Remember that scene in Tom Sawyer in which the rascal Tom tricks his friends into whitewashing the fence for him? Chances are Aunt Polly made it up in the kitchen from such ingredients as flour, milk, salt and soap. Homemade paints are making a comeback as concerns about fumes and safe disposal have grown.
You might be surprised that some homemade paints are more durable than latex. So why can't you buy cans of it in the store? Because, although the paint lasts a long time once it dries, it has a short shelf life in its liquid form.
Here are a few points to keep in mind about homemade paints:
- You have to experiment to get the right consistency and color, especially your first few times. So take the time needed for a few practice batches.
- Because colors are different when they dry, test the color by dabbing it on white cardboard and drying it with a blow dryer.
- Use milk paint within two days and flour paint the day you make it. Otherwise the binding agents may break down.
- Use earth-friendly pigments — ochre, food coloring — to keep the paint environmentally sound.
- As with all paints, clean the surface thoroughly and patch holes before you start.
Milk Paint
Milk paint uses milk protein (casein) and hydrated lime (available at hardware stores) to make a long-lasting paint that resists mold and fungal growth. It works best on unfinished wood, masonry or plaster surfaces. This recipe yields one quart of paint.
All You Need
- Large bucket
- Stir stick
- 4 1/4 cups skim milk
- 1/4 cup hydrated lime (available at hardware stores)
- 2 lbs filler — chalk or plaster of Paris (available at art supply shops)
- Lime-proof pigment (Make sure the pigment are lime-proof, so the color is true.)
Step-by-Step
1. Mix the lime powder with a little milk until creamy.
2. Add the rest of the milk and then stir in the filler.
3. Mix the pigment with a little water before adding it to the paint, for smoother blending.
4. Add pigment in small patches until you get your desired color.
Tips
- Drying time is 1 to 2 hours. You can do a second coat 24 hours later.
- Store milk paint in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Stir thoroughly before using again — solids in the paint settle out.
Flour Paint
Flour paint is not a durable as milk paint, so use it in low traffic areas or on items that won't get a lot of handling. This recipe yields one quart of paint.
All You Need
- 2 bowls (each about 2 cups or larger)
- A 1.5 quart pot you don't mind permanently discoloring
- Whisk
- Stir Stick
- 2/3 cup white flour
- 3 2/3 cups water
- 2/3 cup colored, screened, dry clay (available at hobby shops)
- 1/3 cup fine powdered filler (mica or chalk, available at hardware stores)
Note: If you can't find clay in the color you want, use white clay as a filler and buy pigment powder. Make the paint and then add the pigment in small amounts, stirring continuously, until you get your desired color. You can mix the pigment in a little water first, so it blends easier.
Step-by-Step
1. Combine the clay and powder filler in a bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, mix the flour with 1 1/3 cups of water and whisk until smooth.
3. In a large pot, bring 1 cup of water to a boil.
4. Slowly stir in the flour-water mixture.
5. Reduce heat to low and stir continuously until the paint becomes a paste.
6. Slowly add the remaining water.
7. Add the clay and filler until the paint reaches the desired consistency.
Tips
- Flour paint is too thick to apply with a roller. Use a brush, and rinse immediately after when finished — because flour and water also make glue!
- Flour paint isn't washable — water liquefies the paint — so use in low traffic areas.
Disposal
Because these paints are completely natural, dispose of extra paint by pouring it in your garden. Dilute the milk paint first, so the lime isn't concentrated enough to significantly change the soil pH.
Copyright
Sears Brands, LLC 2008. All rights reserved.