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Evening i paint furniture and i wondering about a top coat to protect it espeacilly from chips ect on hardwareing areas. I ideally would like a water base with a slight shine that l can apply through my spray gun I’ve attached a photo of the pieces i do
appreciate your help
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Rachel48. It's amazing to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about top coating paint.
Lovely projects! You'll have to share some of your transformations with us. Feel free to start a discussion anytime to share your work.
If you're not using specialised paints, the easiest option would be to use a hardwearing paint like Dulux Aquanamel that doesn't require a clear coat and is suitable for furniture. Not having to apply a clearcoat would save considerable time.
We have the Dulux 1L Design Clear Top Coat, which is used over the Dulux Design finishes. It can be sprayed, has a slight gloss shine and protects delicate projects. It sounds exactly like what you're after, but it's designed for coating Dulux Design paints and hasn't been tested over other paints. You'd have to do some testing to see whether it is suitable for your purpose. The other option is White Knight 310g Satin Crystal Clear Spray Paint which I've used successfully over water-based paints. It will add a layer of protection, especially if you are using eggshell or mineral-based powdery paints. I'd be giving the Dulux clear coat a go, as it would be the most efficient to use through your spray gun.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
The Dulux Design Clear Coat is only available in the one-litre can @Rachel48.
Next time you're in store, you might like to discuss with our Paint Experts what water-based enamels you could use for your projects. Switching to those instead of the soft exterior paints would be a great choice if possible. Also, I just wanted to check what preparation you are doing. Although the hardness of the topcoat does play a significant factor, even harder coatings will chip and delaminate if the surface isn't prepped correctly. I'm a bit lazy when it comes to sanding glossy surfaces before painting, and I rely heavily on products like Dulux Maximum Adhesion Primer. Instead of having to sand glossy varnishes off completely, you only need to scuff them back before applying the primer. This ensures your topcoat has the best chance of adhering adequately. You'll see me use it in this step-by-step guide on How to upcycle a bedside cabinet.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
