Milk paint....

[Black Syren]

What is it?? Where do you get it and is it easy to use? Does it dry fast, slow? I have not had much luck finding out much about this over the net either so Im thinking Im not looking in the right places. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Quartermaster James]

Try this: http://www.milkpaint.com/

And: http://www.realmilkpaint.com/products.html

Read the FAQs and other information offered on both sites.

[CaptainSatan]

Milk Paint goes back at least as far as the ancient Egyptians.

I often cheat and paint multiple coats & colours with a coat of crackle

and some light sanding on the edges and corners

[oderlesseye]

The 'Milk' part of the paint is powdered milk..

it is the binder used to help adhere the pigment.

Edited September 5, 2009 by oderlesseye

[theM.A.dDogge]

milk paint is extremely easy to use...just paint about everything with it...several recipes out there...as well as venders...try local woodworkin shops

[Edward O'Keeffe]

I get mine from a local lumberyard. It goes about $10 / pt. Great stuff to work with, you can mix to the desired consistency and get just about and effect you want from light color wash to thick bold paint.

[theM.A.dDogge]

heres 2 sites that sell it...also may have local venders

http://www.milkpaint.com/

http://www.realmilkpaint.com/

heres one recipe...but others out there.....

* 1 Quart skim milk (room temperature)

* 1 Once of hydrated lime by weight (Available at building centers. Do not use quick lime, as it will react with the water and heat up. Hydrated lime has been soaked in water then dried.)

* 1 to 2 1/2 pounds of chalk may also be added as a filler.

Stir in enough skim milk to hydrated lime to make a cream. Add balance of skim milk. Now add sufficient amount of powder pigment to desired color and consistency (Pigment powder must be limeproof). Stir in well for a few minutes before using. For best results continue to stir throughout use.

Apply milk paint with a cheap natural bristle brush. Allow project to dry sufficiently before applying next coat.

Extra paint may be kept for several days in the refrigerator, until the milk sours.

Double or triple the recipe for paint. Allow to dry thoroughly 3-4 hours before use. For extra protection, give paint a coat of oil finish or sealer. Color may change - test in inconspicuous area.

[Black Syren]

Thank you all so much for ALL the information and resources. I am currently using latex but looking to go with a more period correct milk paint for my other projects. Again thanks for all the tips, the recipes, the links and mainly answering the question of how long it keeps! I shall definitley look forward to trying this.

[Quartermaster James]

Was just over at the Panther Primitives site and noticed they have milk paint on sale: http://www.pantherprimitives.com/sale.html