I am almost finished building a through tressle bridge entirely out of basswood and want to know the best way to paint it. I was planning to spray paint it dark grey to look like steel. Should it use flat or satin? Will ordinary spray cans reach all the nooks and crannies or do I need an airbrush? Has anyone had experience painting intricate structures? Could not find much using search. Thanks.
It may be a good idea to use a sealer on it first. It’s been my experience that bass wood has a seemingly insatiable thirst for paint.
Making basewood look like steel will take a lot of coats and the trick will be to not get buildup where pieces are joined together. I stained my trestle before I build it. On my big bridge which is plastic, I painted it with a spray can and had good results. I painted it out doors and sprayed coats on from every angle I could think of. I did get some on my hands and the ground, but it worked well. For highlights you can ad a misting of a lighter color from one angle only when it is all painted. I did not do that but allowed the lighting to provide the highlights.One pic of the two.
When I paint intricate structures like bridges with open lattice work, I spray (from a rattle can) using light coats from all angles, and repeat until painted completely. Aim for the hard to see areas, and the obvious areas will get what they need from over-spray. Keep the can the recommended distance away. Measure it to make sure you KNOW how far away to stay. I have a tendency to sneak in closer than I should, and I think that we all do that.
Nice work Art!!!
Art, I love looking a photos of your gorge! Its worth getting people to start threads with questions that need illustration with photos just to see more of it!
Thanks for the advice. Does sealer come in a spray can just like paint and is it clear or do you mean a spray paint primer?
You can find sealer in the crafts section of Wal-Mart. Any good craft supply store should have it. I get the clear flat spray.
With modern paint, sealer really does not do much. Just spray the color on until it looks right. The suggestion of painting the hard spots first is a good idea. Ussually the rest gets done in the process.
are regular wooden craftsmen kits made from basswood? as some of you know i’m building a Muir Models wooden kit, and I dipped a scrap piece of wood in a Tarnished black wash, and the results look okay.
have any of you used or seen anything done with Age-It EASY? I just got the new Micro Mark catalog, and this stuff is only like 7 bux