Most DIYers have used pallet wood before, as it is easy to come by and relatively cheap, sometimes even free. However, Pallet wood usually needs to be treated with paint, varnish, oil, or sealant. But can you spray paint wood pallets as an alternative?
Yes, you can spray paint wooden pallets. There are several factors to consider to ensure proper treatment of the pallet wood, such as pallet or wood type, spray paint base, and most importantly, the environment’s temperature and humidity, where you will store the pallet.
Using spray paint on wood pallets is an easy and quick way to treat or spruce up your wood pallet without breaking the bank. Below we will discuss how to spray-paint your wood pallet and some tips to ensure you choose the right spray paint for the wood pallet you are using.
If your looking for more cool outdoor home improvement ideas than did you know that you can make an outdoor kitchen entirely out of wood.
Prepping your pallets for spray paint
Most pallets are composed of hardwoods like oak or softwoods like pine. Regardless of the type of wood, before you can start spray painting, you need to treat the wood to absorb and not repel the paint. Usually, this entails some elbow grease in the form of sanding the wood. Whether you like a rough finish or wood that’s smooth as silk, follow the tips below to prepare your pallets for spray paint successfully.
Sanding your pallets
There are really 3 main different sanding methods:
- Hand Sanding
- Palm Sanders
- Belt Sanders
- What about my Bench Sander or Planer(NEVER USE THESE) we will talk about why below.
If sanding by hand, be careful as splinters and hidden nails are nearly a guaranteed factor when sanding pallets, hard- or softwood. To counteract this, wear a glove on the hand that will be doing the sanding. Keep the other hand uncovered to test the smoothness of the grain carefully. Remember, wood splinters are often challenging to see and painful to remove.
I recommend using a palm sander as it speeds up the process and greatly reduces the risk of splinters. This is probably the best balance between control and speed as you can readily control both. Speed up by decreasing the grit of the sand paper and fine tune it by decreasing it.
Belt sanders are a beast in a good way and a bad way. Be careful as you run the risk of wood deformation if you do not pay attention when using a belt sander. Wood deformation will cause uneven surfaces and an un-esthetic finish when spray painting. Due to the even light process of coating, wooden imperfections are more noticeable when using spray paint.
Use different grades of sandpaper
| Grit Of Sand Paper | Outcome |
|---|---|
| 40-60 | Pro: Rapidly flattens and removes large splinters Con: Harder to control especially with softer wood |
| 80 (recommended first step) | Pro: Good starter sand paper to balance speed and control Con: Don’t stay on this one for longer than the get it mostly flat as you will create gouges |
| 100-120(recommended finish for most outdoor projects) | Pro: Still a better balance for speed and finishing particularly for projects that don’t need a silky smooth finish Con: Won’t get you an indoor furniture finish |
| 150-220(recommended finish for indoor projects) | Pro: This is a mush if you are bring your piece indoors and gives a terrific finish Con: Takes a Loooong time |
For avoiding bumps, bubbles, or deformities when spray painting, you will need to use different sandpaper grades. Start with sandpaper with a grade of 80 to remove splinters, dirt, and bigger particulates. After sanding, use a damp cloth to remove sawdust and dirt.
Move on to a finer grade of sandpaper such as a 120 to remove uneven surfaces and wooden pockets that will cause bubbling or bumps when spray painting. Follow this with another once over with the damp cloth. To test for uneven surfaces or even remove stubborn particles use steel wool.
The last grade of sandpaper is usually between 150-180. These grades will ensure an almost silky smooth texture perfect for spray painting and deliver the best aesthetic feel.
It is critically important to use a damp cloth especially in between you last few sanding overs as this raises the grain of the wood and allows you to sand off that grainy finish. If you don’t do this than after your spray paint dries you will find it rougher to the touch than it was when you finished sanding it.
Hardwood vs. Softwood Pallets
Preparing hardwood and softwood pallets are more or less the same procedure. Hardwood pallets take more effort and time than softwood pallets, as the wood is naturally more dense and has a lower absorption rate. Thus you will take longer to sand the hardwood but need less of your treatment medium. By staying in a lower grit sandpaper for longer you can still achieve a similar time frame.
Softwood pallets take a little less time and effort to prepare, and they are easier to find and a lot cheaper. The primary difference in treatment is the optional addition of knotting solution for softwood pallets to hide the textural contrast of the softwood’s heavily knotted grains. Using knotting solution comes down to personal preference, as most people do not bother with knotting solution on pallet wood.
Be careful with the softwood pallets as you can often dent the wood with a tool or even your fingernail if you press on it too hard. It is better to put a protective finish over it if it will be a nice indoor piece.
Different strokes for different folks
When it comes to spray paints, there are two main variations. We are either generally referring to using paint put into aluminum or steel cans and pressurized with CO2 or, more commonly, hydrocarbons. Or we are referring to paint mixed and poured into a canister that attaches to a spray gun connected to a compressor. As the procedure for applying both are more or less the same, we will detail which different based spray paints to use in internal or external environments.
