Spray paint your old furniture and other projects

Spray paint furniture and give it new life. Before you start, it can help to know what color and finish you want and how much paint you need.

Which spray paint should you use when spray painting different types of furniture?

When you need to spray paint different types of furniture, ornaments or really anything that is not graffiti, you should choose Montana Gold, MTN Water Based or Molotow Premium.

Do you have to sand before painting?

You will get the best results if you sand and clean the furniture before you spray paint your furniture. Then the surface will be smooth and nice and the new paint will sit properly on the surface and not crackle. Start with a coarser sandpaper and then move on to a finer sandpaper. If the surface is already varnished, it is enough to just go over the surface with a finer sandpaper.

Matt or clear finish?

The colors themselves have a matte finish, but you always choose the final finish separately with the help of the varnish, which is available in several different variants. You can easily find the right varnish for the color you have chosen under the heading "Accessories" on the product page. Varnishes are also always recommended if the thing you are going to spray will be used and exposed to wear and tear, and also protects against UV rays and weather and wind. Depending on the type of material, it can be good to use primer, which is available in different types and variants. Take a look at our FAQ for more spray info!

How much paint do I need?

A spray can of 400 ml is usually enough for about 1-1.5 square meters. If you are going to repaint peg chairs you should have in mind that a large part of the paint misses the target when you spray the pegs and in this way it can feel like it requires more paint than expected.

How large a surface the paint covers also depends on the condition of the furniture, whether it is untreated or previously painted, etc. When it comes to untreated furniture, you also have to take into account that different types of wood absorb different amounts of paint. Sometimes two coats of spray or more may be needed. Otherwise, it is the same procedure as usual, matt down any previous paint or varnish with sandpaper, wash thoroughly, apply primer, spray on the number of layers of paint needed (rather two thin layers of paint at a time than one layer with a lot colour), then wait at least a few hours, preferably a day, before spraying on the clear coat.

Also, don't forget to choose caps / nozzles according to purpose. For large surfaces, larger caps are suitable, for better spreading, and smaller surfaces require the opposite. In our DIY kit we have put together a good base kit with everything you need for simpler DIY projects.

Paint needed for pegchair; A bit more than one spray can, for at least two coats of paint. One can of spray varnish for two layers.

Spray procedure - 7 steps

Shake the can well for at least 3 minutes.
Apply cap/nozzle (make sure there is no safety catch under the cap on Montana spray cans).
Briefly spray into the air so that you see an even stream of paint coming out (this is to ensure that the contents are properly mixed, as the very first spray usually only contains solvent).
Test spray on e.g. a piece of cardboard or similar so that you can see that the color is even and good on the surface. If everything feels good, it's just a matter of getting started with the furniture.
Spray paint the furniture in even batches, preferably twice with less paint than one with a lot of paint. Regardless of whether the color covers perfectly, it is always good to run two thin coats or more.
If there is dripping or splashing, let the paint dry and harden properly, sand off the unevenness and spray on a new layer.
Apply varnish as needed. Don't forget to wait long enough between paint and varnish and let the whole thing dry and harden properly before use.

When spray painting on different materials...

Spray painting plastic items

It is difficult to guarantee that spray paint adheres perfectly, as there are so many different varieties of plastic in particular. We therefore recommend that you always use Montanas Plastic Primer, which is a transparent primer specifically developed to create a good adhesion base for spray paint. Always test first, on a less visible surface, so you can see that it works as it should.

Spray painting metall objects

Just as with plastic materials, there are certain metals that are difficult to get the paint to adhere well to, this usually applies particularly to greasy, untreated metals. In such cases, we usually recommend using Montanas Metal Primer, developed to give that type of metal a good attachment surface. We also have an aluminium primer for those of you who are going to paint raw aluminium. Test on a small piece and see if everything works correctly.

Spray paint styrofoam objects

Pure styrofoam reacts and melts off the solvent in regular spray paint. Montana has therefore developed a Styrofoam/Polystyrene primer, which acts as a protective layer between the surface and the paint. However, water-based spray paint works fine without primer on top of styrofoam.

Can you spray paint wooden objects?

However, the thing to keep in mind is that spray paint is a very easy-flowing, thin type of paint and that especially untreated wood absorbs paint very much. Then it can be good to apply a bae coat to the surface first with a thicker type of paint that is applied with a brush as a primer.

Montanas Universal primer is also a good tool if you are unsure that the color will really stick properly, cover properly or if you just want a light base before applying your choice of colour.

Is it possible to spray paint textiles?

Textiles are not an optimal area of use as spray paint works absolutely best on smooth, non-porous surfaces. But depending on what you want for results, most things can be achieved. We don't have pure textile dyes, but Montana Gold works best thanks to its acrylic base, which makes it more elastic than other colors when dry.

What you should also keep in mind is that surfaces like textiles 'eat up' paint. This means that if you want to spray a light color on top of a dark fabric, several layers are required, and if you choose a metallic chrome color, the metallic effect is significantly reduced. Otherwise, see the textile questions under "about artist materials" in our FAQ where we discuss other options for dyeing fabrics etc.

Is it possible to spray paint carbon fiber?

Yes you can spray paint carbon fiber but you should prime carbon fiber with a special primer. It is available at e.g. at specialized bike/car shops. A plastic or universal primer can last to some extent but does not have the same good adhesion on carbon fiber. Allow the primer to dry and spray with a color of your choice from one of our recommended brand for painting furniture.

Can I spray paint plates, glasses and cutlery and then use them?

Our spray paints are not edible and therefore we advise against using them on products that are used in connection with meals. The colors normally also cannot withstand temperatures above 60-80 degrees celsius, which makes it difficult to wash them without the colors reacting, or falling off. All spray paint cracks sooner or later on glass exposed to temperature differences, as glass expands and 'moves' during such a process.

2022-06-02