Success with magnetic painting
For many years, we have been a consultant on both large and small projects with painting walls with magnetic paint, but we haven't found the time to make our own magnetic wall... until now!
We have tested all the advice we have received from our customers over the years, and then we have asked a master painter what not to do, so we could test and describe here, why you shouldn't do that. Let's start with how you should paint with magnetic paint:
Tip 1: wash the wall down
First tip for success is to clean the surface to be painted very thoroughly. It is essential for a good end result. And if you have to paint on top of wallpaper, a wash-down will also reveal whether the wallpaper is too loose in some places, so you can fix it before you paint.
Tip 2: cover the floor
The magnetic paint is thick and dark, so remember to cover the floor well. If you spill paint on the floor, you can remove it quickly with mineral spirits or you can scrape it off with a flat screwdriver when the paint is dry. We can also recommend that you cover yourself with a painter's suit or make a suit from plastic bags with holes for the head and arms.
Tip 3: use masking tape and general. paint
It is always a good idea to demarcate painting work with masking tape. Especially if you need a perfectly straight edge. If you are painting on a light surface, it is a good idea to have a small dab of paint in the same color as the wall, which you paint along the masking tape before you start with the magnetic paint, because it seals off, so you get a completely straight edge . Otherwise, the magnetic paint can sneak under the tape, so that there are small irregularities along the edge.
Tip 4: mix the paint thoroughly
It is extremely important that you shake the paint bucket thoroughly before you open it and that you stir the paint bucket well so that the iron filings are well mixed around. They gather at the bottom as a thick, hard mass. In addition to giving you a better result with even distribution of the magnetism, it also makes the paint easier to work with. If you think the paint is too thick, you can thin it with a little mineral spirits.
Tip 5: paint with a brush and roller
The best result is achieved by painting with a narrow brush along the edge by the magnetic tape all the way around and then paint with a roller. Make sure to paint "wet on wet" but without dripping from the brush and roller. We even achieved the nicest result by painting a strip of approx. 30 cm. and then paint a new stripe that covered 50% of the stripe that was just painted. If you paint the roller "dry", you will get an uneven appearance with stripes.
Tip 6: wait 12 hours for the next layer
It can be tempting to paint a new layer of magnetic paint again after a few hours, because the wall seems dry enough. But it isn't. So don't be tempted - wait 12 hours.
Tip 7: paint 4-5 layers
You can just paint 3 layers. But if you want to be able to hang paper on the wall and have the feeling that the magnet is firmly attached, we can recommend 4 layers. And 5 layers, if it is to feel magnetic like a whiteboard, where the magnet is attracted a few centimeters from the wall. We ourselves have painted a wall with 5 layers in the old premises in Gentofte. Now, however, we have moved to Hvidovre. But we haven't forgotten how to do it, so let us know if we need to tell you more about why we chose to paint with 5 layers.
Read here about choice of magnets for magnetic painting.
Tip 8: air out thoroughly h3>
Turpentine has a very strong smell, which is harmful to health if inhaled in large doses, so make sure to ventilate thoroughly - both when you paint and when each layer needs to dry.
Want to see our tips on what NOT to do? Scroll down under the products...