Handyman Guide > Enameling

Application. Do not apply enamel with an ordinary paint brush. For best results in your work, use a brush made for enameling purposes. This brush has softer bristles than an ordinary brush, and the bristles are beveled on each side to flow on the enamel more smoothly and to help eliminate brush marks. A good enamel brush should be used only with enamel, never for oil paints.



Test the enamel on a small area in order to find the brushing technique required. Apply a brushful to about a square foot and completely finish the area before dipping the brush again and proceeding. In this way, the brush marks will flow out. Join the adjacent section to the first and continue in this manner. Do not attempt to go back over the work, as later brush marks are not likely to flow out and will spoil the finished appearance of the work.

Undercoater. In order to fill minute indentations, level off, and hide surfaces upon which enamel is tv be applied, use enamel undercoaters. These dry to a dull finish and, with a little sanding, form an excellent surface for the enamel. They should be brushed on in the manner previously described, since brush marks made in the undercoater will show through the enamel unless they are completely sanded out. Undercoaters are usually white, but, if desired, they may be colored by adding a small amount of enamel.

Although undercoaters are not required when enameling new wood or unfinished old wood, the finish will last longer and look better if an. undercoat is applied. Make sure that the wood is clean and dry, as it should be for any finish. Apply two coats of enamel, but allow the first to dry and sand it down with No. 0 sandpaper before you put on the second coat.

Enameling Old Wood. To enamel old, finished wood, the procedure is a little different. If the old finish is in good condition, remove any wax or polish with benzine, or sand it down with No. 112 sandpaper until the surface is smooth to the touch. Apply the undercoater, sand it down, and brush on the enamel. If the old finish is in bad condition, it should be removed either by scraping or with a liquid remover. Sand the surface and finish with undercoater and enamel. Always remember to sand cloth the grain and never against it.

Stained Surface. If you wish to enamel a piece of woodwork that has previously been finished with a stain, you will be faced with a problem of preventing the stain from bleeding through the enamel and discoloring it. Several coats of enamel will not prevent this action from taking place. The remedy is to remove the old finish down to the bare wood with a varnish or paint remover, sand the surface, and give it a coat of aluminum paint. This will seal off the stain from the wood. After the aluminum paint is dry the undercoater can be applied, followed by the enamel.

As with any other finish, poor quality enamel or improper application will cause the finish to crack and scale. If the cracks run down to the bare wood, the entire finish should be removed. If the cracks run only as deep as the top coating, the surface should be sanded, washed, and a new enamel coat applied after the surface has dried.

Metal. When painting metal with enamel, apply a priming coat to the metal, as is done when using an oil paint on metal.

Continue to Radiators and Concrete



Tools and Materials

Hammers - Handsaws - Screwdrivers - Chisels - Brace and Bit - Hand Drill - Brad Awl - Planes - Files - Measuring Tools - Rules - Squares - Marking Gauge - Levels - Pincers - Nail Set - Drawknife - Cabinet Scraper - Small Tool Kit - Putty Knife - Pliers - Wrenches - Paint Scraper - Sharpening Tools - Nails - Wood Screws - Corrugated Fasteners - Mending Plates - Bolts - Abrasives - Woodworking Glue - Splices and Joints.

The Workshop
Equipping the Workshop - Heating - Fire Precautions - The Workbench - Saw Bucks - Tool Rack.

Home Construction
Elements of the House - Building Materials - Lumber - Molding - Kinds of Wood and their Characteristics - Plywood Wallboard - Roofing Materials - Concrete - Mixing Concrete - Cement Mortar - Concrete Forms - Concrete Blocks - Cinder Blocks - Bricklaying - Fieldstone - Anchoring in Masonry - Soldering.

Furniture
Upholstered Furniture - Furniture Upkeep - Removing Stains - Removing Dents - Leather Upholstery - Cane Seats - Furniture Repairs - How to Repair Breaks - Levelling furniture - Remodeling Furniture - Polishes and Polishing - French Polishing - Painting Furniture - Sticking Drawers - Metal Furniture.

Painting
Paint Brushes - Storing Brushes - Varnish - Water Paint and Plastic Paint - Types of Paint - Paint Thinners - Mixing Paints - Preparing the Surface - Painting Flaws - Removing Paint - Exterior Painting - Painting New Wood - Repainting - Metal - Interior Painting - Calcimine - Painting Woodwork - Old Wood Trim - Staining - Fillers - Varnishing - Bleaching - Enameling - Painting Radiators - Painting Concrete - Shingles - Stoves and Stove Pipes - Whitewash.

Heating
Home Heating Systems - Chimneys - Coal Furnaces - Fuels - Burning Wood - Furnace Dampers - Starting a Coal Fire - Removal of Ashes - Coal Stokers - Oil Burners - Kerosene Heaters - Thermostats - Boiler Dampers - Fuel Economy - Warm Air System - Steam System - Vacuum System - Hot Water System - Radiators - Boilers - Maintaining the System - Insulating the System - Home Insulation - Storm Windows - Weather Stripping - Insulating Your Home - Blanket and Rigid Insulation - Unfinished Attic and Exterior Walls - Winterizing a Cabin - Preparing the foundation - Winterproofing a Cottage - Fireplaces - Reducing Condensation - Humidity.

Plumbing
The Plumbing System - Fresh water supply - Low Water Pressure - Hot Water System - Hot Water Heaters - Hot Water Tanks - Dirty Hot Water - The Sewage System - Sewage Disposal - Cesspools - Septic Tanks - Clearing Sewer Pipes - Clearing Drains - Plumbing Traps - Toilet Traps - Noisy Plumbing - Leaks in Water Tanks - Frozen Pipes - Clogged Water Pipes - Hard Water - Faucets - Shower Mixing Valves - Leaky Flush Tanks - Flush Valves - Removing Toilet Bowl - Leaky Pipes - Draining the Plumbing - Sealing Traps - Draining the Heating System - Types of Pipe - Insulating Pipes - Water Corrosion - Cleaning Fixtures.

Electricity
Definition of Terms - Ohm's Law - Alternating and Direct Current - Sources of Electrical Power - The Electrical System - Overloading the Circuit - Rewiring - Reading a Meter - Precautions - Fuses - Types of Cord - Splicing Wires - Replacing Plugs and Switches - Home Lighting - Electric Motors - Signaling System - Transformers - Burglar Alarms - Repairing the System - How to Install a Bell System.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter about how to start a handyman business. Get tips for finding clients, managing work and more.

More articles about starting a handyman business:

How to Start a Handyman Business

Handyman Business Cards

Handyman Clients: How to Find the Best Ones

Are You Cut Out to Be a Handyman?

Tools for a Handyman Business

Payment Options for Handymen

How To Advertise a Handyman Business



Customer Service Tips for Handymen

Choosing a Name for a Handyman Business

Record Keeping Basics for Handymen

Being a Handyman Versus Having a Handyman Business or a Franchise

Getting a Website for Your Handyman Business

Getting Paid Upfront: Deposit Policies for Handymen

How Much To Charge Per Hour

Should You Charge by the Hour, or by the Job?

Insurance for Handymen

Handyman Business Book Reviews

The Handyman Guide: How to Fix and Build 1000s of Things Around the House