Oil-Based Paints
Oil based paints are the most appropriate paints for exterior finishes and trim, as they are the most durable paints available. Thus, while Latex paints are the most popular interior paint products, oil-based are the most popular exterior paint product, not to mention the most suitable exterior paint product as well. Oil based paint bonds well to wood, metal, and even to dust, chalky, dirty, or oily surfaces. Thus, it is easier to use on outside surfaces which are harder to keep clean. However, the difficulty with using oil based paints outside is that oil repels water, so if your surface is at all damp you can't use oil-based paints, it will not bond. Thus, you have to time your paint job right so that the surface you are painting is nice and dry. You will probably want to use oil based paints outside only. They are not a great paints for inside projects because they require smelly clean-up solvents, and emit a strong odor.
Oil-based paints consist of a pigment in a vehicle made up of resins and thinners. When thinners evaporate, the resins form a hard coating while the pigment forms the color.
There are some major advantages to using oil-based paints, and some of these are as follows:
Oil based paints have better penetration of the surface being painted than do Latex paints.
They also have better adhesion to surfaces.
The wearability or in other words durability of oil based paints is very strong. In fact, oil based paints can withstand years of weathering and other abuse without the need for repainting. This is one of the most attractive reasons to use oil based paints for your exterior paint projects.
Oil based paints offer better flow and leveling than do other paints. They also offer the feature of drying to a smoother finish with fewer brush or roller marks. This is a great bonus for the novice painter.
However, with the advantages of oil based paints come some disadvantages. The disadvantages of oil-based paints are the odor, cleanup with solvents or thinners and longer drying time. Also, oil-based paints cannot be applied to moist surfaces. So, you have to really plan ahead, and you need to allow sufficient time in between coats of paint. This means that your project may take longer, but your results will be nice.
The clean up of oil based paints is something important to consider, especially if you have children around. Latex paints generally requires water to clean up after wards, but oil based paints take solvents and paint thinners, these can be potentially dangerous especially if inhaled or ingested. Also, they emit fumes. It would be wise to use a mask of some sort when painting with oil based paints.
Oil based stains are similar to oil based paint, but have much less pigment in them. They do not have great coverage, so they are designed to be used on new unfinished wood as a protectant and waterproofer, while still allowing the natural beauty of the wood to show through. These stain finishes are easy to maintain. They are not very expensive, and are easy to apply.
If you want to reuse your brushes and rollers after using oil based paints there are some steps you must take to ensure they are cleaned properly and thus reuseable. The steps to cleaning rollers and brushes after oil based paint are as follows:
- The first thing you need to do is soak the paint tools in paint thinner to help remove excess paint. This should be done immediately. You will want to soak the brushes/rollers (remove the roller from the frame before soaking) in the paint thinner, and use a brush comb to remove additional paint.
- Next you will want to squeeze the brushes/rollers to remove excess paint thinner.
- Then you will want to soak the same brushes/rollers in water, then squeeze any excess water out of them.
- Once they have been soaked thoroughly you will want to clean them with warm, soapy water.
- After washing them with soap and warm water you will want to rinse thoroughly and squeeze out as much water as possible.
- Hang the brush/roller up to dry.
- Wrap brushes in paper towels to help keep the bristles in good condition for future use.
