Apartment Therapy Re-Nest | Good Question: Eco-Friendly Spray Paint?

Good Question: Eco-Friendly Spray Paint?

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Bridget is wondering about the best way to paint this chair:

Dear Re-nest,

I bought this chair from an antique store for $10, and I would like to reupholster it in some bright graphic print (I'm thinking yellow). I'd also like to paint the wood, and with the intricate, shiny woodwork, people have suggested I spray paint it. I'm really hesitant about using spray paints, however, as they're not terribly environmentally friendly. What other "green" painting options do I have for this chair? Would I need to sand it all down before I start painting?

Thanks,
Bridget

Bridget, while we've never actually tried it ourselves, we have heard of Krylon's low-VOC spray paint, which may be a good option for this chair. Otherwise, we would recommend any one of these eco-friendly paints for the project, and a small brush for the intricate details.

You should start with wiping down the chair with a damp cloth to remove any dirt. Then take a piece of sandpaper and lightly rub it over all exposed surfaces, followed with another wipe down to remove the dust. Then you can proceed to a primer (if you want) and then paint.

Any other suggestions for Bridget?

Comments (3)

I would also recommmend renting a spray gun and loading it with your low or no VOC paint. I did this for a really ugly dresser and it worked realy well.

posted by akbuilt on June 1st 2009 at 12:42pm
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Wipe it down with mineral spirits, not water. Then sand all that shiny stuff off it, and then, prime it, if you want to paint it. Personally, I'd get it sprayed at an auto body shop, if I wanted a really hard, lacquer-like finish.

But to be honest, I don't think a funky color will really enhance this piece. I'd restain it or paint it black.

posted by FantasticMrFaux on June 1st 2009 at 1:08pm
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I'm no expert in this area, but I know you can spray paint without using a can of spray paint (I assume the badness comes from the propellants that come out of the spray can or something like that, right?).

http://www.google.com/products?q=paint sprayers

posted by Mike Keliher on June 3rd 2009 at 1:14pm
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