Well, I finally did it… I used my paint-gun to spray a DIY Chalk-Mineral-Paint!
You may recall about 6 months ago I wrote a post on Spraying with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. The clean-up wasn’t fun but the spray finish turned out flawless and amazing.
Since then, I’ve received many of your e-mails asking if a HMCP will work through a spray-gun. I’ve recently sprayed 2 pieces of furniture with a DIY Chalky Paint and I’m happy to say ***YES… IT WORKS BEAUTIFULLY***!
Here’s a French Provincial Dresser I sprayed with a Calcium Carbonate HMCP.
I learned a few things by trial and error and here are the 2 best tips that I think made a BIG difference. To achieve a smooth finish when spraying with a DIY Chalk-Mineral-Paint ~
Mix your choice of chalk ingredient with water THOROUGHLY & SMOOTHLY before adding it into your paint.
This includes the Calcium Carbonate mineral. When I didn’t add water to the CC Recipe (which I usually don’t!), it sprayed tiny powdered particles visible after sanding.
When I mixed the CC with water (and my hand blender) before adding it into the paint, it sprayed a nice smooth finish and fixed the above problem.
The same rule applied when I used the Plaster of Paris Recipe on an outdoor piece (which I’ll post for you in the near future).
Another ‘adjustment’ I made to get the smoothest spray finish with my DIY Chalk-Mineral-Paint ~
Once the DIY HMCP recipe is thoroughly mixed into the paint, water the paint down 10-20%.
Unlike my experience Spraying with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, I watered my DIY version down. About 10% with the Calcium Carbonate and about 20% when I used the Plaster of Paris.
I found it sprayed VERY best when the HMCP was the consistency of a melted milk-shake. Once it was thinned, it sprayed beautifully, leveled nicely, and dried quickly into the beautiful chalk finish I love.
Many of the DIY-Homemade-Chalky-Paint-Tips apply when shooting this paint.
It’s good to keep in mind every paint-gun will spray differently. Every DIY Chalky Paint will be a slightly different thickness depending on the paint brand and HMCP Recipe you use. Because of this, a little trial and error will probably be required.
Have you ever sprayed a DIY Chalk Version… or are you planning to? I’d LOVE to hear your experience and any helpful hints… or any questions you may have.
Feel free to chime in and leave a comment!
Have a great day!
Denise x
Hello again... I'm so happy you dropped by! Let's keep in touch! Follow me on social media or sign up for a dose of furniture painting inspiration and diy tutorials. :) 
Hello Denise! Thanks for sharing all these info, really appreciated! I was wondering, do you need less HMCP when spray painting (considering that the mixture is diluted) or more (need for extra coats)? Sorry if this sounds silly..
🙂
Liz
Not a silly questions at all Liz. 🙂 A lot will depend on your sprayer and how you spray… ie overspray etc. but I typically use more paint with my sprayer even though it’s thinned with a little water.
Thanks a lot Denise! I’m about to launch into a big project and currently do a kind of research. I’m having my master bedroom renovated and want to paint the whole bedroom set (it’s really old but it’s solid walnut wood) My local carpenter asks for lots of money for the restoration and as it’s a ‘low budget story’, I decided to diy it. Handmade chalkpaint is an option but still have my doubts. Do you think I should dare do this? (neither beginner, nor expert!)
Apologize for the lengthy comment and kindly ask for your advice 🙂
I’m all for DIY Chalky Paint if on a budget and you don’t mind the prep of mixing it. That said, my suggestion would depend on the color you want to use. If it’s a mid to dark color – buy a cost effect chalk/mineral paint. If it’s a light/white, DIY chalk/mineral paint would work nicely. Reason being, if it’s not 100% mixed properly – the darker colors may show ‘specks’ once sanded. Just my 2 cents. 🙂
Well, I’m obsessed with the french linen by annie sloan or any similar neutral shade. But I’ll give it a try with your HMCP. Fingers crossed, wish me luck!
(PS: to avoid any misunderstanding, I’m sure your diy recipe is perfect, this is all about self-doubt 😋)
Thank you so much once again, greetings from Greece!
🙂
Liz
Hi Liz!!! I don’t think I knew you were from Greece on your last few comments! MMM’s family is Greek. I had the pleasure of cruising the Greek Isles and visiting Athens, Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes – absolutely stunning! I’d love to go back. 🙂 Anyway, yes, I love french linen and neutrals too. Wishing you luck but I don’t think you’ll need it. 😉 I’d love to hear how it turns out for you.
