How to get a smooth milk paint finish

There's nothing better than getting a super smooth as an be paint finish, and with milk paint, with a little sanding and a wax or oil top coat, your finish will feel super smooth like butter! A way to determine if your piece will naturally resist and chip is by assessing the current finish on your piece. 

1. Is your surface shiny or porous?

Look at the surface in which you are painting. Is it sealed, shiny, or porous? This will determine if you need to add a bonding agent or not. If it is shiny and has a coating on it, best to add bonding agent for best adhesion. 

Milk paint will naturally chip and resist on previously finished surfaces.
On this particular piece, bonding agent was not added, due to the fact that the piece was fairly worn, and porous.

This finish above didn't chip, rather had some light distressing with 220 grit sand paper. The color is Coal Black. 

2. Are you ok with some chipping or natural distressing?

This lovely piece was painted in Homestead House Milk Paint's Champlain and had some lovely chipping and distressing naturally.

Milk paint gives old finished pieces a naturally worn and aged look where the paint might resist on areas that were sealed.

3. Tips on achieving a smooth milk paint finish

After your paint is dry, smooth out the finish with a fine grit sanding paper or block (we recommend 220 or higher). This will give your piece a smooth finish ready for hemp oil or one of our finishing waxes. Applying the top coat will add to the smooth feel of the finish. 

Now sit back and enjoy your beautifully milk painted piece!