Skill Set: How to Prime and Paint

Make your projects shine with a perfect finish.

Photography by Brian Francis

This is the fourth installment of Skill Set, a series of beginner woodworking projects. Go online to LowesCreativeIdeas.com/SkillSet if you missed any of the previous Skill Sets.

Your Fourth Skill: Priming and Painting

Select materials and supplies. After you decide on the type of paint
you will use (interior or exterior; latex or oil-based), choose a primer that works with it. For this project, use a 2-inch-wide brush; use smaller brushes on edges and details. Cover your work surface with a drop cloth, newspaper, or old tablecloth.
Tip: For an optimal finish, choose paintbrushes with natural bristles when using oil-based finishes and synthetic bristles for water-based finishes.
Prepare. Use a finishing cloth to clean the sanded surface of your
project, removing all sawdust before priming. To facilitate cleaning your paintbrush after painting, pre-condition it with a cleaner that is recommended for your selected primer and paint (water for latex paints and mineral spirits for oil-based paints). Squeeze the liquid from the brush.
Prime. Stir the primer, and dip your brush halfway up the bristles. Although you should only apply the primer with the tips of the bristles, dipping the brush halfway allows you to paint without constantly reloading. Apply one coat of primer, and allow it to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Sand the primed areas with fine-grit (180 or higher) sandpaper to smooth the surface.
Tip: Always paint in a well-ventilated area.
Paint. Use a clean, pre-conditioned brush for the first coat of paint. Be sure to apply smooth brush lines in long, even strokes. Avoid dabbing the brush on the project surface. Allow the first coat to dry, and then apply a second coat. Add subsequent coats if needed.
Tip: Paintbrushes can last longer than paint rollers if they are cleaned and stored properly.

You Can Build A Bookcase!

Using the tips offered here—along with the techniques from our previous Skill Sets—you can create this easy open-ended bookcase. Click here to find instructions, an illustration, and a list of tools and materials.

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