Was chalk paint used hardware? This piece is lovely. Thank you. 🙂
Thank you, Laura! It’s been a while since I did this piece but I believe I sprayed with a primer and then a white spray paint. Krylon or Rustoleum I think.
Hello!
FABULOUS blog, pretty lady!
Anyway, I’m getting ready to do a large dining room set, with tons of caning. Spraying caning is so much easier, so I bought a Magnum sprayer. I’m having a heck of a time just getting it to spray! I’ve tried making a smooth paste with the CC before mixing it into my paint, and my sprayer will start, spurt, and then just STOP! GRRRR! I’ve tried thinning, not thinning, setting the pressure at all available levels, and I’m convinced my problem must be my spray tip. What size tip are your using for your HMCP? I’ve always used homemade CC chalky paint, and love my brushed results when I am distressing pieces, but I want the dining set to be very smooth, exactly like your Emperor’s Silk sprayed pieces, and your powder blue frenchy. I’m about to pull my hair out, so any guidance is much appreciated! Thank you!
Hi Rene! Hmmm… I’ve never had much luck using an airless sprayer and I’m not at all familiar with the Magnum sprayer – but I’m curious if it’s spraying “normal” latex for you. If so, it may just require a little more thinning with water. My Husky Paint Sprayer comes with a 1.4mm and 1.8mm tip and both have worked nicely for me when spraying with brand name or diy chalk paint. Good luck… I know how frustrating it can be when you want to complete a project and there’s a technical hold up!
Will adding the calcium carbonate to the latex paint lighten the paint color? Should I go one shade darker to achieve my paint color of choice.
Hi Veronica! No, the color remains the same when adding CC.
Hi Denise! That chest of drawers is absolutely beautiful! Did you sand in between coats of chalk paint on this chest? Also, how many coats did you give it? I’m getting ready to paint my first-ever piece with chalk paint and I am a little confused about the sanding part. I know that you don’t technically have to sand first with chalk paint, but I wasn’t sure if that also applies to sanding between coats. Thanks in advance!
Hi Brianna! Yes, I believe I did lightly sand in between each coat… because I usually do! It only takes but a few extra minutes and it REALLY makes for a professional looking piece.
Greetings from Costa Rica. I love your blog, and all of your proyects, congratulations. I have a question, have you ever tried painting upholstered sofas, or chairs with your homemade chalk paint? I saw a tutorial with the expensive comercial chalk paint that did it, but we do not have chalk paints where I live, so I was planing on using the calcium carbonate recipe that you suggest, although the cc that I found is for feeding animals so I guess is not that fine as the one you have, any suggestions??
Hi Eugenia! Painting upholstery is on my to-do list yet I have NOT tried it yet… with DIY Chalky Paints or brand name-so unfortunately I couldn’t say. As an alternative method for painting fabric; I don’t know if you have this product available in Costa Rica, but in craft stores around here they sell a Textile Fabric Medium which is added to regular ol’ latex/acrylic paint to make it suitable for painting fabrics. Possibly another option for you if the DIY CC Recipe isn’t turning out. Either way, I’d love to get some feedback if you give it a try Eugenia!
I am looking for large amounts of Chalk paint forFABRIC!
I need help as I have an 18 piece outdoor seating group with 18 lg. Seating cushions plus 2 lounge chair pillows
TY
Marion
Marion, I’ve yet to try a DIY chalk/mineral paint on fabric and I’m not sure I’ve heard of how well brand name holds up on fabric out in the elements. You may want to research that or if anyone reading this has any info, feel free to chime in. 🙂
This is gorgeous! Will you share the brand and color of the paint you used? I can’t wait to spray paint my next project.
Thank you Pam! This particular dresser was a custom color I created with left-over paints. However, it’s VERY similar to Sherwin Williams SW6225 Sleepy Blue. 🙂
I want to try home-made chalk paint on some rockers for a covered porch. Would you please suggest a final finish? Thanks!
Carole
Hi Carole! I painted an outdoor seat in HMCP and used Varathane’s Water Based Diamond Outdoor Wood Finish in Satin to seal it. Worked great and you can see it and find more information here.
