ISLAND GREEN WOODWORKING




Monday, November 22, 2010

General Finishes Milk Paint

Often times I see General Finishes “Milk Paint” being lumped  in with the old timer Milk Paint. Folks will typically say "it’s not  real Milk Paint, only water-based-acrylic paint like a wall paint," so the picture in the minds eye of every woodworker...... its just ordinary wall paint you buy at the five and dime and shame on General Finishes for its tricky wording!

Correct, General Fishes Milk Paint is not that rough old timer Milk Paint  made with real cows milk dirt and firewood ashes. That would be like comparing a car to a pickup truck. One’s not better than the other, it just has different features for different jobs.

Yes, it’s acrylic base and is exterior durable, will stick to just about anything and is long lasting. General Finishes Milk Paints are made for wood used in the craft and furniture industry, and for that matter, anything wood.  Just a high grade quality furniture paint.

Lets break it down, I believe "Milk Paint" is a term used, like "lacquer." and not Trademarked. Ok think about this, as finishes have evolve, we now must speak in terms of solvent based or water-based "lacquer." Take shellac for example, need to be careful with that! Target Coatings has water-based "shellac." So, correct to say, is your shellac cut with water or alcohol? You bet !

Don't get caught up in the label folks, as I stated earlier, finishes are formulated for different jobs.