Can You Spray Paint Wood?

Painting using a brush may result in brush marks and drips, so many people resort to spraying paint.
However, can you spray paint wood?
Do you have plans for painting your wooden furniture soon?
Spray painting is considered an easy way to achieve an even and smooth finish, which is usually used in painting roof and automobile. Let’s check if spray painting is also applicable for wood.
What is Spray Painting?
Spray painting is a relatively easy way to achieve a smooth and even finish on a wooden furniture. Yes, spray painting is also suitable to be used in wooden furniture pieces. most especially for items with intricate designs.
Like any material, wood requires preparatory steps prior to spray paint application. If the wood surface has been waxed polyurethane, lacquer, or shellac finish, it won’t accept paint until the current finish is removed. Some chemicals are sold at the paint store to remove wax and prepare furniture to accept paint. It helps lightly sanding.
What are the Things You’ll Need?
Here are the things you need to spray paint wood:
- spray paint
- primer
- sandpaper
- tack cloths
- tarp
- newspapers or drop cloths
- masking tape
- vacuum cleaner
How to Choose the Right Furniture
Choosing an appropriate furniture is important because you need to avoid upholstery. If you’re painting an outdoor furniture, select a paint with high moisture resistance as well as sun protection. You need to avoid painting antique furniture because it will alter those pieces and can damage their value significantly.
Removing all hardware depends on the type of furniture you’re painting. You need to unscrew and remove the components, like handles and knobs beforehand, as well as any drawers too. Paint all objects separately, reassembling the furniture when the parts are completely dry.
Cover the objects and the surrounding area. Spray paint has minute particles settling on surrounding surfaces, that’s why protecting them is important. Cover all the floor and surrounding objects with drop clothes, newspapers, or masking tape.
How to Prepare Wood
Sanding the surface beforehand is important in order to remove all rough edges. Begin with a rough sandpaper, repeating the process using a finer sandpaper grit to achieve a smoother texture.

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Clean the wood surface thoroughly to remove the sawdust by using a soft cloth. Avoid wetting the furniture because it will penetrate the wood, thus causing damage. You can use a vacuum cleaner to clean the area thoroughly. Remember that any dust can land on the furniture when the paint is wet. An air compressor is a better way of blowing off dust. You can also use aerosol cans of pressurized air.
How to Spray Paint Wood
Use a compatible primer and paint. Make sure that they’re compatible with each other. It’s a great idea practicing spray painting on a piece of cardboard or scrap object before you paint a wood furniture. By doing so, you can get you accustomed to how the spray gun behaves. It is also a good way to figure out your pacing and movements.
You need to apply a primer first before painting. A wooden furniture would need one or two coats of primer. Spraying the primer in light coats and ensuring complete coverage is important for a successful spray painting project.
Allow it to completely dry before you spray paint. Using primer results in a glossy and smooth finish overall.
Read More: Common FAQs About Woodworking Techniques [List 2]
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Wear protective gear because primer and paint have toxic fumes harmful to human health.
Ensure that the work area has a proper ventilation. Use a ventilation fan and open windows. Use a face mask or respirator for safety and protection.
Don’t spray in windy or dusty conditions to prevent dust and paint accumulation. Always maintain the proper distance between the furniture and the paint can. Don’t spray too far or too close. Always maintain a distance of 10 inches. As you spray paint, don’t stop moving your hand to achieve an even finish.
Conclusion
Yes, you can spray paint wood. Proper ventilation and preparation of the wood furniture are very important for a successful spray painting project. Also, wear protective clothing to avoid inhaling toxic fumes. Have you enjoyed reading this post? Great! Like and share this post now and comment below!
Sources
https://www.wikihow.com/Spray-Paint-Furniture
https://www.doityourself.com/stry/10-tips-for-spray-painting-your-wood-furniture
https://www.krylon.com/how-to/how-to-videos/how-to-spray-paint-wood-video/