In the NewsGOT MILK PAINT? Dwayne Siever of The Real Milk Paint Co. ® does, and in 13 traditional colors. Siever states: "Most people have never heard of milk paint." In spite of this fact it has been in use for hundreds of years. Milk paint has been largely forgotten in this age of latex and acrylics. Milk paint was traditionally made from raw materials of curtled milk, lime and pigments. The environmentally safe, non-toxic qualities are just a few of the features Real Milk Paint has to offer. Does milk paint have an odor? Won't it wash off when it gets wet? Real Milk Paint is virtually odorless during application and while it dries. Milk Paint continues to get tougher as it cures, it is so tough modern strippers cannot remove it. Milk paint has a very dry, flat look while to colors have a bright, earthy quality that is unmatched by modern paint. Milk paint is so safe, you can dispose of unused portion product on your garden without harm. Real Milk Paint's 13 trational colors were developed from over 15 years experience observing and restoring fine antique furniture, a business which Mr. Siever is still is involved. Siever said, "We are most excited about our newest color, 'salmon'. This color was used on the interiors of cupboards as well as for painted decoration." Real Milk Paint is available through a nationwide network of distributors, which include museums, gift shops and antique shops. The company does have a web site listing all the distributors, but will sell direct if a distributor is not available in your area. Siever stated: "We are always looking for ways to improve our customer service, as well as our distributor relations. Any kind of imput is welcome by phone or e-mail." Dwayne Siever prides himself in the success of Real Milk Paint's formula. "We have not had one bag of Real Milk Paint returned because of dissatisfaction." The company web site provides a tremendous amount of information from a frequently asked questions page to a customer photo gallery, as well as a brief history of milk paint. For further information and a view of color selections, please visit www.realmilkpaint.com, e-mail dosiever@realmilkpaint.com or call 215-538-3886. Back to Top Two Roads to 'GREEN' Finishing In the current age of environmental responsibility, finishes are often marketed as "friendly," "green" and "safe," or simply as alternatives to solvent-based products. Water-based products have made the biggest splash, while historically traditional finishes - made "naturally" from plant oils and waxes, plant-based solvents, earth and mineral pigments, and other natural resources - are attempting a comeback. Manufacturers of water-based finishes say their products have proven their worth. But first, manufacturers had to improve the quality of their water-based products and change some negative perceptions. "Where we are today compare to 10 years ago is not even close," said David Fuhr, senior chemist at Fuhr International, a manufacturer in Winigan, MO. We had to re-create the wheel, in a sense," said Jeff Weiss, owner of Target Coatings, a manufacturer in Rutherford, NJ. "There was a learning curve for both sides - users and manufacturers. A lot of the furniture makers had been burned by other (finish) manufacturers whose products weren’t very good because their raw materials weren’t very good. Over the last eight years, raw materials have improved." There were also issues with application technique and equipment needs. But the manufacturers say water-based finishes are no more complex than any other finishing products, as long as education is addressed. "Customers have to heave a level of understanding," said Bill Boxer, who performs distribution and technical support duties for ApolloCoat, a division of Apollo Sprayers Inc. based in Visa, Calif. "There are lots of mistakes that can be made, but if you know the parameters, then those mistakes can certainly be avoided. "The bad rap usually comes from the Monday-morning quarterbacks and a lot of it is bad publicity. But I think a lot of that has passed, as people become better educated." Au naturel
"In the last 200 years we’ve gone away from [natural finishes], because they don’t work as well as the finishes we have now," said Bob Flexner, a writer and finisher in Norman, Okla. "Cabinet shops want harder finishes. They want at polyurethane finish." But they still have their place, according to professional finisher Jeff Jewitt, owner of Homestead Finish Products in Cleveland. "In my view, both shellac and pure linseed oil provide an acceptable finish, particularly when shellac is applied over linseed oil on figured woods," he said. "They are both edible, provide a good-looking, fairly durable finish, and come from renewable resources. These at least are criteria that are important to me personally. "The other aspect of these two finishes is that we know a great deal about how they wear over time, their chemistry, and positive and negative aspects. This satisfies both my empirical and scientific requirements." Natural finishes are used more often in Europe, according to Eugene Dunlap of Sinan Co., a distributor of Germany’s Auro organic finishes in Davis, Calif. There are some demands for natural finishes in the United States, particularly on the East Coast, Dunlap said. However, "the problem is cost," he said. "A lot of people who would like to use them - a family with small kids - just don’t have the money." The added expense is caused by importing the products from Europe, where an unfavorable exchange rate and higher labor costs exist. Dunlap makes no claims that Auro products are better than petroleum-based finishes. "They’re not stronger than polyurethane," he said. "But I think they look better, feel better and are easier to touch up." Auro offers both oil-based and water-based finishes. The oil-based finishes are citrus-based turpentine’s, using the oil from orange peels. The water-based finishes are a more recent development, and a difficult one, since linseed is used mostly as the binder, according to Dunlap. Oil and water don’t like to mix. Milk Anyone?
