Prepping baseboards, crown molding - DIY Chatroom

Kooler · 03-02-2009, 09:13 AM

My woodwork is painted with a latex enamel, I have understood that you can cut you prep time down by using a vinegar solution for etching the paint.

bikerboy · 03-02-2009, 09:24 AM

There are solutions that "etch" gloss paints prior to applying a finish coat.

By the time you rub it on, then clean it off, you probably could have lightly scuffed/sanded and dusted. All that without chemicals and thier added expense.

Never heard of using vinegar. I'd either want to meet somebody who has done it, or do a small test spot first.

Better yet, read the instructions on your can of paint.

sirwired · 03-02-2009, 12:40 PM

I don't see vinegar etching paint much, if at all. It just isn't that acidic. I sand and dust my trim.

SirWired

torpainter · 03-02-2009, 02:54 PM

it would depend on the topcoat .If going with oil it will stick As suggested earlier a light scuff should do fine

DGideon · 03-05-2009, 11:06 PM

If your going over latex on the trim I wouldn't worry about scuffing or etching. Try some krud kutter or any all purpose cleaner wipe the trim down and paint. Latex will bond with latex.

**slickshift** · 03-06-2009, 05:54 PM

As all you need is a slight, light, scuff sanding to dull the gloss a bit and give the next coat some "tooth", using a liquid de-glosser won't save any time
(scuff sanding should only take a few minutes per trim piece per wall)

However, if it needs cleaning anyway, using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, or a TSP product like Spic And Span, can also dull a high gloss enough to aid in adhesion...sometimes enough that no further sanding is needed

Honestly, I've never heard of vinegar for such a purpose
You'd certainly have to make sure it's fully rinsed off
It is by no means a "liquid sander" or "etching agent"

Not that someone couldn't have it work, but as mentioned above, another latex coat should stick anyway
The scuff sanding is "stacking the deck" in your favor, and well worth the effort to ensure proper adhesion...during application and years later

Liquid de-glosser are helpful if the piece is very ornate, and scuff sanding would only hit a few high spots on the piece

sdsester · 11-03-2009, 02:49 PM

I use the chemical de-glossers quite a bit when I can get away with it. See you paint store for brand options. To be honest though, I go through sandpaper in stacks most of the time to rough up surfaces.

If you don't know what your existing paint is? Plan on an alkyd primer (oil-based solvents) for your primer. Alkyd primer is a great equalizer. You can paint over it with either oil or latex.