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Poplar wood is a great choice for furniture because it is durable, versatile, and easy to work with. Painting poplar wood can be challenging as the grain of the wood has a tendency to show through. In this blog post, we will walk you through how to paint poplar wood correctly so that your finished product looks flawless!
What Is Poplar Wood?
Poplar wood is a type of deciduous tree that grows in North America and Asia. It is relatively inexpensive to purchase, but the cost can add up quickly because poplar boards are not very large compared with other types of wood like oak or maple.
How to Paint Poplar Wood
Here are the 4 steps to paint poplar wood.
Follow these steps, and you will see that it is not as hard as you think!
Step One: Prepare the Wood and Paint Surface
It seems like a no-brainer but if this step is skipped, then all your efforts will be ruined at the end. First of all, make sure to sand the wood surface thoroughly. This will make it easier to apply the primer-sealer and paint, as well as remove any dirt or stains on the surface of your poplar wood.
Next, use a damp cloth to wipe down the entire area you want to paint with soap water. This is done so that no dust particles stick around, which could hinder painting efforts later on in this process! Finally, give everything one last once over just for good measure before moving on to step two.
Step Two: Apply Primer Sealer Coat
The first coat should be applied by brush since roller strokes can create ridges when dry (and consequently cause cracking). If you’re using latex paints, choose an acrylic sealer/primer, oil-based paints require a shellac-based primer/sealer.
Be sure to work in thin, even coats and allow each coat of sealer to dry before moving on to the next step! It may take two or three passes at this stage to completely cover all areas thoroughly, so be patient.
Step Three: Apply Paint Coats
Now that you have applied the first coat of primers, it is time for your topcoats! Since poplar wood has very small pores throughout its surface, it doesn’t need any sanding between layers but if there are any rough patches leftover from previous steps, then now is when they should be smoothed out with light sandpaper (220 grit).
When choosing paint finishes use low sheen options since poplar wood does not come pre-finished; matte finishes are your best bet.
Also, if you’re using oil-based paints, then make sure to use an alkyd or “oil-modified” paint for this step since latex paints will either cause the topcoat to bubble up (in the case of acrylics) over time or actually absorb into the porous poplar surface (in case of regular latex).
Step Four: Apply Top Coats and Protect Surface
After allowing all coats at each step in this process to dry thoroughly, it is now time to apply the final layer! If painting outdoors, be sure that everything has been dried off completely before applying any layers. For indoor spaces, just let them air out until there is no smell left whatsoever.
Finally, it is time to seal the entire thing! A top coat of varnish or lacquer will provide your poplar wood surface with protection from stains and scratches as well as enhance its appearance. Also, make sure that you use a brush for this step (instead of a roller) since more hair bristles can be embedded into the porous wood if using a roller.
You should now have finished painting your wooden piece; congratulations! But don’t let yourself get too comfortable because whether outside or inside, it’s important to reapply all layers every few years in order to continue protecting and keep up appearances.
Painting a wood surface doesn’t need to be a difficult or messy task. Just follow these simple steps and you will be well on your way to painting poplar wood!
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