I have a second baby on the way and I'm toying with the idea of re-painting the crib we bought 8 years ago. Its the generic crib bought from SM dept store. Still in good condition, made out of wood and painted with a smooth finish but already faded/discolored, and there are a lot of large scrapes and scratches.
How do I go about this as I have no idea what to do. Do I need to sand it first and apply primer? What primer do I buy? What kind of paint do I use? I'm concerned about paints that have chemical side effects like lead, since its a crib for my baby, safety is of the utmost importance. How do I get a smooth finish? Do I need a spray gun and compressor? Or can I just use Pylox spray paint?
Also how can I cover up the scratches? Can I use some sort of putty to even out the surface?
Re: how to paint? (pimp my baby's crib)
Congratulations on your coming baby!
I would say that aerosol paint would be the way to go in your case. Since a crib is composed of a lot multi-sided wood components, painting it with a brush would be quite a chore. Plus aerosol results in a much smoother finish.
As to your concerns about lead, I doubt if any paint manufacturers still use it. But to be sure, stick with the known brands, like Pylox, Krylon, RustOleum, etc. I would recommend a low VOC satin finish for your project.
I wouldn't advice you to use any wood filler at all. The crib might look nice but the chance of your child accidentally ingesting a piece of it is very possible. Just sand the scrapes and scratches with 150 grit sandpaper to even it out a bit. Then do the rest of the crib with a 220 grit. Remember, you are sanding the existing paint not stripping it, so sand lightly. If tack cloth is available use it to wipe off the dust, if not use a damp cloth and let it dry thouroughly.
To prime it or not is entirely up to you. In my case, when I paint I always do use a primer. Just because it results in a more evenly coloured final finish. You can get primer in aerosol cans.
Two coats of the coloured finish would be sufficient. Light colour would hide the surface imperfections and dark ones accentuate it.
If you want to go to extremes, you can spray it with clear topcoat.
Final note:
As a fellow DIYer I would suggest that you do the project a step at a time. Don't rush it or else it will become a chore. We sometimes get so engrossed with a project that we sometimes zone out of our sorroundings. Spend time with the family, smell the roses, watch a movie,....
Re: how to paint? (pimp my baby's crib)
Good advice, Jessie2 about taking big projects one step at a time. Sometimes, we see what a big job lies in front of us that we never start at all.
Re: how to paint? (pimp my baby's crib)
Thanks a lot for the advice guys.
Question though, I bought a few cans of Bosny spray paint. Its says its an Acrylic Epoxy Lacquer, mainly used for automotive finishes I think. however, when I sprayed it, I notice that its a lot more liquid when sprayed on, "matubig" in other words and doesn't stick to smooth surfaces too well. It has a tendency to run down. And takes a long time to dry although it has a more glossy finish. Since I already bought a few cans, it'd be a shame to waste it, I'm just not sure how I can use these as they don't seem to adhere to surfaces very well. It seems that I can only use these on surfaces where the paint won't drip down.
In the end, I used Pylox spray paint and the results look good.
