Expert: Eileen Cronk - 6/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I am in the process of painting an 80s pine dresser and was wondering if a light sanding is enough, or is it neccessary to use a chemical wax remover or white spirit? Also, is it best to use a water based paint or an acyrlic paint?

Many thanks

ANSWER: Hi Grace
Nice to hear from the UK.
Personally I would use the white spirit to wipe down the piece if I knew it had wax on it.
Then a light sanding with 120 grit sandpaper.
Use water based acrylic paint.
Grace I'm not sure how paint names are in the UK.
It can get confusing.
Here in Canada waterbased paint is called acrylic latex so we just say latex.
I think in the states they are two seperate paints although both are waterbased but I don't know this as I never bought paint in the US.. It sounds like you have this confusion there too.
Oil based paint is called alkyd paint here...more confusion LOL.
In any event you will do fine with a paint that says acrylic.
Best of luck
Eileen




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Eileen,
Thanks ever so much for your detailed and speedy reply! I have just started to apply an undercoat to the dresser, 24 hours after having applied one coat of primer, and the paint does not seem to be sticking. I used white spirit and sanded to remove all the wax before applying the primer.
I was wondering whether I should wait until the undercoat has dried, then sand it down and reapply the primer? Your advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank You
Grace

Answer
Hi Grace
Your prep work was fine so thats not the problem
Was your primer by chance oil based and your next coat water based?
If yes, thats why its not sticking.
If both are water based, give everything a good chance to dry and then see if its sticking. Can't imagine that it won't.
Regards
Eileen