I started this project for a client by hand sanding with 120 grit sandpaper. I then sprayed on a primer. Unfortunately, my primer was not sticking.

I thought it was due to humidity, but it turns out that it was likely due to the fact that I had not sanded enough.

So I stripped all the primer off all the pieces and I started again.

This three video series compilation is the remainder of the project.

I ended up sanding everything again with 220 grit sandpaper and an orbital sander.

I also had to use Green EZ furniture stripper to remove the primer from the details, and that helped to completely remove the previous finish off so I was down to bare wood and my primer would stick easily.

My next step was to spray on two coats of Wise Owl’s One Hour Enamel (OHE) paint in Seeded Eucalyptus. After that dried, I did a white washing with the OHE in Snow Owl. I watered it down a good bit. The OHE has a built-in topcoat and cures 90% in just an hour. I do NOT recommend this product for someone who is trying white wash for the first time. It will dry too fast on you and leave you with streaks and awkward lap lines. You would be better off using Wise Owl‘s Chalk Synthesis Paint (CSP) in Snow Owl to achieve this look. You would then need to seal that with a clearcoat. You could, of course, use One Hour Enamel Clear or Wise Owl’s varnish.

Some very important notes about the one hour enamel product:
• It cures 90% within an hour and is a very durable finish.
• I watered this paint down a lot to make the white washing but absolutely do NOT water down OHE any more than 10% when using it as your foundation. Adding too much water will dilute its properties and could cause the paint fail.
• They do make extenders that you can add to paints that will give you a longer “open time” in order to manipulate your finish. However, again, this is a very special product and changing it’s drying time would likely cause the paint to not perform correctly. It could crackle or even peel.

White washing is a very simple technique, but it does take a little bit of practice when working on large open spots like the center of this headboard and footboard. You really need to keep your paint damp the entire time before you wipe it off to prevent streaking and lap lines. Therefore, using a paint that does not dry so quickly would be much easier to work with. I have lots of painting experience and I did not want the extra step of adding another clearcoat. I was not happy with the headboard and the footboard the first time I white washed it so I had to paint over it again and do it one more time, but I got it the way I wanted it and the client absolutely loves it!

You can purchase Wise Owl products from my website at www.LouiseEannaCreations.com

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