Dry Erase Paint Desk
6 Sep
This desk has been a huge project for Jeff and I. We bought it about a month ago from the Goodwill on “Half Off Saturday.” (The Goodwills here in AZ sell everything half off, every other Saturday!)
You can barely see Jeff at the back of the line. He’s in the maroon shirt, walking. Jk, Jeff is (behind that man) in a yellow shirt, enjoying an egg McMuffin, far left.
I really think we found a treasure. It is an old Executive Writers Desk! For all we know, if could be like this one, and worth $7,500!
We worked on the project at Jeff’s parent’s house, in their workshop. After we cleaned the desk, drawers included, we sanded the whole desk with a medium grit sandpaper. After, we went over everything with low grit (220) to make it smooth. As you will see, we planned on just staining the entire desk to give it a new classic look.
To stain, use a cloth or dry sponge and apply the drippy stain WITH the grain. Let it dry for about 30 minutes, then wipe off any excess stain left behind. We chose a “red mahogany” stain that looked beautiful. Well, it looked beautiful everywhere besides the top. Even after wiping off the excess stain, parts of the top just wouldn’t soak up the paint. Our guesses why the top looked so bad stained: because we didn’t sand well enough, because the desk was too worn in those areas, it is so hot here and it wouldn’t dry. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get over how bad it looked, so we had to think of something to do with the top. Inspired by our repainted dresser, we decided to paint the top a different color.
This is where creative minds came together, and our sister Chelsea came up with DRY ERASE PAINT for the top. I had no idea this stuff even existed, but my sister-in-law told us all about it. We were sold.
We had to get that blotchy stain off the top, so we sanded it down again. Sanded it until there was no stain left, and it was bare wood. Then we wiped it clean with a damp towel, and let it dry.
I read every review of this Dry Erase Paint on Amazon, and Home Depot, and found that people either hated it (didn’t work), or they loved it (it worked great). I think the application (see directions below) is key here. There are other expensive dry erase paint brands out there, but I chose Rust-Oleum (found at Home Depot) because of the affordability, it’s roughly $23.
I also read that if the dry erase paint is expired (or over 2 years old) it will NOT work. According to reviews, the expiration date is stamped on the box as shown below.
The number after the first letter indicates the year is was made. So, if the number reads “1″ (like mine does), then it was made in 2011. If it says “9″ or older, I would stay away because chances are, it was made in 2009 or earlier. I would encourage you to buy it in the store (not online) because then you can read the expiration date on the box.
We masked the top with tape, and, as instructed by the box, painted the desk with a latex primer. We used Kilz 2. For all of the painting we used an ultra-dense mini rollerto ensure smooth application.
We applied 3 coats of primer. Keep in mind, primer is not meant to be perfect, it is just for a bottom coat. It is okay if there are streaks or uneven spots.
We poured a portion of the paint into a paint tray and applied our first coat. We rolled long strokes on the desk surface. The paint is thin. Then we waited about 30 minutes, and repeated, and repeated, and repeated.
Booty shot!
After the third coat of paint, it was completely dark, no one was home… so we went skinny dipping. Shh, don’t tell Jeff’s parents. In my defense, it was 107 degrees (at 10:30 pm), we needed to cool off.
Once all your coats are on, you must wait at least 3 days for the paint to cure. Don’t put any markings on it until it is completely dry. We waited 5 days to be safe.
When it was time to bring the desk home, we recruited our brother-in-law Corbin (aka The Hulk) to help us carry this beast up 3 flights of stairs to our apartment. Did I mention this thing weighs a bazillion pounds?
Then we purchased the hardware (white pulls) from Home Depot for about $2.60 a pop. We had to drill new holes because no one sells 4 inch pulls anymore.
And now for the unveiling!!
It really does erase! I couldn’t believe it!
Before and After:
* I was not paid by Rust-Oleum to create or write about this project. All opinions are mine. However, they should totes pay me or become a sponsor because we are about to give them some business after this project!
In 2008 and 2009, with the downturn in the housing market, The Home Depot announced the layoff of several thousand associates, as well as the closing of 54 stores nationwide, including the entire EXPO Design Center chain.*^^;
http://www.healthfitnessbook.com
Have fun
Curious how useful this is after a couple of years and if the paint kept its dry erase properties?
Love the idea, wonder how practical it is in the long term.
