Here's a few tips for painting wood furniture:

1. If you can see the defect before painting, you will see it after. Fix it before painting.

2.  Paint is a very very thin layer that adds color......it is not the coverup that people believe.

3. Painting over a rough surface produces a rough looking painted surface.

4. If you are going to sand,  and you should, wear a respirator mask, dust masks can be used if you duct tape it to your face to seal the edges.

5.  If you want a professional job, sand, sand, sand.  Start with 80 to 150 grit, then 220, then 320, then 600.

6. If you can do your sanding on a canvas drop cloth.

7.  Do not use plastic drop cloth unless you like to fall down and like stepping into a glob of paint.

8. Invest in canvas drop cloth, they can be machine washed and will last a lifetime.  You will never regret this purchase and will save money in the long term.

9.  Important keep the wet edge of the paint moving.  Don't go back and forth with your brush.

10.  Clear lacquer in a good idea to protect the surface of the paint but be sure the paint has had one week to harden or cure.

submitted by Paul

Ebay user ID restoredradios