Milford chronicle., 1929-11-29
WHAT is GOOD
PAINTIN i?
Mary Allen


1t takes more than good taste to
make livable home. Interior dec
oration is a science as well as an
art, practical as well as aesthetic.
However harmonious the woodwork,
walls and furniture, behind the
charm of well-chosen colors there
must be the assurance of durability
and cleanliness, a surface that is not
onl yattractive but we'll protected
and easy to take care of. In other
words, lasting satisfaction depends
chiefly upon the selection of the
right medium for the finish.
Every part of the room has its af-
finity in the paint and varnish line.
A paint that will do for the floor is
not suitable for the walls or the fur
niture, and the same holds true in
regard to varnish. Generally there
are definite directions on the con-
tainer of these materials stating
just how and where they are to be
used.
For walls, fiat paints are general
ly preferred to gloss paints because
they have greater hiding properties.
In the kitchen and bathroom, how
ever, where the walls must be
washed frequently, a gloss paint is
recommended. Flat paint possesses
a wonderful ability to cover up the
blemishes on an old surface, but
gloss paints and enamels will stand
even harder wear than fat paints.
When enameling a surface that is in
poor condition, it is advisable to use
flat paint for the two undercoats,
the third coat, of course, being
enamel. On new wood, the under
coats may be either fiat paint or
enamel undercoating. Since these
printing coats supply the foundation
for the finish, it is essential that
they should be just right.
The preparation of the surface is
just as important as the selection of
the right paint. First of all, it must
be clean and smoothe. Old paint or
varnsih that is cracked and scaling
should be removed with a paint and
Varnish remover. A painted SURFACE
in good condition requires nothing
more than a good cleaning and
light sandpapering, to make it
smoothe, but vanished woodwork
that is to be painted, enameled, or
lacquered should have the gloss
taken off before the new finish is
applied. This may be done with "a
solution of sal soda and water, or by
sandpapering.
Unfinished wood will require a
printing coat, which penetrates the
wood and gives the succeeding coats
a firmer anchorage. The primer on
an open-grain wood should have an
excess of linseed oil; on close
grain wood, an excess of turpentine.
1t will take day or more for this
first coat to dry. 1t should then be
sandpapered lightly before the sec
ond coat is applied.
To insure satisfactory results it is
essential that the temperature of the
room in whic hthe work is done be
high enough to allow the paint or
varnish to flow freely. Between six
ty and seventy degrees is a safe tenn
perature.
A well-chosen and well-kept brush
is also a necessary element of good
paint job. It is short-sighted econo-
nv to attempt to save money by buy
ing cheap brushes. The best course
to follow is to go to reliable dealer
and depend upon him to choose the
brush best suited to the work in
hand.
Brushing methods vary with the
nature of the finish. Fo rexample,
paint is brushed out, while enamel
and lacquer are flowed on.
From these simple directions II
will be apparent that there is moth
ing complex about the practical side
of painting. Deliberate and careful
methods will bring their own re-
ward-a Tightening Of household
tasks and more leisure to enjoy the
pleasant surroundings which are
sure to result.