How to Use Milk Paint As a Glaze

Milk paint is a type of paint, used to finish wooden furniture, that dates back to Hellenistic Egypt, and gets its name from the casein, or milk protein, used to mix it. Milk paint also contains elements of lime, earth pigments and clay. Its water base and naturally-sourced ingredients make milk paint an environmentally responsible and non-toxic choice. Though ancient Egyptians used milk paint to cover walls, contemporary builders use it to create a distressed finish or glaze for furniture. Some use milk paint to give their work an antique or vintage appearance.

Paintbrushes
Foam paint rollers
Teak oil, wax or acrylic glaze

Instructions

- 1
  
  Shake your jar of milk paint vigorously. Because the paint has no artificial ingredients binding its contents, you must shake thoroughly before each use. When the ingredients separate during the painting process, close your jar and shake again.
- 2
  
  Apply some light brush strokes to the underside of your furniture to test the paint's thickness. Because of its water base, milk paint should have a thickness between that of gloss paints and watercolors; if it is not thick enough, it will not adhere well to the walls. If the paint appears too thick, add 1 tbsp. water; mix, and add additional drops of water until you achieve the desired consistency.
- 3
  Apply a couple of longer brush strokes to the underside of your furniture to test the paint's color. The color will appear darker as you add more coats of paint. If you wish to combine more than one color, test it as well.
- 4
  Paint the surface of your furniture slowly and carefully; milk paint reveals individual strokes. Complete your first coating, remaining mindful of fissures in the wood. Carefully check over your piece to ensure that you see no uncovered spots; if you see any, paint them with a small brush.
- 5
  Wait until the first coating of paint dries completely. It is a good idea to wait about 4 hours between coatings of paint to ensure that the paint dries throughout. Double the wait time if your work space is chilly or damp.
- 6
  Apply the next coating of paint. Repeat this process as many times as you like in order to get the desired finish. Two or three coatings usually suffice; if three coatings proves too light for you, apply an additional layer thickly.
- 7
  Apply a varnishing substance, such as teak oil, wax or acrylic glaze to the furniture. Coat evenly to avoid clumps of wax or oil. This gives the milk paint a brighter sheen and helps protect the finish and wood.

Pickling Wood Techniques

How to Do French Polishing

Furniture Making

Furniture Making