10 Things Every Furniture Painter Needs

Hey there fellow Painters! I have been getting a lot of questions lately about what tools I  am using when I’m painting my furniture. So, I decided to let you in on some of my secrets. Now I can’t give away everything I know (I mean come on, we would be here forever if I did that), but  I am going to let you get the inside scoop of what I keep in my “Painter’s Toolbox” (And no I don’t keep my supplies in a toolbox). Whether you have never picked up a paint brush in your life and have decided to start painting anyway (Yayyyy you by the way!!!) or have been painting for years, here are 10 things every furniture painter needs.

*The products in this post can be found on our website or through our affiliate links.

Let’s start with Prep,  the dreaded four letter word. I’m sorry but the better you prep your piece, the better adhesion your paint will have. PERIOD! There’s no such thing as a no prep piece if you want a lasting results.

     1. TSP
​I use Fusion Mineral Paint’s TSP. TSP is a cleaning solution that will remove oils, dirt, grease, fingerprints. You name it and it’ll remove it.  I love using Fusion’s TSP as opposed to other TSP cleaners found in hardware stores, simply because Fusion’s TSP is environmentally friendly and has absolutely no phosphates. Plus it lasts a long time. All I have to do is mix two capfuls of TSP per liter of water and I’m good to go. I'll let you in on a little secret, I'll take my TSP mix and put it in s spray bottle for easy peasy application. 

You can find Fusion’s TSP Here

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  2. Scrub Brush
You maybe questioning why I place a scrub brush on a painter’s must have list. I know, I know, you want to be painting, not cleaning. I mean you're not Cinderella. Trust me, a good scrub brush will make cleaning your piece so much easier. Seriously the amount of dirt a scrub brush and TSP get off a piece is astounding. I have never seen so much gunk come off of the pieces, which I know sounds gross but in the end will give your paint much better adhesion.

You can find a Scrub Brush Here

3. Blue Shop Towels

I LOVE blue shop towels. I mean I REALLY REALLY LOVE them! I use them for everything, from cleaning off the TSP residue to using them to apply glaze. They are AUH-mazing! They aren't like regular paper towels where they will leave a residue on your piece. Trust me, once you start using the blue shop towels, you won’t be able to stop. (Honestly if you saw the amount of towels we use, you’d think we own stock in them or something)
    
You can find the AUH-mazing Blue Shop Towels Here

4. Sanding Pads

I know, I know more prep, but a good sanding pad is one of the most important things you could own. Not only will a good sanding pad get you the most out of your money it will also be your best friend for your prep. You should be looking to use a 220 grit sanding pad, that it is not too rough where it will scratch the furniture. Just enough grit to scuff the piece to give the paint something to adhere too.

You can find Sanding Pads Here

​5. A Quality Paint Brush 

There are many wonderful paintbrushes on the market today, but if you are serious about painting furniture, I strongly suggest investing in a quality paint brush. For my painting projects, I use the Staalmeester Paint Brush Line. These amazing brushes are a mixture of natural and synthetic fibers and reduce brush strokes, because well let's be honest, we’d rather not see brush strokes on the furniture. I know it can be hard to shell out money for a brush but a quality brush will last a very long time. Plus you don’t run the risk of bristles falling out into your fresh paint.

Find Staalmeester Brushes Here

6. Microfiber Roller

In addition to a quality paintbrush, a microfiber roller is a MUST. Microfiber rollers are great for making sure no lint falls from the roller into your still wet piece. How many times has that happened to you? It’s the worst….plus they are great for ensuring you don’t have any brushstrokes on the top of your piece. I have found using a microfiber roller on the flat surfaces is the perfect solution for a stroke free finish, and they are relatively cheap so replacing the roller isn’t that much  of an inconvenience.

You Can Find the Microfiber Roller Here

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7.Brush Soap

I have a confession to make, I am horrible when it comes to taking care of my brushes. When I first started painting I would forget to wash my brushes all the time. (what? I have a lot going on.. ok?...Don’t judge me... ) Anyway, the brushes would quickly get disgusting, until I discovered Fusion Mineral Paint’s Beeswax Brush Soap. I had heard how amazing this was but I was skeptical at first, then I tried it on one of my favorite brushes that had been sitting for, I’ll admit, a little longer than it should have. I worked the brush soap into the brush, let it sit for maybe about 5 minutes and I kid you not, the brush was like new and super soft. (Not to mention it gets the paint off EVERYTHING) If you have ever taken one of our painting workshops or have seen Alexa paint a sign, then you know she is one of the messiest painters around. Sometimes I don’t know how she manages to makes the messes she does but the brush cleaner gets it. Plus she says the cleaner makes your hands super soft and no lie it does.

​You can find Fusion Mineral Paint’s Brush Soap Here ​.

8. Frog Tape

Ok friends were getting down to the nitty gritty here, my eighth must have is Frog Tape. If you haven't tried Frog Tape yet do yourself a favor and go find some. It is by far the best tape I have used for my painting projects. It was a lifesaver when I painted the stripes on my Hutch (see pic below) it adheres to the surface so well, I end up with nice clean lines every time.

You can find Frog Tape Here

9. Painter’s Pyramids
Oh My Gosh, one of my favorite, favorite items
on this list is the Painter’s Pyramids. They
are these little  pyramids that add just
enough lift to those projects that are
just too short to paint without throwing
out my back. Plus they make it easy t
o get underneath the piece to paint.
*Disclaimer: I most often use the
pyramids in addition to having the piece
                                                                                                             on a workbench, just so I’m not hunched
​                                                                                                              over painting all day.

                                                  You can find the Painter’s Pyramids Here

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10. Move-It Tri- Dolly

If you’re painting furniture, you know how difficult it can be to move your pieces, especially if you are painting on your own. A true backasver has been the Move-It  Tri- Dolly. They are individual sets of three wheels that can be placed under each leg of the furniture. Trust me, this makes moving furniture much, much easier.

Find the Move-It Triangle Dolly Here

Bonus Must Have: Fusion Mineral Paint

Ok guys are you ready for my bonus must have? You may have guessed it already but it’s Fusion Mineral Paint! Fusion is one of the most durable paints I have come across, and the best part, it doesn’t need wax! I repeat NO WAX! How amazing is that?! (Can you tell I’m a little excited here?!?)  There is nothing better than not having to wax your piece. I love the ability to be creative, watch my vision come to life, put it out on the floor, and repeat the process all over again. Now don’t get me wrong, you CAN use wax if you want that look and Fusion has a beautiful selection of waxes but its not required because the paint has its own built in top coat. Did I mention Fusion is environmentally friendly and VOC free? (basically it doesn't have any of the icky smells or chemicals any of the other paints have) and once its on its not going anywhere! (as long as the piece is prepped properly, this is why prep is important people!)
​                                                                                 Find Fusion Mineral Paint Here

Well friends this is where my list ends. If you have any favorite painting tools that I didn’t mention, I would love to hear from you!

Happy Painting!

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