Preparing Wood Furniture for Painting

Wood Preparation: "To have the best possible wood surface to paint your artwork on, please take the time to prepare the wood."

Fill any holes, scratches or gouges with wood filler. Let dry.

Sand wood with 150 or 220 grit sand paper. Please sand along the grain of the wood furniture. If you sand across the grain, it could leave tiny scratches that could be seen after you paint.

CAUTION: if using an electric sander, please wear safety equipment.



Seal the wood with either a water-based or oil-based wood sealer. Let dry. Wood is a porous material, and without sealing it before you paint, the grain could raise, leaving you with a rough and bumpy surface.

CAUTION: please seal your wood furniture in a well ventilated area.

Sand one more time with 220 or 400 grit sandpaper. Some painters also use the unprinted side of a brown paper sack to sand with. This final sanding smoothes any rough surfaces left after sealing. This should give you a nice smooth surface.

Remove any sanding dust with either a tack cloth, or I prefer to blow the dust off with my air compressor. A tack cloth might leave some reside behind.

CAUTION: when using an air compressor, take care not to blow directly onto your skin and please wear a dust mask and eye protection to keep your eyes and lungs safe.

Now you are ready to paint on your wood!

Keywords: Painting Wood Furniture, Preparing Wood Furniture
Writer: Alyson