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Posts Tagged ‘turpentine<’
Good paint brushes are worth the price, although they nevertheless cost a surprising amount of money these days. If you choose not to Find a Painter to do the work for you on Mr-Skill, then you can extend the life of your paintbrushes – and experience the pleasures of working with a well run-in brush, by following these simple tips:
 London Painters know the trick of moistening the brush right through with the cleaning medium that they plan to use later, which could be water, turpentine or a specialized liquid. This prevents the brush fibres from absorbing the paint, saving you money, and making cleaning a pleasure later too.
- Don’t dip the brush so deeply in the paint that the heart fills with paint too. This space is there to provide flexibility in the head, not to act as a reservoir for generating paint spills.
- Work the brush back and forth against the job. This not only provides a better finish, it also helps the brush maintain its shape.
- After you have thoroughly cleaned the used paintbrush using the appropriate cleaning medium, squirt a dollop of dishwashing fluid into the heart of the brush and work it through to the outside with
 your fingers. Rinse clean under running water making sure it comes clear on the inside too, and then lightly flick the brush dry somewhere where you can stand a little mess.
- Finally, reshape the damp paintbrush with your fingers, and leave it somewhere suitable to dry. That way, it will be perfectly ready for you when you need it next.
If this sounds like too much work for you, then you could always Get Painting Quotes on Mr-Skill instead. You’ll be surprised at the quality of their work, and the amount of money that you could save when you use our painters, compared to general market rates.
Tags: absorb, brush, clean, clear, dishwash, extend life, fiber, fibre, find a painter, finger, flick, fluid, heart, liquid, london painters, maintain, mess, moist, moisten, paint, paintbrush, painting quotes, reshape, restore, rinse, save money, shape, soap, spill, tip, turpentine, water
Posted in Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
There is still a great deal to be said for dining at a solid wooden table, although these days we often seem to end up with laminated composite board instead that admittedly helps keep things more affordable. This is not to say that bargains are not waiting to be found at charity shops and auction rooms, although these have inevitably ended up becoming tatty, which is why they are there in the first place.
This does not mean to say that they cannot quite easily be restored, provided, that is, that the wear and tear is strictly  superficial, and that all the bits are there. Interested? Then never mind about getting a Painter Quote right now. Let’s first learn how the job should be done.
o Identify a suitable working environment that is free of dust and floating pollen. That means working inside somewhere assuming you are aiming at a gleaming finish.
o Work outside initially though, sanding the woodwork down with fine-grit paper until it is nice and smooth, and finishing off with steel wool until the job is as good as you can get. Every Decorator in London knows that the secret is in the preparation, so allow a full day for an average-sized dining room table, never mind the chairs.
o Wipe the table down with a damp cloth removing every single scrap of dust, finishing off with a lint-free cloth lightly moistened with mineral turpentine. Take your work inside to where you plan to finish off the job the following day.
o  Apply a coat of the finishing product that you have chosen, be this varnish, polyurethane or some other more exotic choice. Always use a clear product too, so that you bring out the natural character of the wood.
o When this has dried thoroughly sand the surface down lightly again, until you have broken through the sheen. If there are any bumps caused by dust or imperfections, slice these away carefully with a sharp blade. Dust off your work thoroughly, and wipe it carefully with a lint-free cloth moistened in clean water this time.
o Repeat the process as many times as you have patience for, because every coat is guaranteed to improve the finish and enhance the sheen. If you decide to Find a Decorator to do the job for you instead, you know by now why it is so important to agree a specification of exactly what they intend to do.
I have an old ball and claw mahogany dining table that I did up myself a decade or so ago and finished off with clear polyurethane varnish. Many have admired the natural, lighter colour that comes shining through, although I should think that few would have the patience to achieve it.
Tags: admire, auction, bargain, board, charity, clear, cloth, composite, decorator in london, dining, dust, environment, find a painter, finish, gleam, grit, inside, laminate, lint, outside, painter quote, patience, pollen, polyurethane, repeat, sand, shop, smooth, solid, steel wool, steelwool, superficial, table, turpentine, varnish, wipe, wood, work
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Modern, tougher polyurethane finishes that are resistant to heat and water have largely replaced traditional French Polishing that was popular in years gone by. It still lingers on though in many older items of furniture, that may often be precious too. Use these handy tips to cool the temperature in the household if an accident occurs. If you are not quite sure though what you are doing or perhaps the damage is severe, perhaps you should find a decorator with specialist skills instead.
 o First – establish whether the piece is actually French Polished, or not. Do this by gently rubbing an obscure spot using a soft, lint-free cloth moistened with methylated spirits. If you find a deposit on the cloth then you have confirmed your suspicion.
o Scuff Marks – Make up a solution of 5 parts methylated spirit, 2 parts linseed oil and 1 part pure turpentine. Moisten a soft, lint-free pad and work it over the damage using a “figure of eight” motion. If necessary, use undiluted methylated spirit to blend in scratch marks.
o Heat Marks – Work these away with a lint-free cloth moistened with 1 part pure turpentine and 1 part raw linseed OR camphorated oil.
o Alcohol Stains – Alcohol dissolves French Polish. You should mop it up immediately and leave the surface to dry. If you cannot recover the damage using the techniques described above, you should ask for decorator quotes at Mr-Skill (unless you want to try a French Polish substitute bought at your local hardware store). If the damaged piece of furniture is antique, then you may need the help of specialist decorators – London is the best place to find these.