I’m definitely asking my principal if I can do this to my students desks!!!
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I bought the dry erase paint in my city New Delhi,INDIA. I used it on the wall with magnetic priemer as base. The paint was so hard and thick in container – Base B, that I have to shake and churn it for more then 30 minutes, I added 20 ml. of water in it. after 3 coats I waited for 5 days, but still it is wet and not working as dry erase. I think either the product has expired or I should not have used water with it. Can somebody guide me how to check the expiry??, as on the bottom of container its written – P73062
I’m sorry you had bad luck with the paint. I’m guessing it was expired due to the consistency of it… I have read so many reviews on this product, but nothing like what you are describing. Did you try again?
Awesome job. I love the look of the white draw pulls against the dark wood. My hats off to you for the best buy of the year….$12.00 for that desk was a steal. I need to find out if any of the Goodwill’s around my area do 1/2 price sales like that.
Ya, check it out! The Goodwill website shows when they are having deals.
Thanks Sam I’ll preserve em doing this!
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Greatjob and great idea for the paint!
Brasso! lol
Thanks for letting us know about this dry erase paint, my wheels are turning! I like the original pulls better though, I would have used rub and buff on them or alternately, brass to shine them up. You did a great job on this.
I agree about the original pulls. We totally would have used the originals, but one was missing
so we had to go with something else.
An absolutely beautiful desk. Thanks for the excellent tips on using this amazing paint.
I have a chalk board and a magnetic board – would this work if we primed it first?
I bet it would work on both surfaces, especially the chalk board. I’m not 100% sure about the magnetic board because I have heard of people using the magnetic paint under the dry erase paint and it not working out.
I have heard of people using it on refrigerators, and it working… So, it’s hard to say.
Be sure to follow the instructions exactly because the paint can be tricky.
Also, read my instruction about the expiration of the paint… try to get fresh paint!
Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
Whenever I think of /chalk/dry erase paint, the application is for a wall. The desk looks awesome and this is making me rethink some of my own furniture!!!
Thanks!
And go for it! Dry Erase paint it super fun!
Good luck!
this is such an AWESOME idea! I LOVE it! I would love it if you would share this and/or any other projects you have been up to at Tuesday Talent Show at Chef In Training! Thanks so much and I hope to see you there!
-Nikki
http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/
Can't believe you got that for such a good price. Any furniture with good bones at my Goodwill either sells quickly, or is way overpriced. The dry erase paint is a genius idea for the top. Sometimes one thing that goes wrong ends up sending you in a better direction. Fun! I featured you this week on my own blog:
http://www.imbusyprocrastinating.com/2011/09/get-me-motivated-monday_12.html
You are most clicked on "AP Link" @ Anti-Procrastination Tuesday. Thanks for linking up at New Nostalgia!
Great idea!
Hi – Saw your project on the Power of Paint Party and had to tell you how wonderful this is. What a clever idea for a desk top, so handy when there's no post-its around! Thanks for sharing and inspiring us.
this is amazing! thanks so much for sharing, you did great on this project!
WOW! What an awesome idea. I want to do this with a desk that we have. I just have to get motivated and do it. Great job guys!
That is one HOTT!!!!! DESK!
As I mentioned, we have dry erase paint in every office where I work. We LOVE it. Jenna and Jeff, this turned out better than I could have imagined. Way to go!
You rock my world Jenna! You guys are my idols. Keep up the good work! I'm so glad to know that dry erase paint exists.. (b/c dry erase > chalk) I've been wondering for a while, obvs not enough to look it up yet. haha.
J & J….you guys ROCK! that desk is so sick, I want one!!! Maybe I'll finally re-do the light birch desk upstairs that's butt ugly.
Great ideas…keep 'em coming!
hugs,
That is the coolest desk in the world! And I pretty much love that you went skinny dipping!!! Haha! You guys are my idols!!
Oh. My. WORD. This idea is amazing!
Jenna, this project is so AMAZING!
Very cool idea! I had no idea there was dry erase paint, all you hear about is chalk paint.
this is seriously genius and it looks so professional! no more need for a notepad or scratch paper…just write on the desk! love it
ahhh! It's so awesome!!! I absolutely love how it looks and the function of the top!!
woo hoo! It turned out awesome! Its so weird to see you write on the desk. I would have been so scared the first time.
Good work!