Paint - Toyz School

What is a paint marker? Is it literally what the name is a “paint” “marker”? Pretty much, that’s exactly what they are. What do you use them for? They can be used to draw on just about any surface, it’s just that simple. Want to draw on your mirror? Paint marker. Want to draw on the window? Paint marker. Want to doodle on the cement? Paint marker. Just about anything you want. As you may have noticed, I did not mention anything that was made of wood. This leads us to the question: “Can you even use a paint marker on wood? Paint markers can absolutely be used on wood. However since it has been used on wood it is difficult if not impossible to get off. This is because wood is porous and the paint from the marker will get in the wood grain and won’t come out easily (if ever). Paint markers contain oil-based paint and generally require some shaking before using them. The paint will not fade over time with exposure to UV light and it overlays all colors beneath it. The paint is not permanent on most things and can be cleaned with high pressure cleaning or paint thinning solvents. However with paint going into the wood grain it’s hard to clean without damaging the wood. Paint markers, like chalk markers, have a wide variety of uses. They can be used in arts and crafts to construction site jobs. If you need to mark a spot on something that you are cutting, like a wood plank or something like that, a paint marker should do the trick. What Are The Best Brands Of Paint Marker/Pens? You may be a wood artist and love to spruce up trees or sides of buildings that are just run down and ugly. If this is you, you definitely want the best quality and longest lasting product that you can find. Here is a list of the top brands of paint markers that people are buying along with some pros and cons of each one. The best paint marker brand are those that are made by Paint Mark. They are relatively inexpensive and do the job quite well. Paint Mark quick-dry paint pens are very versatile and can work on just about any surface you can think of--ceramics, glass, wood—these markers will do the trick. The colors are basic, but very vibrant. Paint consistency is thick but smooth and because of its oil-base, it will not be washing out anytime soon. Another good thing about these is that it sets quickly and leaves no streaks. The only real con with these is that they can dry up if left out too long. I did want to mention a couple more great brands that are currently available. These other brands are great choices as well if you can’t find those made by Paint Mark. Artistro Paint Pens This set comes with unique shades of colors that other brands do not carry. A plus is that they carry gold and silver, which any artist must have when decorating glass or ceramic. These markers are water based and that gives a glossy look, especially on wood. Alerie Acrylic Paint Pens These pens are just a bit more expensive than most, but it comes with 24 pens. 12 of them have a fine tip while the rest have reversible tips. These are extremely good for wood art because they are versatile. You can use multiple techniques, especially in calligraphy because there are more tip options. As you can see, there are pros and cons for each brand of paint markers. If you like to draw and are picky with what you are drawing with, I suggest that you test out several brands and see what you like. You can also check out some reviews from others that have used these brands and see how they liked them. Craft Tips For Making Wood Signs (And Other Wood Crafts) Are you a creative, do-it-yourself kind of person that loves to make things and draw? You do a pretty decent job, but you really would like to up your game when it comes to making wood signs for all those occasions you and your friends are having, or for the redecorating in your house for the new season. Here are a few tips and ideas for you to use so that you can make the perfect and most satisfying sign that you have ever made. First let’s start with that bleeding effect that you keep seeing. To avoid this when writing on raw wood with a felt tipped pen, what you need to do is sand the area, then put some Elmer’s glue on the area; it will go on white, but dry clear. If there are spots that are too thick and are taking too long to dry, thin it with some water. A second coat couldn’t hurt either. When the glue has dried, you can write directly on it with the paint marker and have no bleeding. If you mess up, simply just wash off the marker and glue with water and start over. Keep in mind that if you are using a permanent felt tip marker that you do not brush on a clear finish; this can cause it to run and smear. Just spray a couple light coats of varnish on it and that should make it turn out great. Something else that can help you make a great sign and save some money, don’t buy the expensive and messy paints or wood stains, purchase a latex paint in the color of your choice. Thin it out with one part paint and two parts water. If you want a pattern, like the classic stain look, use a shade of brown and apply with a sponge. For other types of patterns, you can make copies of the pattern and apply it to the wood with adhesive spray. I hope these tips for wood sign making were a help. You can definitely up your game on this and surprise everyone else at the next event that you are hosting and also you can use them to decorate for the fall and winter seasons. With these techniques, your signs will be the talk of the neighborhood, everyone will be asking you the way to do it. And who knows, you may be able to make some money off of it by teaching them. Good luck to you and your future sign making. And don’t forget that great tools for this are paint markers. Find the ones you like and use them to the best of your ability.