What paint do you recommend/use?

[SignUpNow]

I'm wondering if any of you (who make hand painted signs) can share with me what particular paint you use for your lettering. I've not found any that I can use where I don't need to put on several coats, especially on smooth surfaces. If the board I'm using is more of a rougher surface, it's not as big of deal. Thanks everyone...I'm no pro, just a self taught rank amateur who loves making signs. Thanks in advance!
Gary

[Former_Member]

Great question, though I can't really help- I was wondering the same thing myself!

I'm interested in finding out if anyone uses the "One Shot" brand of signpainters paint? I heard that's good.

I've used standard latex paint for lettering on wood, chalkboards, gatorboard, foamboard, etc.
Depending on brand and sometimes color, 1 coat has worked. Red is such a pain in the butt to work with! ;)

[AuthenticSigns]

Gary I was curious what type of paint you are using?

If you are using interior or exterior house paints you may just need to prime your wood before you paint it or buy some paint with the primer already built in. I've painted wood before and if you don't use a primer for certain types of paints your wood is just going to suck the paint in.

[SignUpNow]

Up to this point, I've been using latex enamel paints from craft stores. (Why they are called enamel I'll never know. I've always associated enamel with oil-based paints. These clean up with soap & water.) Anyway, there is a wide variety of colors to choose from but some cover very poorly. White, black, blues cover well, but yellows, & reds are horrible.

[AuthenticSigns]

I've never tried anything from the craft store. I go to my local sherwin williams store and ask for mistints which are normally $1 a gallon. This process is random though because you never know what colors they will have. They have some stuff called super paint which has the primer built in that I like. If you ever try getting some of this paint just make sure its exterior paint if its going to be an outdoor sign.

[Former_Member]

I actually use Golden Acrylics. It is normally used for canvas work but I just love how they work and the color blending you can do with them. Only thing with using them is that it makes all my pieces for inside use only. I have used interior paints before but mainly for my backgrounds.

[Former_Member]

Forgot to mention that usually with light colors you will have to do a second coat. It's your darker colors that you can get away with only one coat unless it's red or bright yellows.

[Former_Member]

My signs are distressed but I just use the cheap under $1 acrylic paints and I paint the base coat on very thin so it looks like stain and sponge on the letters so I can go over spots if I need to add more paint. I'm curious if anyone adds a top coat/sealer to signs that may be put outdoors?? And if so, what do you use?

[SignUpNow]

Nikki...I use a clear acrylic spray from a can, matte finish.

[Former_Member]

I was wondering the same thing about sealing the sign. I have heard brushing it on looks better than spray - opinions? Also shiny verses matte?

[MadiKayDesigns]

We go for the distressed look but all our signs are painted with latex from lowes or sherwin williams. For the colors we use the most we purchase in larger quantities like a gallon but all the detail color of paints we just use the samples these stores sell. On some of our signs though we also use spray paint for the base by Rustoleum (works great) then use or detail colors. We also have issues with reds and use oil for them only. So long story short we use latex mostly, then spray paint by rustoleum, an very little oil paint. I will say from experience that when you use good paint and a good brush it shows!!!