Replies

1. 
   user-75913 | Feb 27, 2006 05:02pm | #1

   Benjamin Moore satin impervo paint.  Add some floetrol made by flood.   Figure on buying two high quality brushes, expect to spend $20+ on each for them.

   Dont skimp on primer,  choose a primer that holds gloss like SW alklyd classic wood and trim gloos holder. 

   Satin impervo is probably the best oil alklyd available to everyone. 

2. 
   Gretchen | Feb 27, 2006 08:16pm | #2

   You might consider a very fine foam roller. Our painters used that on our kitchen cabinets and they look like they were sprayed. Also VERY well primed.

   Gretchen
1. 
   woodworker418 | Feb 27, 2006 09:48pm | #3

   thanks for the tips.  i think i'll probably try both, the roller and the floetrol, though some of it will have to be brushed for sure given the configuration of the piece.  but thanks again for the tips.

1. 
   scott345 | Mar 11, 2006 09:39pm | #6

   I think your supposed to use penetrol with alkyd paints like Impervo. Floetrol is for latex paints. Which I think you might want to consider, a good acrylic enamel will give you in my opinion just as good a finish as the alkyd without the knockout fumes and the clean up headaches. The floetrol of course will give you a smoother finish. It's hard to eliminate all brush strokes, but a good brush will naturally help, and I do agree with one of the other posters above that sometimes minimal brush strokes are a nice feature, adding a little character, and signs of craftsmanship. Oh yeah a smooth roller in large flat areas does work well as yet another poster had already stated.

   A lot of times I follow the painting up with some water based poly.

3. 
   BG | Mar 04, 2006 02:38pm | #4

   woodorker418,
   There was an article in FWW about a year or so ago on this very topic. I was in the middle painting a piece of poplar for the bathroom and it really helped. The key point of the article was putting on primer until its perfect..then one or two finish coats. In my case, that was three-four primer coats.
   This may sound nuts, but for years now I use a cut in tool (square pad with little wheels)to paint wood. Goes on glass smooth, one stroke, thin...

4. 
   elana | Mar 05, 2006 05:58pm | #5

   dont be afraid of small brush strokes alot of times its the only way to distingush custom work rather them factory built!!

5. 
   highfigh | Mar 13, 2006 06:50am | #7

   You can thin oil based with naptha and it will skin over faster than mineral spirits. Long, slow strokes and don't work it for too long. Same with a roller- if you go too fast, you get little bubbles and need to brush it out again, anyway. Natural bristle, and dip it in mineral spirits before starting to make it easier to clean up.

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."