Alkyd & Urethane Paint — Pretty Is Nice, But Will It Last?

Pretty furniture is easy to photograph, but the real test is what happens after it leaves your workshop.

One of the most important things I've learned through years of painting furniture is that there isn't one "best" paint. There's only the paint that's best suited to what you're trying to accomplish.

That's why I keep coming back to this advice: Learn your products and choose according to your need at the time.

Alkyd and urethane paints are a good example. Products such as Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane are designed to create a hard, durable finish that can stand up to frequently used and cleaned surfaces. That matters when you're selling furniture, because your responsibility doesn't end when you take the pretty Marketplace pictures.

Your work goes home with somebody.

I've used different paints for different projects over the years, including Benjamin Moore ADVANCE and Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane. Both have given me beautiful results, but what works best for my business today isn't necessarily what worked best several years ago—or what will work best for your next project.

That's the point.

Don't copy somebody else's paint cabinet, including mine. Understand what you're asking the product to do. Think about the surface, durability, application, prep, recoat time and the kind of finish you're trying to create.

Then choose.

Hit play below to listen to episode #53: Alkyd & Urethane Paint