Monday 4 July 2011

Chalk Paint DISASTER

Oh dear. I am so annoyed I could cry! Ok so here is my story so far... Firstly, I bought this table at an auction a few months ago;

It's quite nice, right? So I sanded it down by hand, filled in the surface and primed it with 1-2-3 waterbased and decided that I would HAVE to try this Annie Sloan Chalk Paint that everybody is raving about.  So I ordered some 'Old White' from an ebay supplier and got cracking....literally - the paint looks so uneven, liney and cracked on that I could just cry...but instead I thought that I would keep a cool head and lightly sand it down to see if it would smooth. (It didn't). Then I thought that the problem may lie with my less-than-average attempt and filling in the surface;

 so I asked my kind daddy for help and he put a nice layer of filler on, which then turned into this mess

Yup. 'Electric sander' I hear you say?! My thoughts exactly, so I got it out and sanded til my heart was content - look how lovely and smooth it was;
So I tried my chalk paint all over again, and the same thing happened all over again. AHH! It looks grainy, uneven, gathered and I just don't know what to do with it next.


The texture is the same all over the legs and everywhere. Maybe this is the way it is meant to look? Maybe it is just not my style? Maybe I have done something wrong? I have tried it thick, then thinned with water, I have used big brushes and then small brushes, long strokes and short strokes and even a roller to no avail.
Is there anybody who can give me advice on where to go with it next, or even anybody who has had a bit of trouble with this paint too?
In short, Help!

13 comments:

  1. I wish I could offer some advice regarding this highly sought after and expensive paint, however I've never used the paint myself and don't plan to as I've heard it is quite a rough finish. I can and do acheive great, long lasting finishes with standard quality paints and primers, which I'm sure you have also. So I choose to stick to what works. It's to bad you have put so much work into the darling little piece.
    Kristy @ 4 the love of WOOD

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  2. I found a post Amy from Masion Decor did when she used it, maybe it can help: http://maisondecor8.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-secretary-and-chalk-paint.html

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  3. Oh noooo, sorry!! I wish I could help but I too haven't tried the beloved paint. All I can say is good luck and sorry :(

    Julie

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  4. Thanks Kirsty for replying, and I did check out that link which was helpful - at least I am not the only one scratching my head at this paint! Anyway, I haven't given up on it yet...the paint or the piece! So keep posted :)
    Tina

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  5. hey i use this paint all the time! i honestly think it's the piece itself, i use it all the time and have done over 50 items with this piant and i've had this issue once and it was the piece itself. If you want to ask me more questions you can on my site through facebook- it's called a perfect treasure-i hope you try it again because it comes out great! https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Perfect-Treasure/485262678174651

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  6. I had the same experience with Annie Sloan chalk paint! I was so looking forward to using it but it was a huge disappointment. I thought it was just me but apparently it's a drying agent in the paint. Problem is, it dries so quickly that you get chalk balls if you go back over it, even if it is almost immediate!!! Best part is, it turns out it doesn't even contain chalk! You can mix your own chalk paint. I have also tried other brands like Maison Blanche and Cece Caldwell they have both been really good.

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  7. I thought the whole point of using ASCP was
    that you do not need to sand and prime the piece first, so maybe that was what caused the problem? Just an thought.

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  8. Hi love the table. I think what you did wrong was too sand and treat it first. If you watch videos its applied straight over the surface of the wood, no sanding, no treating. Like someone said, don't go over the paint after a few seconds of applying... once dry either add another coat, or distress it with 100 grade sandpaper, and apply your wax, then rub off your wax. Its one of the simplest paints to use.. If you put on too much paint and don't like it, get a cloth add alittle water only damp and wipe of what you don't want, gives a really interesting finish!

    Have fun....

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  9. I too have used Annie Sloan paint on my walls as my home is very old to keep character first coat looked great
    freshened up a year later big disaster don't know what to do with this now as it is dark paint any ideas thankyou

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  10. You have to bear in mind that part of the Annie Sloan look is a textured finish. That said, your problem is a quite simple one. Judging from the photos you have simply overworked the paint. Try not to go back and forth over the paint too many times. Long even strokes are much better (a good brush helps too). If you want a smooth flat finish add a few drops of water to the paint - this will give you a slightly longer working time. If the paint does start to lift (looks like little balls of chalk ) let it dry completely...don't try to overpaint you will just make it worse...once dry use a piece of very fine sand paper to lightly rub the effected area. Do the same if you want to get rid of brush marks. It is possible to get a perfectly flat and even finish. It is down to technique. If you have a stockist nearby sign up for one of their workshops. It is worthwhile and you will learn how to get the best from the paint. Also bear in mind that heat will shorten drying times and although it does not look as if it is drying - it is. Chalk Paint™ dries a lot quicker than conventional paints. Hope this helps.

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  11. Why on earth would you buy a beautiful antique just to ruin it with paint to begin with? Sad that this is now worthless.

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  12. I think the issue is the supplier. Because I chalk paint for clients all the time and never once has my paint looked like yours

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  13. I think the issue is the supplier. Because I chalk paint for clients all the time and never once has my paint looked like yours

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