Friday, October 28, 2011

OVER Stripping and Sanding!

I've been working on the "double YUCK twins" here for a few days now.  To say that I'm disgusted with them is an understatement. 


These girls belong to my mother.  I posted on FB last night about how I grew up with these chairs and how I'm AMAZED that none of the 1000 layers of top coat have worn off through the years.  Must be some skull and cross bones product from the 70's that ate the lungs out of everyone who came in contact with it.  I used a stripper on them.....  TWICE.  I sanded them for two days!  Still I could not get them back to bare wood to re-stain them as I had initially thought I would.  I have a tendency to have grand ideas and underestimate the complexity of certain things.  I've always thought if I set my mind to something, I could acheive it.  Don't get me wrong.  I COUD HAVE acheived it but it would have taken atleast 2 or 3 more days of sanding and bleaching.  Pure exhaustion and the aching in my arms and back convinced me to GIVE IT UP ALREADY!  So, these pains chairs are getting black paint versus black stain. 

With all that said, I'm pretty much over stripping and sanding (for the time being anyway).  I've been drooling over the ever famous Annie Sloan Chalk Paint that is spread all over furniture blogland.  However, the price makes me queezy.  What is it?  Like $35 per quart?.  My cheap thrifty heart can't take it!  I look at it, I salivate and then I look at the price and I'm like Sanford (of Sanford and Son) grabbing my heart and screaming, "it's a big one Elizabeth!"  But, then there are the claims that no sanding or primer is needed.  This paint will cover and adhere to ANYTHING.  That part is extremely appealing!  My aching arms and back say, "Yes FOOL!  Bust out that credit card and get to ordering". 

Not so fast aching body parts!  I've read several blogs giving formulas to make your own chalk paint for $4.  Now you're speaking my language!  They say to mix latex paint with Calcium Carbonate (which I could not find at my local health food store), Plaster of Paris and some say sandless grout.  Apparently the sandless grout is the formula for chalkboard paint (according to Martha Stuart).  Who can argue with Martha?  Well, I probably would but we won't go there!  So, I'm going to give this homemade chalk paint a try over the weekend and paint a small piece and see what I get. 

If this works, cover your ears because I'm gonna be squeeling from the rooftop!!!!! 

3 comments:

  1. If you haven't tried the ASCP yet, you'll probably love the homemade recipe, because it really is a major improvement over latex. However imho Annie is still better in lots of respects. Considering the price point though, I can deal with slower drying time and all the mixing. On some projects, that is. ASCP is a fabulous tool to have in the tool bag - as is this recipe. Just a tip - when I tried this recipe it did not pass my "scratch test" - the paint came right off when I scratched at it, unlike the ASCP. I would say you still need a light sanding, and a good coat of the recipe for it to work out. Good luck & Happy Painting! (sometimes I think it's funny, the expensive chalk paint craze, and to sell an expensive product to DIY'ers...it's only a matter of time before we figure out how to DIY and then it'll spread like wildfire.)

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  2. I'm totally naive, but why can't you just use the cheap-o chalk board paint at Wal-mart? I've seen a colored chalkboard paint recipe on Pinterest. Oh, maybe you're not even talking about chalkBOARD paint. Either way, you go girl!

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  3. I don't want to be a downer, but those recipes just give the look of chalk paint...I think the latex base will still react the same over the varnish...(please don't shoot me!)

    If you are going to try it, maybe try with acrylic? Some smart Chalk Paint stockist should send you a sample pot! You'll never go back..wink wink.

    In any event, good luck! I'm curious to see how it turns out!

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