What Is Rustoleum Enamel Paint? When the Rustoleum paint dries, it will form a glossy and hard finish. This type of finish is mainly used for metals.
The protective coating layers are manufactured to defend various surfaces from damaging elements such as weather and other outdoor damages.
You might wonder whether you can use Rustoleum paint when working with wooden projects. You can use Rustoleum paint for your wood projects to get those protective benefits on your wooden items and furniture.
Read more to find out how to apply Rustoleum to your wooden items.
Can You Use Rustoleum As Wood and Furniture Finish?
Rustoleum is mainly designed to protect metal items. However, it doesn’t mean you can’t paint your wooden furniture with it.
You can use Rustoleum paint if you do the wood preparation well. For the best result, opting for the oil-based Rustoleum is recommended.
You must sand your wood project beforehand to scrap off the old finish. After sanding, wipe away the dust residue with a wet, lint-free rag or tack cloth until the surface dries.
Once it dries, you can start to apply a primer with an oil-based type. It is recommended to use the Rustoleum brand for the oil-based primer.
You should use the Rustoleum brand because the company has a great variety of wood paint products for diverse applications which you can select.
Thus, you can select both the primer and paint from Rustoleum to get the best results.
Is Priming Needed Before Applying Rustoleum Oil?
When dealing with metal surfaces, it is not required to do priming on your surface. However, if you are working with wooden surfaces and furniture, it is important to prime your surfaces beforehand.
The metal primer will make the paint stick to the wood well, thus creating a protective coat. As a result, it will make the wooden surface becomes durable.
How To Use Rustoleum Enamel To Paint Wood
The first thing you should do before painting your wood using Rustoleum metal paint is to decide on the application methods.
There are two methods you can use. They are the spray can method and the brush-on method.
Research the Rustoleum brand to learn which option is suitable for your project.
All Rustoleum products are good for your projects if you follow the instructions correctly. That’s why your choice should be based on your preference and not on the product’s superiority over the others.
Here are the tools and supplies you need to prepare before painting your wood using Rustoleum paint:
- Rustoleum Metal Paint
- Roller or paintbrush
- Protective Clothing
- Tack Cloth
- Tarp
- Mineral spirits
- Painter’s tape
- Hand gloves
The Procedures To Paint Your Wooden Surface Using Rustoleum Paint
As explained before, Rustoleum paint needs proper surface preparation to work well. You need to use sandpaper to sand the wooden surface and apply oil based primer coat before using Rustoleum.
Here are the complete procedures to paint your wood with Rustoleum paint:
Firstly, Prepare Your Workspace Before Painting
It is important to use plastic sheeting or drop cloth and cover your floor with it to prevent any spill that can mess up your workspace.
After that, you need to mask the areas or edges of wood that you don’t need to paint. You can use painter’s tape to do the job. The tape will protect the edges from paint spills and make your work look professional.
You also need to use a protective garment, preferably long-sleeved clothing that you don’t mind getting spilled with paint. Moreover, wear a pair of hand gloves to protect your hands from getting stained with paint.
To protect your nose and respiration system, it is advisable to wear a respirator.
Use Sandpaper To Sand Your Surface Down Before Applying Rustoleum
The first thing of surface preparation is sanding. You can use sandpaper with a medium level of grit and sand your wood surface to make it smooth and clean.
The recommended sandpaper grit level is between 180 to 220. This grit level will give you optimal results. Try to experiment with those medium-grit levels of sandpaper on your project.
Use a light touch when using sandpaper and scrape the wood according to the direction of your surface’s wood grain.
Clean Your Wood Surface
Sanding is a messy process, and the residue will be formed. Take a dry paintbrush and clean up the excess dust residue from your surface. Then use a damp rag or tack cloth to clean the debris completely.
If you plan to clean the surface using a damp rag, make sure you grab and squeeze the rag with a twisting motion to eliminate the excess water.
Don’t let your tack cloth wet the wood, as it will make the wood grain’s structure undesirable.
After cleaning, Leave your wood piece for a few minutes to dry. Then you can proceed to apply the primer to it.
Use Oil-Based Primer To Make Rustoleum Paint Effectively Adheres To The Wood
Use a primer with an oil-based type so the Rustoleum paint can properly stick to the wood surface. Thus, it will create a protective and durable coat.
You can apply a large amount of primer to your surface. However, distribute the paint evenly on the whole surface and don’t miss a spot.
Consider using an acrylic bonding latex primer, which works well on the wood surface. To apply the primer, use a paint roller or paintbrush with high-quality material.
Once you are done priming your wood, leave the primer to dry properly. Typically, it takes around three hours until it dries. You can wait longer if the weather is not optimal. Bad weather requires a longer time for the prime to dry.
Using a primer is an important step to create a finish with durable quality when using Rustoleum metal paint on your wood surface. The primer will protect and make the paint stick to your sanded wood surface for a long time.
While waiting for the primer to dry, you can wash your paintbrush using mineral spirits. Thus, the bristles of your paintbrush don’t get clogged with dry primer.
Prepare Your Rustoleum Paint
After the primer has dried properly, you can use Rustoleum paint. Take the paint and open it. Use a clean stick to stir the paint until it gets mixed to a uniform color.
You need to stir the paint can because the paint’s pigments are typically at the bottom of the can when it is not used or when you put it in storage.
Stirring the paint is important to redistribute the pain ingredients properly. If you don’t stir it, your project will have unattractive color patches.
Apply Rustoleum Paint To Your Wood Project
After stirring, apply the Rustoleum oil-based paint over the primed surface using a clean paint roller or paintbrush.
If you use a spray option, shake the can well before you use it. Apply the spray can to your wood project directly. Make sure you apply an even paint coating on the whole surface.
After you’re done, leave the wood to dry for about 2 hours or as instructed on the paint product.
Apply Another Coating Layer Of Rustoleum Paint
Before applying another layer, ensure the first coat has dried well. It may take a few hours to 24 hours to dry. At this time, you have to be patient and give it enough time for it to dry completely.
Once it dries, examine your painted wood. You can add more coats if you want. Apply 2 or 3 layers of even paint coatings so your surface has full paint coverage.
You can always apply more coats until you are satisfied with the result. However, give the coat adequate time to dry between coats, and don’t rush it.
You may use sandpaper to scuff-sand your surface between coats to add grip. Always allow each coat to be completely dry before doing the sanding process.
Use a light touch during the sanding process between paint coats.
