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Friday, January 02, 2009

Winter Project #2

I have some rooms to paint. ~gasp~ But it is winter Phelan! You have to open windows so you don't die from the fumes! And you have migraines, how on earth. . .

Well, we are not going to go out and buy the paint. Nope, winter project #2 is making your own natural paint. I have 3 different recipes that we can use.

#1
1 Quart skim milk (room temperature)
1 Once of hydrated lime by weight ( Do not use quick lime)
1 to 2 1/2 pounds of chalk may also be added as a filler.

Stir together milk and lime to form a smooth paste. Add color pigment of your choice and apply with bristle brush. Allow first coat to dry before applying another.

#2
One Gallon Skim Milk
Two Cups Builders Lime (Do NOT use Quick Lime)
One Quart Linseed Oil (the boiled type)
1/2 Cup of Salt
Dye (Color) add in as needed

Mix all ingredients together and strain through a cheesecloth. Use within a day or two.

#3
Powdered Skim Milk
Water
Food Coloring

Mix just enough powder and water to create the consistency of paint. Add food coloring of your choice or make it various herbs and vegetables. Strain through a cheesecloth.

I will be doing #3, because all I have to purchase is the powdered milk. I think I will be doing a sage green for the living room, it should go well with the mobile home fake wood panels.

Pictures to follow.

10 comments:

Howling Hill said...

Definitely let us know how this goes. I've been wanting to paint the trailer but haven't because of the toxicity of paint. And Wolf wants to know all the pros and cons before he decides if this method is the way he wants to go. One question he did ask is "doesn't the milk sour then stink?" I don't think it does but...?

Phelan said...

I have made barn paint before (years ago) and didn't have an issue with the souring. It shouldn't because of the lime. But I will let you know for sure. As I said I will be doing #3 this round.

HermitJim said...

I read somewhere recently about making paint with flour...but your ideas sound interesting!

Great idea! Hope it works out...I'll be following the outcome!

Matriarchy said...

I don't know if you have done this before, but make sure you make enough paint all at once for for the whole room. You will never be able to match color from batch to batch. If you make multiple small batches, "box" them before you start - that means pouring them all in a big container and mixing them together, then pouring back out into smaller buckets, so the color is consistent. You can get a very useful paint mixer that you mount on a power drill.

If you DO happen to run out of paint before the job is done, use the late batch all on one wall. Plan the job so that you have a single wall at the end, if you are cutting it close with paint. Light hits each wall differently, and slight color differences will be less noticeable if the break-point is in a corner, not on a large flat surface.

Make sure you do good prep for milk paint. It doesn't have the additives that make commercial paint stick and self-level. Sand surfaces, and use TSP solution to pit them. It will bead and/or flake off too easily if you paint over semi-gloss paint or finished surfaces like paneling.

I can't wait to hear how it turns out! My daughter's BR has ugly, ugly wallpaper, and I said "Live with it. We'll be out of here in a year." That was three years ago. :-(

(I used to have a paint contracting biz.)

Cygnus MacLlyr said...

I understand the 'avoiding toxicity' issue, though surely there are some "safer" brands... not technically savvy enough to debate there...

What I do wonder is, with the cost of foodstuffs soaring as they have, will it be/is it cost-effective?

C.

Phelan said...

Cygnus, The only thing I have to purchase would be the lime with the other recipes listed. I have my own milk. I beilive that powdered milk is cheaper tha lime, so I decided to go that way. It isn't so much about avoidince as it is about experinces and being cheap. I do a lot of things that I don't have to do, I just want to do things at least once, just to be able to have the bragging rights or a really good story that every one can tease me about later on.

Gail said...

Talk about working with what you have...you are the Queen!
Don't forget the pics.

Gail said...

Award awaiting At The Farm. Thanks, Gail

Irma said...

I have certainly heard of milk paint before, and I'm sure it covers beautifully....but what happens if it gets wet?? If you try to wash the walls, won't you wash the paint off, too? Keep us posted!

Anonymous said...

I have been mulling over buying milk paint for my book projects (wooden covers) so I'll be following you on this project.

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