[bcarvings]

Hi,
I carve folk figures. I want to get the best paint for my prodject. I carve small figures out of southern basswood. None of the colors need to blend good exepct for mabye some type of red for the cheeks, and the skin color.

I painted a santa clause using cheap .50 cent acryilc paint, but after 2 weeks lots of little peices of paint already worn away and you can see the wood under neeth in little spots in some areas.
My question is what paint is best for painting basswood? What brand, and how well does it blend, is it water proof, does it never ware away? Thank you

[oldbearx2]

Hey bcarvings this is one of those questions if you ask 12 people you might get 12 different answers. I personally use Delta Ceramcoat paints. They are usually available at craft or hobby stores. Maybe it isn't your pant as much as how you prep your carving prior to painting. I wash all my carvings with laquer paint thinner before I paint. I use an old tooth brush and scub it good. Just be careful because the thinner is flamable, make sure you wear eye protection too so none gets splattered in your eyes. Also check the general carving section here I just posted how I paint some of my carvings maybe helpful. have fun, carve oldbearx2

Harold

Good advice, I also think preparation is all important to the painting process. My preference is TK Sealer, available from MDI Woodcarvers supply, http://www.mdiwoodcarvers.com . and my preference for paint is Golden Acrylic.
What ever acrylic paint you put on usually dries quickly, but it isn't cured for 24 hrs or longer, so don't handle it for a coulple of days, as it will wear right off before it cures.

[Callynne]

Hey bcarvings, I just posted a painting response over in the general carving section also. As to the paint coming off, I've never had that problem so I think it might be what you're doing before painting also. I've read that lots of people wash or pretreat their piece before painting, references to oil from your hands or sweat affecting the painting. I haven't had a problem with that so I don't do anything but sand and then paint.
As for waterproof, any acrylic paint you use should be waterproof after completely drying, I know the brands I use certainly don't wash out of my clothes if I get any on them! > Callynne

[Nancy_G]

Ditto for what the others have said.
I've never had - or heard of - any problem with acrylic paint wearing off a carving. Acrylic paint is TOUGH. What sort of wear are your carvings receiving?
Like Hugh I use TK Sealer, but even before finding that stuff, I never had problems with 'wear'. The only way I can remove paint is to CUT it off.

Could it be your wood? I've heard nothing but bad reports about southern basswood. I've never tried it myself... I stick to northern grown bass.

[AlArchie]

I've noticed that you keep asking about the 'best' of just about everything from tools to paint to technique. A better approach may be to ask what 'your favorire' is, because 'best' is a pretty subjective matter. What I consider best is really my favorite, what seems to work best for me and may change from time to time, as I haven't tried every product. All of the products (tools, knives, paints, etc.) mentioned in earlier posts are good to great products, but it's really hard to pin down a 'best' of anything. What someone else considers their best may not work so well for you, and then you may discount advice from them from then on. If the question is couched as what their favorite is, the stigma of them being wrong, if it doesn't work for you is removed.

My favorite KNIFE (insert paint, tool, technique, here) may not be the best in the strictest sense of the term, but it's still my favorite!

Al

[Donna_T]

And I agree...what is best and what is your favorite may be two different things. We tend to find something that works and use it until we have a problem...then we look for something else. Or we hear about something else and try it too.

Of all the hobby/craft/Walmart kinds of acryllic paints, I like Delta Ceramcoat paints best, too. Other brands get thick, get lumpy or scummy, etc. I think Jo Sonja is the best, but I only have 8-10 different tubes of it. I still have some tubes/bottles of Liquitex and I think it's good stuff, too. Then, for other projects, Ihave some watercolors in a couple of brands in the mid-price range that I especially like.

So, 'what's best' is subjective. These are my preferences. (and I agree, if you're having a problem with paint coming off, then I would suspect your carving is dirty or oily from your hand.) I periodically even handwash my carving glove when it gets dirty to keep it from soiling my carving. A quick scrub with dishwashing liquid in warm water, let it dry COMPLETELY, then paint. That should allow the paint to adhere.

Hey, that's how we learn! Usually the hard way.

Donna T

Something I neglected to mention in my earlier post. It is my understanding, from reading about acrylic paint, that it dosent adhere well to wood. This is the reason for the gesso, or the TK Sealer. The gesso or the sealer is a good adhearant, and the Acrylics adhere well to it. I quit using the Gesso as it seemed to fill in my carved detail, versus the TK sealer didn't.I could be way off base with this idea, it is something that I came across a good many years ago. And time has a way of confusing the facts . Anyone else know anything about this??

[bcarvings]

Hi,
So should I wash my carvin with paint thinner, then apply a coat of _______? Also after the carving is finished do I put something over that. I realize a few of you say I will get many differ opinoins which is what I want. But right now I only have 1 option because I only get one opinion. Please tell me how you paint you're carvings most of the time. Also what stuff you put on it before and after you paint, brands, techniques ect. Also I just realized myself I do keep asking for the best even though there may not be for this specific project. Sorry about that. Also a web link so I can see a sample of your carving will be a plus. Thanks

I use the best acrylic paint you can buy for 44 cents a bottle at WalMart. I carve the wood, do a little sanding if needed, paint, and give it 3 coats of clear laguer - no washing, sealing, or anything else before painting unless there's a chance the carving will be used outside and then I give it 3 coats of pure linseed oil (not boiled) over a period of 5-7 days before I use any paint.