Scott Burt

One of the biggest myths about waterborne primers and paints is that they mess with the moisture content of the wood they are put on. But the product is designed to bind to the surface, not penetrate it; the water quickly evaporates into the atmosphere once it has delivered the paint ingredients to the substrate. To demonstrate this, check the moisture content of a piece of raw wood with a moisture meter, then take a cup of water and brush it onto the surface. This may raise the grain a little bit, but if you check the moisture content again, you’ll see it hasn’t changed. Wood has to be either submerged or under constant exposure to high moisture levels to significantly change its moisture content.

Most experienced painters know about “oil rage,” a psychological phenomenon that can occur after days and weeks of dealing with oil-based paint on a long job. At times I’ve literally had to walk away because the process became so stressful.

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