When working with cedar on craft projects you may need to paint the wood.
Painting cedar wood.
Coating raw cedar with clear wax is the most unobtrusive way to finish.
This procedure will greatly increase the coatings performance but will not detract from a smooth finish.
Once done let the wood dry completely for approximately two weeks.
The best choice of paint to use for cedar wood is urethane acrylic house paint.
But be aware that it is notoriously difficult to mimic authentic wood color with paint.
Be careful when painting very old cedar siding.
Don t use plain latex primer and paint on exterior cedar boards as they do not provide adequate elasticity in fluctuating temperatures.
Don t paint over bare cedar boards or the finish will fail.
You can paint directly over previously painted cedar but prime with a stain blocking primer before painting over bare wood.
Freshly cut cedar contains large amounts of moisture.
Because of cedar s large pores it is necessary to prime the wood before painting it.
Lightly sand following the direction of the wood grain with 50 or 60 grit sandpaper.
Even then the paint is not expected to last long.
Surface preparation is not necessary for textured cedar.
Loosened photodegraded surface fibers and.
Surface preparation is the key to success when dealing with weathered wood.
The siding must be free from mold mildew and dirt.
You can skip this if the cedar is textured.
About wrcla the western red cedar lumber association is a non profit association representing 27 producers of the finest western red cedar lumber throughout.
The smoothness of cedar makes it a natural choice for furniture its lack of knots and raised grain is comfortable against the body.
Choose a paint and primer.
Cedar wood naturally repels insects is aromatic and a very durable material.
Be sure to wait 6 weeks before painting or you may have problems with adhesion.
The following outline is intended to prepare you before buying any such products knowing exactly which type fits your final outcome.
Sand the cedar siding if it has a smooth finish.
Choose your primer based on what the paint manufacturer recommends to use.
If you absolutely want some type of wood appearance paint is not a good alternative.
Weathered new wood that has been exposed to the elements for longer than 2 weeks may have a degraded surface that is unsuitable for painting.
