How To Prep Pallet Wood For Painting

If youre planning to stain your pallet with a dark brown color to create contrast with your all-white closet youll need to sand them first.

How to prep pallet wood for painting. Instructions to Prepare Wood Panels 1 Clean off any dust or debris from all exposed areas of the panel including the cradled sides and panel back first using a vacuum or air pressure if very dusty then wiping clean with a microfiber cloth or other lint free cloth slightly dampened with water. Varnish can be partially removed each time you use solvent to clean your palette so I recommend using oil. Conditioning a New Palette.

Most pallets are made with spiral shank nails which are meant to stay put. Preparing the pallet wood before staining it will ensure proper application and a long-lasting stain. Pry off the cross boards using a flat bar and rubber mallet.

Shellac fills in the grain while an oil finish will soak into the wood on the first few coats. Sometimes your pallet furniture piece will feel too slick and painted when youre done. A small cats paw or pry bar a flat clawed hammer and a block of wood are all you really need to break apart a pallet without damaging the surface of the wood.

Keep these pointers in mind while preparing the pallet wood for staining. To prepare wood for painting start by filling in any holes scratches and dents with wood putty. There are three different methods for preparing a palette for painting.

For larger surfaces you can use a paint stripper. Some artists who have invested in an expensive counter-weighted palette will painstakingly seal it. Let me show you how to paint pallet wood with this cool little distress painting trick.

Before painting your pallet wood you must use a primer to seal the wood ready for painting. Lightly soak an area of the cloth in oil and apply by wiping on. One coat will be enough if you want a vintage-inspired look and do sand the wood again after a paint coat.