Latex Paint

[Byron Trantham]

Have a question. I want to paint some oak boards with white latex. (Don't ask!) Can latex be sanded "lightly" before a second coat is put on or does it just ball up? I'm not too lazy to try it, I just thought I would ask before I start. :D Oh, the reason I want to do this is to attempt ot hide hide any grain pattern that may emerge after painting.

[Chris Padilla]

Bryon,

Try using a white tinted shellac first on the oak. Hiding grain pattern in oak can be difficult due to the large pores. You may wish to fill the pores first. I think whatever you put on, try to tint it a little bit towards the color of the latex and this will help hide the grain. Oak is quite tough in this regard. Birch or Poplar are excellent paintable hardwoods due to the mild, tight grain. Even maple can paint up well.

Latex will ball but you just need to get the right kind of sandpaper for sanding latex so it doesn't stick so badly to the sandpaper. 3M makes some good sandpapers for this. My local hardware store carries it so I'm sure yours does, too.

Also, you could just put like a million coats of the latex on and sand a lot and eventually the grain will disappear! :p

Good luck! :)

[Joe Scarfo]

I've sanded "lightly" between coats of latex. The secret, I eventually discovered, was letting it cure between sandings. The items were poplar raised panel doors.

I let those puppies "bake" in the hot Fl sun for 4 hours between coats.

Good Luck w/ your pjct.

Joe in Tampa

[Byron Trantham]

Thanks Chris.