Which type of Satin Black Paint for a Computer Desk?
 

Hey all.

I'm ignorantly stupidly braindead when it comes to painting. I was wanting to know what type of paint I would need to make a satin black finish on a computer desk and what type of primer would be best advised(if any)?

I plan on using birch wood to build the desk, but now I'm at the point of picking my paint.


Was wanting a finish much like the below

http://i45.tinypic.com/30rwdax.jpg

I did a lot of work for galleries and never found a flat or satin black that held up or looked very well on pedestals and things and they certainly did not take the beating a desktop would. I would go with a semi-gloss reinforced finish. You should be able to find a black poly product for example. Or you could use floor paint.

Floor black you want to get a factory not store mixed paint. Get it from a real paint store and know that it might take them a few days to order it if not in stock.

You will have to seal the new wood and probably need to prime it depending on what you pick. Floor paint is self-priming.

If you are using birch it has a nice grain. Why not stain it with a deep ebony stain and show off that grain? Coat with a couple coats of quality poly?

Never really cared for stain finishes on a computer desk nor gloss either due to fingerprints/etc.

Seems I'm really putting myself into a corner for options :laughing:


I was suggested on another forum to use a spray paint and came across these:
Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Flat Black Primer
Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Satin Canyon Black

Then there's the discussion of these not holding up.

Seems I will just have to try the two above and try a stain/poly of some sort(classic black polyshades?) on some spare pieces and see which looks the best.

Rattle cans could work out as well as anything but you steal need a sealer or sealer/primer for wood first. A rattle can primer will not get you far.

You might see what a body shop or furniture finishing place wants to turnkey finishing the desk for you.

Spray paint it with a 2pac, use a 2pac P-U primer first though.

I'm not going to comment on whether or not rattle cans would be the best plan of attack, but I will say that if you're considering using spray paint, I'd suggest Krylon Fusion. I have used it for a lot of applications, including wood, and including outdoor projects that are exposed to the elements, and it's truly awesome stuff.

My recommendation would be to use flat Fusion. Why flat, when you want a satin finish? Because it should be followed up by at least one coat (the more the better, though) of clear Fusion, which will give you the bit of sheen you're looking for while giving the paint a tough layer of protection - tough enough to be scrubbed and even lightly polished. You may see slightly more sheen with this method than a satin paint alone, but a computer desk - especially the desktop surface - needs to be durable.

IMO, 'sandwiching' the paint between a clear coat and the primer of your choice is going to give you the best possible finish if you go the spray can route.