If you are painting plywood to make art, consider purchasing acrylic primer and paints. These are water-based artists’ paints that can be used to create beautiful and detailed images on wood. [2] X Research source If you are painting plywood to use it as a surface in your home, such as a painted plywood floor, you will need a more heavy-duty paint. [3] X Expert Source Mitchell NewmanConstruction & Interior Design Specialist Expert Interview. 7 June 2019. Pick an acrylic latex paint or an oil-based paint that is made for the intended purpose. [4] X Research source If you have a small project that requires a very smooth finish, consider buying spray paint.
If you are using spray paint for your project, you won’t need brushes or rollers. Whether you get a brush or a roller depends on your preference. If you intend to paint a large surface, then a roller will work well because you can cover a larger surface quicker. If you need to do detailed painting, a brush will typically work better than a roller. For some paint jobs you will want both a roller and a brush. The roller can paint the larger area and the brush can be used to fill in the edges. [5] X Research source
When using a sprayer, it is important to mask off all surfaces that you do not want painted.
Sandpaper is available at all hardware stores and big box home improvement stores.
If you are sanding a very large area, such as a room with plywood flooring, then you may need to use a commercial sander. Renting a floor sander, for example, may be the best solution. [7] X Research source
Since you will be painting over the plywood, the discoloration caused by using hole filler will not affect your final product. However, hole filler should not be used on plywood projects that will have an unfinished or sealed surface, as the color of the filler tends to stand out.
For instance, cover areas with plastic sheeting that could get sprayed if you are using a paint sprayer. If there are small areas that could be accidentally painted, use painter’s tape to protect them.
Follow the directions on the wood filler packaging. Typically wood filler requires that you apply it with a putty knife and then allow it to dry before sanding it smooth. There are some situations when you won’t need to fill the holes and imperfections in your plywood. If you are not interested in having a really smooth surface, feel free to skip the filler. The paint will still stick to an imperfect piece of plywood, the finished product just won’t be as smooth.
Because plywood is made of many thin layers of wood, it’s possible to sand too long or hard and break through to a lower layer of wood. Use caution when sanding and err on the side of caution when taking off a lot of the surface. If you are not interested in having a smooth finished product, you do not need to sand the plywood until it is completely smooth.
There are also tacky cloths sold at most paint and home improvement stores that are made to remove this dust.
Painting detailed edges can be done with a steady paintbrush, but you may also want to tape off the edges to make sure your work is tidy. Leave the tape in place once you have primed so that it can be used for your finish coats as well. Paint a 3–4 inches (7. 6–10. 2 cm) border along the edges of the plywood. This will give you plenty of clearance from the edges when you come in with your roller or sprayer. [10] X Research source
The best way to ensure complete coverage no matter what tool you are using is to do long, even movements that overlap each other. Basically, repeatedly make a “w” with the brush, sprayer, or roller, so that the strokes overlap each other. This will even out the edges of each stroke, which tend to collect more paint. Be sure to follow the directions for the primer that you are using. The directions typically include the temperature that the paint should be applied at and how long you should allow it to dry before adding coats of paint on top of it.
When applying the first coat, you don’t have to worry about making sure that the primer isn’t visible underneath. This is just the first coat and it’s better to have thin coats than thick coats, even if you can see the primer at first.
After sanding between coats, remove any dust created. Use a dry cloth or your vacuum to get rid of it.
Be sure to let the paint dry thoroughly between coats of paint. Consult the container for usual drying times and test an inconspicuous edge for dryness after that amount of time has elapsed. This will give you a harder and smoother final surface. Applying multiple thin coats allows each coat to become hard and dry, as opposed to thick coats that tend to remain slightly pliable.
