594#comment-67 I thought you had to use only a certain kind of wood for outside birdhouses to last? I painted some for the outside and they are now coming apart from the weather and that is probably primarily because I did not prime the wood first or use standard house paints. I also like the way you said to use short handled brushes versus long handled ones. I also didn't know that. All of the stuff I paint are for outdoor use. You say that the piece should be sanded between coats. I only sanded between the first coat and second coat. I also now know that if I use house paint I don't need to varnish at the end of the process. Do I still need a layer of spray-on matte finish varnish at the end? Thank you for the time it takes to write out these instructions. They are very helpful to the novice! I thought you had to use only a certain kind of wood for outside birdhouses to last? I painted some for the outside and they are now coming apart from the weather and that is probably primarily because I did not prime the wood first or use standard house paints. I also like the way you said to use short handled brushes versus long handled ones. I also didn’t know that. All of the stuff I paint are for outdoor use.

You say that the piece should be sanded between coats. I only sanded between the first coat and second coat. I also now know that if I use house paint I don’t need to varnish at the end of the process. Do I still need a layer of spray-on matte finish varnish at the end?

Thank you for the time it takes to write out these instructions. They are very helpful to the novice!

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