Chalk Paint vs. Milk Paint

When it comes to a competition between chalk paint and milk paint, there really isn't a winner. Both are good for what they are, and both give great rustic finishes for new furniture you want to appear old or old furniture you want re-purpose.

Milk paint goes on in a very thin white washing way. It crumbles off and crackles naturally.

Chalk paint goes on like glue, especially if you are buying the expensive stuff from dealers. This is both good and bad. But I hate using this paint because it goes on so weird.

This brings me to my next issue. While both chalk paint and milk paint have a limited variety of colors both are great at getting the job done. Milk paint is far cheaper than the name brand Chalk paint.

A couple weeks ago I took my brother and his wife into an antique shop to look at milk paint. I suggested it because the wax finish is the best...period. Everything else pales in comparison to Miss Mustard Seeds antiquing wax. That shit is amazing. No joke.

I have used both Annie Sloan, and Cece Caldwell, and while both are very nice, and possibly finicky, they are also super expensive. At 40 bucks a quart, my wallet hurts.

So I took my brother and sister in law into this store and proceeded to show them the colors available and the wonderful crack-like wax. The owner came out and started pushing Chalk Paint like it was her drug of choice. She launched into this spiel about how wonderful it is and how great it is to work with, how she can make a custom color (at additional cost...money grubbing...cough, cough back to the point.) and as she continued her tirade I got annoyed.

I told my brother about the new home-made chalk paint I'd recently been making. (3 parts paint of your choice, 1 part Plaster of Paris, to 1 part hot water, mix well, I suggest a wire whisk in a drill, it does wonders.)

Of course I got this recipe off of Pinterest, but I want to say this so that I'm clear....home-made chalk paint is AMAZING. And I don't mean like other chalk paints amazing, I mean blow the stupid expensive Annie Sloan shit out of the water amazing. It was that good.

 

 

So I say to my brother how great the chalk paint I made at home is, and how I can make it any color (at no additional cost) and he perks up.

The owner of the store Freaks.The.Fuck.Out.

She doesn't scurry off to hide in her hole, no she launches into an even longer tirade about how great Annie Sloan is, and how my home-made may be nice but it has more VOC's, yadda yadda yadda. Naturally she is correct but, here's the thing. The assholes who say they have no VOC's are lying. I know this because recently I started looking into Waterlox, a wood finishing sealer/stainer. The rule is in some states there is a law against a certain amount of VOC's, California is one of them, the thing is, if it is under a certain amount they are able to say there is none even though there is some because the FDA sucks.

I didn't launch into my tirade against corporate liars, I kept my mouth shut and listened and as she came to an end, or needed more air, I finally said the six words that pissed her off the most, (and I totally pat my own back for this one) "Tell him how much it costs?"

HAhahahahaHAHAHA

I'll skip my maniacal laughter. Her jaw dropped, like on the floor, she sputtered and didn't know how to respond, she said OH but the VOC's, and I said OH but the cost. My brother waited and waited, and waited.

Finally she said, and it was hilarious, "It's only $39.95 a quart."

My brother turned around and walked out of the shop without looking back.

What's the point of my story...don't let some Antique Store owner bully you into buying over-priced paint because they aren't saint's ya'll. They aren't doing this out of the kindness of their hearts...no they are doing this for one reason...profit.

Am I being cynical...probably, but the truth is all those shiny labels and boxes and promises of no VOC's are just polish, and that's what you're paying for. Latex and plaster of Paris is a finer, and tougher finish, it's incredible try it yourself. For four bucks you can get a sampler of paint at Lowes, buy an empty plastic or metal paint holder and go home, don't forget your plaster of Paris though. If you're anything like me you'll start making up reasons to make the chalk paint, its that good.

In the words of the Water boys mama...Annie Sloan's the devil!!!

But really, home-made chalk paint is WAY, cheaper, a finer finish, and comes in whatever color you want at NO additional cost.

I am however going to try out this new chalk paint that comes with different under coats that crackle etc. That shit sounds interesting, and oh yea the price is not stupid.

Milk Painted China Cabinet

Here is a rather blurry picture of the china cabinet before I got my hands on it. It was a purchase from one of the antique shops I frequent. I saw it for a few months before I got the nerve to buy it.

I paid way too much...almost $400.00 which is a lot for me. I usually try to find things that are around or under $100. I have to really like something to pay more for it.

In order to make myself feel better about this larger purchase, I did the layaway deal. A lot of the local antique shops allow you to layaway certain items for up to three months.

Eventually about the time I paid this off, I was moving into the new house. So we packed it off and took it to its new destination. For a while it lived in the garage.

Later it made its way into the living room hole, as I call it. I know there are a ton of different dirty thoughts going through your mind, why do you think I call it that. Even I need a immature giggle on occasion.

Alright, so moving along, I went back and forth between what type of paint to use on this. I have used chalk paint several times, and recently started making my own, but I wanted an even older looking finish. This is an old very Victorian looking piece. It fits my house and my own personal love for all things old. It is the most decorative piece I own.

In the end I went with Milk Paint because it has a very "white washed" look. It also chips and crackles without aid.

Don't mind the blurry picture, eventually I'll have the honey take some good shots with his Nikon. Until then, this will have to do.