Be careful when you follow this advice – do a test on a spot that is not normally visible, and use an expert if in any way you are not sure. The value of an older piece often lies in the patina of age, and you do not want to lose this.
Tags: age, alcohol, antique, camphorated oil, cloth, decorator quotes, decorators london, find a decorator, find a painter, french polish, french polished, frenchpolish, furniture, heat, linseed oil, lint free, methylted spitits, old, painter quotes, painters london, patina, polyurethane, scratch, scuff, turpentine
Posted in Carpentry & Joinery, Handyman Services, Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Oct 10
If you decide not to find a carpenter every time, and rather do a few small woodworking projects around the house yourself, then you will save money and spend happy hours tinkering around the place. My advice to you is not to splash out on expensive power tools when a good set of handsaws can be just as effective, and more environmentally friendly too. There is also far less risk of breathing toxins in.
Carpenters in London always wear eye protection, because they know the damage that a stray wood chip can do to their eyes. Invest in a good set of safety glasses, and keep these clean.
Always use the right saw for the job. Never battle with a mismatched tool – if it slips, you could be hurt quite badly. Remember this, when you hold your work piece with your spare hand.
Wear gloves to protect your hands from splinters and avoid blistering. To prevent muscular strain your elbow should be in a comfortable position on the same level as your work.
Make sure that there are no nails or staples in the wood before you begin to cut. A wood saw’s teeth can go out of alignment relatively easily, and may never work quite as well again. While on the subject of looking after your saws, always store them hanging on a nail, and never, ever put anything on them, or the blade may bend.
When you are finished with a job, clean the blade thoroughly using a little mineral turpentine. That way it will cut perfectly the next time, and will not rust either if you live down near the coast. Good saws last for a long time, and fathers even pass them down to their sons when they hang up their tools. That way, the next generation may not have to ask for carpenter quotes every time either.
Tags: blister, carpenter quotes, carpenters london, chip, clean, eye protection, eyes, find a carpenter, find a joiner, gloves, hand saw, handsaw, hurt, injury, job, joiner quotes, joiners london, mismatch, power tool, project, rust, safety glasses, splinter, store, teeth, tooth, toxin, turpentine, wood, woodworking
Posted in Carpentry & Joinery | Comments Off
A decent paintbrush can cost a lot of money and is well worthwhile looking after. Buying cheap ones on a throwaway basis is false economy, and your work will show this too. I learned these things from painters in London where I had my decorating business.
HANDYMAN’S TIPS: Begin by working smart. When you dip a dry paintbrush into paint, capillary action draws the liquid all the way up to the handle where it congeals and ruins the brush. Soak if first in water, turpentine or oil, then shake it dry before you start. Use different brushes for oil and water-based paints because these media repel each other. Wear disposable gloves so you do not have to clean yourself as well.
 o First, wipe away any excess paint from the brush with paper towel or a lint free cloth (if there is a lot of it and it has not yet begun to dry, scrape this back into the paint tin first). Squeeze the bristles gently as you work the paint towards the tip where you can remove it. Be careful not to damage or distort the bristles – you want your expensive paintbrush to wear in nicely, and last for years. Wipe the surface of the paintbrush again.
o Rinse the paintbrush in turpentine or oil, or lukewarm fresh water, depending on the type of paint you have been using – the instructions on the paint tin will tell you which is right. When done, gently squeeze the brush dry inside several sheets of newspaper. Never shake a paintbrush dry, unless you want your house or garden to change colour.
o After wiping the paintbrush again with paper towel or your lint free cloth, dab the bristles gently against a piece of mild, soft bath soap (not dish-washing liquid, which is harsh). Work up a nice lather in a small clean container. Rinse and repeat until your brush is completely clean, and free of any remaining soap.
o Re-shape the brush with your fingers, and leave it to dry at room temperature. Never rest a wet paintbrush on its head. If you do, it will dry misshapen, and you could ruin it.
Do you prefer to find a painter to do your painting work for you? A good website to get rated painter quotes is Mr-Skill.
Tags: bristle, bristles, brush, clean, cloth, decorator quotes, decorators london, different, different brush, dip, dishwashing liquid, find a decorator, find a painter, lather, liquid, newspaper, oil, paint, paintbrush, painter quotes, painters london, paper, paper towel, rinse, scrape, soap, squeeze, turpentine, water, wipe
Posted in Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
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