Painting wood

[winchman]

As you may well know I am restoring a 1930's trailer, the timber for the sides is dry and almost new so should I just under coat and paint it?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Primmer/seal coat. Light rub down and repeat if you expose the wood.

Primer coat. Or as many as the tin says. Rubbing down between each.

Top coats as needed>

Does it have to be paint, why not look at varnish. The modern Varnish are very good.

 

[winchman]

I am hoping to make it as original as I can for my budget and it was pained when new, oh and the wood I got cheaply has a name stencilled on the side so I have to cover that

 

[fixerupper]

Yeah , do all the cutting and drilling ,then prime, undercoat, topcoat... pay special attention the end grain ...

 

[brightspark]

paint it with a wood preserver 1st that will soak in to joints and then prime and paint

 

[Turbo]

I wouldn't paint a trailer if I could - it is too easy to scratch the paint during use, water gets in & lifts the paint & rots the wood. Creosote & waste oil is best but messy, a good oil based fence paint like Cuprinol garden wood preserver would be my choice and should cover up the writing on the wood.

If you're set on painting it use a good preserver, try to soak the boards in it. Finish with 2 coats of a decent oil based primer like crown or dulux and 2 coats of gloss.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Once I finish working on the wood prior to adding a finish (varnish, paint, stain) I wipe down with mineral turps and then let it dry for ten minutes. It gets all that sawdust you can't see and the stuff that doesn't brush out. A real old school guy taught me that, he also uses kerosene to flush out woodworm. Highly effective but makes your timber flammable!