Have you heard of Webster's Chalk Paint Powder?
I only learned of it recently and decided to buy some and
give it a try. According to the company's literature that came
with my order, it was developed for "thrifty, frugal, do-it-
yourselfers" who want a "healthy all natural alternative
to home made chalk recipes".
Webster's powder costs $13.95 for enough powder to make
a quart of chalk paint when mixed with your own latex
paint and some water. Shipping is $4.00. Although you do
have to supply your own color, this product is still less
expensive than some of the other chalk paints on the market.
Another advantage of the powder is that you can make smaller
batches of chalk paint in whatever color of paint you need.
The company's website says that "months and months of
research went into creating a product that could be added to
regular latex paint". They suggest flat, semi-gloss, satin or
eggshell finishes but not high gloss.
One of my least favorite pieces of furniture in my house
is an end table in the living room.
My husband has had it for about 35 years.
It is a sturdy solid wood piece that fits in that tight
area well. He says that he "paid good money for it"
and has been reluctant to let it go.
I thought it might be a good candidate to try the chalk paint
powder on because it doesn't have a large surface area.
I could mix up a quarter of the bag of powder and a cup
of paint and see how far it would go on the piece.
I got permission to paint the table if I would leave the
burled wood on top alone.
It is pretty wood on top and has been very durable.
In its 35 years it only has a tiny boo-boo in the surface.
Another feature that I had all but forgotten about was a
handy-dandy formica-topped beverage pull out shelf.
The instructions give you the exact amounts of water to powder
to mix together before you add the paint color for the amount
of chalk paint that you want to end up with in the end.
I thought that it would take two cups of paint to cover the table.
I like to add layers of colors so that when I sand the piece,
different layers emerge. I selected two light color Valspar
sample paints that are 8 oz. ($3 each) from Lowe's.
Just to make sure that the 8oz. of paint was a cup that the chalk
paint recipe calls for, I marked a throw away cup with a line
of where one cup would come up to.
Sure enough, the contents of the sample jar of paint was one cup.
You add the powder and water mixture to the paint and stir.
This is what the table looked like after one coat of the paint:
It is not unusual for dark pieces of furniture to need two
coats of chalk paint if you want the piece completely covered.
I was surprised at how little of the chalk paint was needed
for the first coat. Can you see the level of where the paint
started in the solo cup and the level after the first coat?
coats of chalk paint if you want the piece completely covered.
I was surprised at how little of the chalk paint was needed
for the first coat. Can you see the level of where the paint
started in the solo cup and the level after the first coat?
Because so little of the paint was gone out of the first color,
I decided not to mix up a batch of the second color.
This was the darker color anyway and it turned out
lighter than I thought it would.
I found out that it was easier to paint this small piece
by turning it at different angles to get all the surfaces.
dark wood was covered.
The second coat of paint used even less paint than the first one.
After the second coat, I poured the left over "now chalk paint"
back into the original container of paint. Enough was left for
future projects for sure. I contacted the Webster Chalk Paint
Powder company via email to ask if there were any special
instructions for saving left over paint. They responded
promptly that just to put in a container that could be sealed
and to re-stir the paint before using it again.
I had seen it recommended to use 100 grit sandpaper to
distress chalk paint pieces so I purchased some .
After the second coat, I poured the left over "now chalk paint"
back into the original container of paint. Enough was left for
future projects for sure. I contacted the Webster Chalk Paint
Powder company via email to ask if there were any special
instructions for saving left over paint. They responded
promptly that just to put in a container that could be sealed
and to re-stir the paint before using it again.
I had seen it recommended to use 100 grit sandpaper to
distress chalk paint pieces so I purchased some .
On previous chalk painted pieces I had sanded, I used some
200 grit sandpaper that I had on hand. It had taken some
elbow grease to get a distressed look with the 200 grit.
The 100 grit, however, took more of the paint off than
I wanted even though I tried to not sand too hard.
Maybe 150 grit would be a happy medium for me.
I got the left over chalk paint back out and put a light coat
over some of the places where too much paint came off.
The chalk powder paint instructions state that if you want a
chalkboard effect, don't wax at this point but they recommend
waxing if the chalk paint is on furniture to seal the paint.
I did buy some Annie Sloan dark wax when I got a quart each
of AS "Old White" and "Old Ochre" chalk paint a while back.
Being the cheap person that I am, I have just used the less
expensive, locally available Johnson's Paste Wax and/or
Minwax Finishing wax in the clear color to use with the dark wax.
First I rubbed (with a clean white cloth) and brushed
(with a normal paint bristle brush...
I know there is an official wax brush but I have not
been able to bring myself to spend the money for it)
a coat of clear wax all over the piece.
This intensifies the color of the chalk paint and helps to seal it.
Then, if you also want a coat of dark wax color on your piece,
you add it on top of the clear coat of wax.
Be prepared to add some more clear wax on top of the dark
wax to rub some of it off if it is darker than you want.
The dark wax can be shockingly dark by itself.
Now a days, I mix clear wax and dark wax together
before putting it on a piece to "dilute" it some.
Just cream it together with a fork like mixing in butter.
The Webster folks caution not to use wax not intended
for painted pieces on their chalk paint. I could not find on my
cheaper cans of clear wax whether they were OK for painted
where she uses paste wax on chalk pieces frequently.
After the wax has cured for about 24 hours, buff it down
with a clean white cloth.
The main purpose of painting the end table was to try the
Webster's Chalk Paint Powder (TM) and that was
successful. I thought the powder did well to turn regular
latex paint into chalk paint. I would probably add a few more
drops of water next time I mix some up to thin it a little.
But, I still don't love this table.
The chalk paint does help it, however, to blend into
it surroundings better and be less noticeable.
Before
After
The little pull out tray area on the table turned out
to be my favorite part on the painted piece.
So, in comparing cost between getting the Webster's chalk paint
powder and say, Annie Sloan chalk paint, a quart of chalk
paint would be about $30 using the Webster's powder
($18 for powder with shipping and then $12 for four
8oz. sample latex paints) versus $40 for AS ($35 for a
quart and then about $5 shipping).
Cost-wise, not a big difference in price.
The bigger difference is that you could select 4 different colors
to mix the powder with and have a 8 oz. of each color.
Based on how far the chalk paint went made with the Webster's
powder, it seems that a cup of paint would be enough for
quite a bit larger piece than I used for this project.
Although I have used both plaster of paris and wall texture
powder to mix with paint to make a chalk-like paint with
good results, both have cautions about their use
(wash plaster off your skin if it gets on there
and don't breathe in excess sanding dust from wall texture).
The Webster literature says that their product is "all
natural" and safer than cheaper home made chalk recipes.
So, I probably will buy more Annie Sloan chalk paint
done in AS "Old White" and "Old Ochre")
and I probably will make my own chalk
paint with wall texture powder again (here's a screen
and an armoire done in layered craft paint colors and
texture powder) and I will be using the rest of the
Webster's Chalk Paint Powder (TM) to make three more
cups of chalk paint for future projects...I like them all.
(I purchased the chalk paint powder myself, did not receive any compensation for
doing this post on Webster's powder and have no affliliation with the company.)
I am sharing this post at
Sunday Showcase @ Under The Table and Dreaming
Mod Mix Mondat @ Mod Vintage Life
Metamorphosis Monday @ Betweeen Naps On The Porch
The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch and others
Knick of Time Tuesday @ Knick of Time blog
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here
Furniture Feature Friday Party @ Miss Mustard Seed
