Krylon Dual: Repainting a Wicker Chair

When my parents moved into their new house this summer, my mom gave me a wicker chair that used to sit on their large front porch.  It was still in pretty good shape, but the brown paint needed some help.

When I found out that I would be able to test out Krylon’s new Dual spray paint, a combination primer and paint in one, I knew the chair was about to get her facelift!

When spray painting wicker, it is important to have the piece as clean as possible.  Give it a good hose down and allow it time to dry.  If the piece of furniture is very dirty from being outdoors, you may have to wipe it down with a soft cloth to remove dust, spiderwebs, etc.

If the previous paint job was high gloss, you may also want to take steel wool or a wire brush and LIGHTLY go over the piece.  This will make sure that the new coat of paint has a surface to stick to.  If you do this step, you will have to wash/wipe the piece down again before painting.

Normally, this is the point in the process where I would have to locate any trouble areas on the chair and apply primer specifically to them before applying ANOTHER coat of primer over the entire piece.

Not with Krylon’s new Dual spray paint.  This stuff gives some serious coverage without priming.  Good news for your budget and your spray painting hand!

This is what the chair looked like after ONE coat of Krylon Dual in Cherry Red.  Remember this is without priming over the old brown paint.

Here she is after the second coat.  Doesn’t she look happier?

Another really cool feature of the Krylon paint is the ability to change the direction of the paint spray.  The nozzle rotates from vertical to horizontal to diagonal.  This is a HUGE advantage when you are painting wicker because it helps to get in all those nooks and crannies.

With a piece of wicker furniture, it is a good idea to give the unseen parts of the piece at least a light coat of paint. 

If this were a solid wood chair, I would probably skip painting the underside of the seat.  With wicker, there is always a chance that the unpainted parts may show through the seat.  Better to at least give it one coat.

Here she is finished and living on my front porch.  I really like the saturated red color that I was able to get with two coats of paint, plus a few touch-ups.

Krylon sent me the new Dual Paint to try out. Check out their latest promotion, The Dual Duel, where Krylon is looking to find The Ultimate Restorer. To win this title, enter your spray paint restoration project and encourage friends and family to vote for your project as their favorite for their chance to win too.

TIPS FOR SPRAY PAINTING WICKER:

1.  Make sure the piece is dry and clean of dust and dirt.

2.  Spray paint adheres to rough surfaces better than glossy surfaces.  Rough it up if necessary.

3.  Spray the awkward parts of the piece (under the shelves of a bookcase, for example) first.  The paint will spray upside-down easier if the can is full.

4.  Spray the first coat moving your hand in a horizontal motion.  Spray the second coat moving your hand in a vertical motion.  Changing directions will help cover the ins and outs of the wicker in fewer coats.

5.  Buy a spray paint can trigger.  On the advice of a Mad in Crafts facebook fan, I bought mine for less than $3, and it revolutionized my spray painting abilities!

What are your best spray painting tips?

CHECK OUT THESE OTHER GREAT KRYLON DUAL PROJECTS!