Spray guns and aerosol spray paint
This is primarily to tell you the options you have and a quick description in how to use each. Definitely do more research before you start the painting process of your project.
Spray paints of both distinctions come in two primary categories plus primers, namely water-based and oil-based. Both of the treatments below will help preserve your wood pallets from environmental factors outside.
If you are using canned spray paint or primers, remember to shake for two to four minutes before using. By shaking the container, you can expect a more even spray. If you forget to shake the can, you may end up with irregularly covered surfaces.
When using a spray gun connected to a compressor, you should stir and mix the spray paint in the spray guns’ container to ensure there are no air bubbles in the mixture. Otherwise, you might be plagued with the same uneven or irregularly covered surfaces. Also, allow for the compressor to reach its optimum pressure before starting to paint, or you might have paint dripping out of the spray gun instead of dispersing.
Spray painting pallets for outside use
While nearly all pallets are already treated with either chemicals or heat it will likely already be water and bug resistant. If for outside short term use than don’t worry about treating it heavily because believe me, they will last. If you do want a longer lasting piece or it is for indoor use than use the below treatments to keep the pieces looking good for a much longer time.
Spray painting for outdoor use is very different than indoor. For more ideas check out our article about spray painting your shed roof. Did you know you could do that?
Oil-based primers we recommend using for softwood pallets that you will possibly store outside. The reason behind this is to ensure that the softwood pallet is sealed and protected against possible warping. The time the primer takes to dry depends on various factors. To be safe, let the primer dry for 24 hours if you are unsure. After the primer has dried, you can apply two to three oil-based spray paint coats, depending on the desired outcome, waiting for each coat to dry first before applying the next.
You can use 150-grade sandpaper to remove any bumps, bubbles, or imperfections from the dried paint between coats. Be careful not to sand to much however, as it may cause an uneven finish.When using both painting and priming treatments, remember to spray even amounts for a consistent finish.
Experts consider it sacrilege to paint hardwood in any shape or form due to its natural beauty. If, however, you are dead set on painting your hardwood pallet, you will be glad to hear that hardwood pallets do not require a primer, only a few coats of oil-based paint. Most woodworkers advise waiting for the first coat to properly dry, as this will allow the oil-based spray paint to absorb into the wood and create a strong seal.
If using these for outside purposes and trying to match with the general design of your backyard, check out our article about painting your shed and it may help spark your creative genius.
Spray painting pallets for inside use
Please be careful if your pallets are going to be used for indoor use. Some pallets are chemically treated and may not be safe for inside you especially for children and pets. You need to research the markings on your pallet to ensure that it is safe for use inside.
For inside use, you can apply water-based spray paints. However, when treating hardwood pallets with water-based spray paints, it’s imperative to use an oil-based primer. Before spray painting them with water-based spray paint, you will need to prime the hardwood pallets to ensure that the spray paint spreads evenly along their surfaces.
Although experts recommend priming softwood pallets, you may still be able to get away without using a primer when using water-based spray paint. You will have to apply more water-based spray paint coats to get the same effect when using a primer because the softwood pallets will absorb more water-based paint. More coats can be a good thing if you are looking to whitewash or used multiple colors on your softwood pallet.
Be careful if you are treating with a white finish as it can be piercing piece that doesn’t quite fit with the room as you would have hoped. If your paint is too white than check out this article about what to do about it.
Other treatment options for wood pallets besides spray paint
We have discussed most of the appropriate options for spray painting wood pallets. There are other alternative treatment options when working with wood pallets. These options can be also be applied through spray paint cans and spray paint guns.
Most pallet woods look beautiful with a few clear coats of varnish. The application procedures for both hardwood and softwood pallets are simple and easily corrected if you have an oopsy moment and make a mistake.
I advise using an oil-based varnish for both inside or outside use, as it lends both depth and a nice sheen to both materials.
Preparing your pallets for varnish
Applying varnish with aerosol canned spray cans follows almost the same as the spray painting procedure for either hardwood or softwood pallets. There are some minor differences, which I have listed below.
Varnishing softwood pallets
When preparing softwood pallets for varnish, you will have to be careful and pay close attention to not leave marks or gouges in the softwood pallets. For this reason, I recommended using three different grades of sandpaper as listed below. Using multiple sandpaper grades, you will have less prominent marks on your softwood pallets, even if you work a little rough.
Varnishing hardwood pallets
As hardwood pallets are much denser and harder, you run a smaller risk of scratching or gouging your hardwood. Do not use a higher grade than 180 for sanding your hardwood pallets, as this might result in the varnish not sticking or forming a seal. Varnishing is one of the most popular alternatives for treating hardwood but should be done in thin layers for the best results.
Conclusion
For both soft- and hardwood pallets, using either aerosol canned varnish or compressor accelerated varnish through a spray gun follows the same procedure. In both instances, you should apply very thin layers of varnish and wait until every layer is fully dry before doing some light sanding, wiping the surface with a damp, lint-free cloth, and applying another coating. For the best results, opt for a minimum of three coats.