Things to Consider Before You Paint Wet Wood

What Happens When You Paint Wet Wood?

The paint will peel off over time if applied to wood furniture that is not completely dry. You will be faced with unpleasant scratches before you repaint.

When painting wood, you must ensure that the wood is completely dry to ensure the best results. But yet, it’s still possible to paint wet wood only if you know the trick.

3 Reasons Woodworkers Using and Selling Wet Wood

Many woodworkers use furniture painting projects while the wood is still moist. Some even sold raw wood materials that were not completely dry. So, what are the reasons?

Wood drying naturally takes a long time

The process of drying wood naturally takes a long time. It could either take months or even years. So, many people are reluctant to wait for the wood to dry up to that limit.

They need to quickly process the wood into furniture products and sell them for profit.

Expensive drying costs

The cost of drying wood with an oven is very expensive. Many people had to rethink the wood because the market demand was cheap. So, the cost of putting the wet wood in the oven will be higher than the wood selling price. 

The oven process must be in large quantities 

There must be a lot of wood to dry at once in the oven process. If only 1-2 pieces of wood are dried, the production price increases. It might not be a problem if there are many orders at once.

How to Paint Dry Wood?

Even though it is possible to paint wet wood, it is not recommended. Meanwhile, know some of the ways you can paint dry wood:

Tools and materials you’ll need:

  • Paint tub
  • Newspaper, plastic, or cloth
  • Grinder or sandpaper
  • Two brushes

Prepare a working area

The room must be clean and have good air circulation and lighting. You will find it difficult to paint in the dark. If you need to paint at night, ensure the lights are bright and at the right angle.

If you don’t want the work area dirty, cover the furniture with a cloth, a newspaper or plastic.

Making sure the wood is dry and clean

You can paint the wood properly only if the part of the wood is dry and the surface is clean. If it is still wet, ensure it gets enough sunlight.

Even out the wood

Grind the part of the wood you want to paint. The grinding process can be difficult. Leave it to the experts so that the results are even and smooth. Alternatively, you can use sandpaper to peel off the old paint.

Use a primer

For maximum results, it’s a good idea to use a primer, especially if you want to change the color of the previous paint. The base paint that you can choose, for example, is white.

Use a varnish

The last step in painting is to apply wood varnish or a clear coat. This is done to make the wood look shinier after repainting. You can add varnish when the painting is finished and dry.

Periodic maintenance

Taking care of your furniture from the previously painted wood is no less important. Do not place the furniture in an area that is too hot and exposed to direct sunlight to prevent the paint from fading.

Do regular cleaning to avoid stains from dirt and dust that will affect the quality of the paint. Do not place the furniture in a moist room since it can damage the paint quickly.

Advantages of Painting Dry Wood Over Wet Wood

1. In the distribution process of dry wood, price calculations and other aspects mean reducing production costs.

2. Dry wood is stronger than wet wood.

3. Dry wood is more durable. There’s still water in wet wood, which can source fungi and termites. Thus, wet wood will cause all sorts of stains on wood furniture.

4. Dry wood is easier to work with. For example, the adhesion process will be better. Because, on dry wood, the adhesive has a place to seep into the wood.

5. Dry wood doesn’t rust work equipment.

6. Dry wood has less risk of wood evaporation after the finished product.

Wood Dryness Level Determines Furniture Quality

The best wood used to make furniture is dry wood, which has a low moisture content. The risk of changing the shape of wooden furniture is very small even though it is exposed to bad weather.

Thus, the condition of the wood furniture remains stable and easy to work with.

However, it may be a little difficult to find dry wood. And maybe more furniture is produced from wet wood.

In some furniture, completely dry wood can be found in outdoor or exported furniture with quality of finishing standards (more expensive).

Why Use Water-Based Paint to Paint Wet Wood?

Using waterproof wood paint for wood furniture is one way to make furniture last longer when painted wet. The wood used as a medium for making furniture is certainly very susceptible to damage.

Especially if you are often exposed to environmental influences such as moist or rain. Thus, water-based paints have good coverage, are weather resistant, have long-lasting colors, and are not easy to fade.

2 Tips to Paint Wet Wood with Latex Paint

The condition of wooden furniture is still wet, a problem that often occurs when the sap rises to the surface when painted. You’ll need latex paint when you need to paint wet wood. Try these two simple tips:

  • To prevent stains, spray a layer of anti-latex (melamine glossy, hard, dry paint, or thinner).
  • After the anti-latex layer is dry, then spray the wood paint.

Paint Wet Wood with Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint is similar to latex paint— fast drying, long lasting, and not easy to fade. The content of acrylic paints varies, ranging from low pigment content to acrylic paints with high pigment quality.

The advantages of acrylic paint are:

  • Quick drying
  • Easy to mix with water or wet surface
  • Easy to clean
  • Water-resistant
  • Has good adhesion.