Milk Painting Furniture

Host Joan Kohn visits with Mike McHale of Gains McHale Antiques to learn about milk painting. He explains milk paint was used by ancient Egyptians and consists of three elements: milk, earth pigment and quick lime for a binder. Today is can be bought in powdered form and mixed with milk. He began using milk painting extensively in his business several years ago when he was looking for a way to create an aged look for new wood chairs. He notes that an antique chair with the original paint should not be touched up--the paint is a huge percentage of the chair's value.

Artist Jimmy Wade demonstrates the technique used to create a lovely, aged patina on a chair with milk paint.

Steps:

1. Start with an unfinished (raw) wood chair. Pine, beech, and oak woods are popular. If the technique is applied to a previously finished chair, the surface must be sanded thoroughly so the milk paint will adhere.
2. Apply any shade of stain desired (Wade uses a shade called Provencal) in a light, even coat with the proper brush. The stain can be alcohol-, water- or oil-based. It doesn't matter. The color chosen will be the one that shows underneath the paint. Let dry thoroughly.
3. Mix milk paint pigment evenly (50/50) with water. Brush on a coat in even strokes . Let dry one hour.
4. Wearing a mask, lightly sand down the entire chair. Simulate wear in certain areas by sanding through the paint coat down to the stain.
5. Apply sealer with a brush in an even coat, always brushing with the grain.
6. Apply paste wax with 0000 steel wool, rubbing with the grain. Buff out.