I’m new with working with the day chalk paint with chalk paint at all really I wanted to see if you have a measurement you normally fallow when using plaster of paris water and latex paint I had seen a post saying to mix a third cup of plaster of Paris and a third cup of water and then mix in a cup of paint dose that sound about right and also I was going to paint kitchen chairs and a kitchen table I have 6 children so this set will definitely get a lot of use and abuse and I want it to last if I’m going to put ton’s of time into this I seen on another post for high abuse area’s to use a oil base wood floor sealer polyurethane cause it would give a very good seal what do you think about that
Kim, here are the amounts I use for my DIY Chalk Paints. And for high traffic items like your table/chairs, these are the poly's I like to use!
So glad someone else is as obsessed with spraying as I am and experimented with this before me. I am going to use my Critter sprayer for my CC paint instead of the Husky HVLP just for cleaning ease.
Do I have to finish with wax? I am thinking about refinishing the head & foot boards of my bed and building a bookcase with some old doors.
Ohhh, your project(s) sound wonderful Genevieve! And no, you do not have to finish with wax. You can use whatever topcoat you like and you’re comfortable using.
Love this piece! What color of paint did you use?
Thank you Trina! This was a custom color I mixed myself using left-over paints.
Love the dresser! I am wanting to chalk paint my bathroom cabinet. Would you recommend another type of finish other than wax if it is in a bathroom?
Yes Sandy, for bathroom or kitchen cabinets, I would prefer to use a polyurethane (oil based) or polycrylic (water based). Very durable for high traffic areas and you will not need to re-apply! 🙂
Forgot to mention how pretty the dresser look…love it!
Thank you!
Hi Denise, sooo glad to hear you finally were able to try HMCP in your sprayer. I’ve been reading your blog hoping to see how it went 🙂 glad it can be done. I havent get the hang of spraying yet but i’m definately going to try the cp. Thanks for the ALL the info from mixing to thinning. Love love love your blog. Oh by the way how was the clean up?
Thanks, have a blessed day 🙂
Valerie
Hi Valerie!!! I’m happy to say the clean-up went better than I expected. I cleaned the paint-gun exactly the same as I do when shooting with latex/water based enamel. No problems. 🙂
Denise-
The dresser is BEAUTIFUL!!! I don’t have a spray gun but this makes me wish I did! Maybe for Christmas…..Hmmmmm!
Thanks,
Tess
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that Santa is good to you Tess! 😉
Very interesting….had no idea a chalk paint could be sprayed onto furniture…..thanks for the info.
Pleasure Charlotte and thanks for dropping by! 🙂
Hi, thanks for such a succinct and helpful blog as always. I just wondered if you can tell me:-
1. how much quicker is spraying over say roller painting?
2. What did you use to seal this silky smooth looking piece?
3. Does spray painting have a huge learning curve for beginners?
When I first started using my paint-gun, it wasn’t quicker than hand painting at all! There is definitely a learning curve to using a spray-gun hooked to a compressor and getting the pressure, flow, and output just right. Not to mention the clean-up afterwards. Now that I’m comfortable spraying furniture, I can set-up, spray one-coat, and clean-up all in a half hour or so… depending on the intricacy and size of the piece. Personally, I don’t spray furniture for the speed, but rather for the finish I’m trying to accomplish. Oh… I sprayed on a Varathane Satin Poly to seal and topcoat this piece. Great questions Esther!
Great tips….appreciated so much. 🙂 I have been wanting to try painting with a sprayer but been hesitant. This really helps. Can you recommend a decent sprayer or maybe tell us which you use. thanks so much
Lynn, I use a Husky HVLP Paint Gun which I’m really pleased with. You can find it at HomeDepot for I believe around $60 ~ https://salvagedinspirations.com/free-husky-hvlp-paint-gun-is-on-route/
thanks so much. Can’t wait to get one. 🙂
It looks great. I’m planning to shoot a few pieces with mineral paint in the near future. How did you keep the interior of the dresser from getting sprayed?
Hi Dee!!! If my Husky HVLP Paint Gun outputs are set correctly, it shoots exactly where I want it. It has very minimal over-spray so spraying the interior of the dresser isn’t an issue for me. I do use painters tape to mask off the risers and sides of the drawers though. Funny that you asked this question… I just gave way next Tuesdays scheduled Quick-Tip. 🙂