paint table without leaving brush strokes

Nordicgael

I have a wooden table which is already painted black.the finish is gone dull and a bit chipped along the edge,so i need to freshen it up with a new coat of paint.
i have done furniture before but always left some brush marks in the finish so have you any advice as to how to get a smooth finish when painting?
is there a method to use? should i sand back to bare wood and then use primer before paint?
Is spray painting with spray cans worth condersidering - would it give a smooth finish?

fergal.b

Hi Nordicgael, I painted one of my boats black using the roll and tip method http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-SGcSlNmoo then after building up a few coats if you want a mirror finish you can wet sand it working with 600,800,1000,1500 and 2000 grit paper and finish with rubbing compound and wax.

Nordicgael

Hi Fergal.b,
thanks for your reply.Thats a great loking boat you have, super finish.i dont need such a finish on my table.i never heard of the roll and tip method before so i am going to try it on another piece of wood and see how i get on.
any recommendation for a type or brand of brush i should use?

fergal.b

I used a foam brush, you can get them in most DIY shops and they are cheep enough that you can dump them if you get too much paint on them. You don't want to get it wet just a very light pull over the surface as you go along.

dodzy

Nordicgael wrote: »

I have a wooden table which is already painted black.the finish is gone dull and a bit chipped along the edge,so i need to freshen it up with a new coat of paint.
i have done furniture before but always left some brush marks in the finish so have you any advice as to how to get a smooth finish when painting?
is there a method to use? should i sand back to bare wood and then use primer before paint?
Is spray painting with spray cans worth condersidering - would it give a smooth finish?

First off, the finish is most likely sprayed from manufacturer. Hard to replicate, even with the tips from super skilled Ferg. Sanding back would be a nightmare of a job. And steer clear of regular aerosols. You will end up tearing your hair out. I spray painted in my previous life and you can get superb result with the correct equipment but unlikely you would be able to get your hands on the required equipment / facilities for a clean finish.

You could search spraying facilities who specialize in furniture. Might be worth a shot if you value your table. Definitely the way to go for best finish.

Nordicgael

Thanks for your reply,
yes i agree regarding spraying - and i dont have access to proper spray equipment or cant justify spending the money to get it done professionally.
why is using spray cans a bad idea?
i agree with sanding being a pain but what else can i do? i can use chemical stripper but am worried bout scraping the wood.i think i need to get back to bare wood if i am doing this properly for a smooth finish.

fergal.b

How about covering it in a sheet of formica or tinted perspex might save you a bit of work








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Nordicgael

fergal.b wrote: »

How about covering it in a sheet of formica or tinted perspex might save you a bit of work








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haha yeah that would be a nice easy solution alright but am under instruction from my lovely other half that it needs to look good as new- bright and nice!! how do you make black look bright i wonder??? :-)

DublinDIYguy

Is it just on the top of the table that you want to be free of brush marks?
Adding owatrol to the paint helps reduce brush marks. Or you could use a roller for the top and have orange peel effect instead.
Give it a good sanding on top and use plenty of paint, because it's flat you wont get runs as the paint will just sit on top. Brush marks are usually caused by not using enough paint and having to drag it with the brush to spread it. Also, thin the paint to make it easier to spread..

One shot on kill

What paint and brush are you using.

Fries-With-That

If you use the method suggested by Fergal above you will have no problems.

I have used this system for years (always called it roll and feather) to achieve marble paint effects.

Prime/undercoat surface, sand smooth, hoover and use tack cloth to clean dust, thin coat with a sponge roller (4 inch) and feather with a brush barely touching the surface of the paint.

Feather the paint in alternating strips the width of your brush along the length of the table in one complete stroke.

If you need more than one coat for your desired finish leave 24 -48 hours between coats and give a very light sanding between coats.

The surface can be finished with a good quality wax polish afterwards this will also improve the smoothness of the finish.