Painting EURO pallets

larbakium

Hello,
I have build some garden furniture out of EURO pallets.
Now I would like to paint them white. But I am facing the question to which paint to use.

I have been told to use Cuprinol garden paint (water based - low VOC), but I also been told that for this type of wood, and because its the first time their going to be paint, it should be a OIL based paint (Oil based gloss - medium VOC).

The furniture will be outdoor by default. I do not intend to store them for winter. But I was told that Water based (Cuprinol) also do their job as its the same content used for Fence and Shed (which stays under weather conditions all year round)

I am not sure what to choose.

You probably aware I am trying to be aware of the type of paint and health impact.

listermint

Water based is most likely to fade quickly, rub off on clothes and not last at all.

Fencing paint does not have people sitting on it.

You should use an oil based paint for this purpose as the furniture will have no covering and will require people to sit on it.

my3cents

Any of the Cuprinol water based Garden Shades paints will be fine in fact I'd recommend them 100%.

Ronseal do a similar range of paints.

Neither of the above paints fade or rub off.

Do not use any of the cheap fence paints.

What I recommend is giving the wood a coat of Protim 265 and allowing it to completely dry for at least a few days before using the Cuprinol or Ronseal garden paints. Extra coat of Protim 265 on the legs in contact with the ground wouldn't be a bad idea.

listermint

my3cents wrote: »

Any of the Cuprinol water based Garden Shades paints will be fine in fact I'd recommend them 100%.

Ronseal do a similar range of paints.

Neither of the above paints fade or rub off.

Do not use any of the cheap fence paints.

What I recommend is giving the wood a coat of Protim 265 and allowing it to completely dry for at least a few days before using the Cuprinol or Ronseal garden paints. Extra coat of Protim 265 on the legs in contact with the ground wouldn't be a bad idea.

Theyre more of a stain than a paint though.

Whats the advantages of using them other than working with the water based.

I see none.

my3cents

listermint wrote: »

Theyre more of a stain than a paint though.

Whats the advantages of using them other than working with the water based.

I see none.

You could read the reviews https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cuprinol-CUPGSSEA5L-Litre-Garden-Shades/ and Cuprinols own website says the paint is good for 6 years outside.

Can't see any point in doing all the prep for an oil based paint when these modern paints don't need any prep other than a clean surface, go on really well and last longer.

listermint

my3cents wrote: »

You could read the reviews https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cuprinol-CUPGSSEA5L-Litre-Garden-Shades/ and Cuprinols own website says the paint is good for 6 years outside.

Can't see any point in doing all the prep for an oil based paint when these modern paints don't need any prep other than a clean surface, go on really well and last longer.

Never once seen any water based paint last longer outside than an oil equivalent. Ever.

Lumen

Depends on what you want the paint to do, surely.

If you just want it to change the colour of the thing, water based is fine. Sheds and fences are typically made of pressure treated wood which doesn't need protecting. Pallets are not.

If you want it to protect the thing, it's probably not.

Given that these are pallets, if it was me I'd use the water-based paint/stain and not mind when they eventually rot.

corks finest

my3cents wrote: »

listermint wrote: »

Theyre more of a stain than a paint though.

Whats the advantages of using them other than working with the water based.

I see none.

You could read the reviews https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cuprinol-CUPGSSEA5L-Litre-Garden-Shades/ and Cuprinols own website says the paint is good for 6 years outside.

Can't see any point in doing all the prep for an oil based paint when these modern paints don't need any prep other than a clean surface, go on really well and last longer.

Lot more work though

my3cents

Lumen wrote: »

Depends on what you want the paint to do, surely.

If you just want it to change the colour of the thing, water based is fine. Sheds and fences are typically made of pressure treated wood which doesn't need protecting. Pallets are not.

If you want it to protect the thing, it's probably not.

Given that these are pallets, if it was me I'd use the water-based paint/stain and not mind when they eventually rot.

The Protim 265 I suggested will make a big difference to how long the timber will last outside.

my3cents

corks finest wrote: »

Lot more work though

Sorry not with you? I don't see any extra work with a product that can be painted directly onto rough saw timber?

larbakium

Thank you for the discussion and the different views.

The seats will be covered with cushions. People will not sit directly onto the pallets.

The main goal is to give color. But also protect it, since im going through the trouble of doing the furniture. The oil based proposition was about giving a better protection to the wood and i suppose a better seal to avoid rotten timber or little bug friend from developing.
I was told on a chat with a friend that oil based would/could crack easily. would turn yellowish quicker. and repaint you need to strip the old paint off. (these were disadvantages)

I like the idea of these cuprinol paints because dont bring a gloss to the furniture. It seems we can just paint over. Their lower voc. maybe they dont do that great of a job protecting against wood infestation .. or maybe im wrong and they both do the same job at this level... i dont know..

my3cents

The Cuprinol Garden Shades do a very good job at protecting the wood. For a start they stay on the wood and move with it as it moves with the weather conditions much better than oil based paints. The colours are good and dense apart from some of the lighter shades the yellows needing two coats for a good density of colour. The voc makes no difference to how well the paint works, the Garden Shades range are afaik in effect an acrylic glue with pigment.

The Protim 265 will stop bug infestations and rot. One coat overall. flood the joints and allow any end grain in contact with the ground to soak up as much as it can.