"We also get a lot of requests from chemically sensitive people," Siever said. "The only emission from milk paint is water, and it really has no odor at all." Siever describes milk paint as a more traditional paint, which has its advantages over a water-based latex paint, for example. "Latex paints form a plastic skin, and with exterior applications it will eventually peel off as moisture works its way in," said Siever. "Milk paints stay permeable. The moisture passes back and forth and the paint won’t peel. It actually gets stronger. The colors are also very intense and vivid." Milk paint is best applied to raw wood and does not stick to well to new metal surfaces, plastics or oil-based paints or finishes. On the other hand, Siever said, almost any finish can be used as a topcoat over milk paint. Drawbacks to milk paints include the hassle of mixing and the 20 minute wait that follows. Once mixed, milk paints only have a shelf-life of two to four weeks. They also sell for about $44 a gallon, compared with as little as $10 per gallon for some latex paints. Price is also an issue with water-based products. Although water-based finishes are becoming more competitive with solvent-based finishes, according to Weiss, they usually cost more than traditional solvent-based products because of the raw materials used. "There are many water-based solvents that cost $10 a gallon in raw materials before you ever go into production," said Fuhr in reference to the small amount of solvents that water-based finishes actually do contain. Wave of the future
"There are so many advantages to switching to water-based finishes. We can make an environmental impact and the finish is better," he said. Water-based finishes have improved because producers have specialized, according to manufacturers. "We sell performance because the customer cares about what it looks like and what it feels like," Fuhr said. "We also back it up with technical support. We want the customer's first experience with water-based finishes to be a good one." Apollo, a longtime maker of HVLP spray equipment, added water-based finishes to the company’s product line about five years ago because of customer demand. At Apollo, the marriage between equipment and finishing materials is extremely important. "The biggest problem is [people] not understanding the application equipment," Boxer said. "The amateur wants the same result as the professional, so we try to provide strong sales support. We’re very accessible. My phone number is on the side of the can. The main thing is accessibility, and in my opinion, that’s been the general weakness in the industry. This fall, Target plans to introduce hybrid oils and new varnishes. Fuhr, meanwhile, recently developed a conversion varnish equivalent and a primer that adheres to wood and plastic. "This is just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg," Weiss said. "We’re looking for the bigger ships, but at this point, they’re pretty much locked in with the solvent guys." Back to Top baby go green The long awaited birth of their first child turned out be a horrendous time for Mona and Joe. During delivery health professionals detected high levels of toxicity in Mona's blood. This complication made her very sick. She had to stay in the hospital, while the baby went home. Her mother had read some literature about harmful toxins that are released during renovation work and painting. She suspected that maybe Mona's problem was due to all the painting and remodeling work they had done in preparation for the new baby. After her illness, Mona educated herself about volatile organic compounds or VOC. What she found out made her determined to change their lifestyles and try "going green." "Going green" means choosing environmentally friendly methods and products that make the home a safe place for all members of the family. Today, many people are looking for information about the hazardous pollutants in and outside of their homes. They are seeking new products and information to protect their loved ones from harm. If you are planning to paint a room for a new baby or redecorate your home, there are several points to consider besides the colors. What's in the paint? Most commercial paints today contain toxic chemicals or VOC such as benzene, formaldehyde, mercury, toluene, and glycol's, to name a few. Once these chemicals are released, they can cause headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. The American Lung Association reports these chemicals will increase respiratory difficulties. Other researchers have found increased risks of miscarriage, fetal distress, and low birth weight as a result of contact with even latex paints because human skin allows the passage of these toxic substances. Once the vapors are released, where do they go? Researchers have found that a fresh coat of paint releases the highest quantity of vapors in the first four days but then out gases into the curtains, carpets and fabrics over a long period of time. Latex paint, in general, has a lower VOC content than oil-based paint. But still, the VOC in latex are high enough to cause or to contribute to ozone levels according to a report form the Environmental Protection Agency. Also, the EPA notes that ground-level ozone is a major component of smog formed in the atmosphere by the VOC in the presence of sunlight. There is a solution to this quandary. The alternative is to buy paint with lower or zero VOC. Many manufacturers are answering the demand for low VOC with some new paint lines such as: Sherwin William's HealthSpec, Benjamin Moore's Pristine EcoSpecTM and Glidden's Lifemaster 2000. Michael Masorli, District Sales Manager for Old City Paint and Decorating says "Benjamin Moore's Pristine EcoSpecTM is the same product that I sell to hospitals, healthcare facilities and schools. It contains minimal levels of VOC and meets the most stringent environmental requirements. And because it is fast drying and virtually odorless, it's perfect for kids' rooms." Another environmentally friendly paint is milk paint. The powder form consists of purified milk protein, natural fillers, pigments and lime. Milk paint's flat and dry finish gives a subtle beauty to unpainted furniture, walls, beams and woodwork. The 13 colors of Real Milk Paint ® of which include Salmon, red and green can be mixed to form other hues and tones. Its history dates back to ancient times and has been frequently used by antique lovers, historians, and craftspeople. Since its composition is non-polluting and non-toxic, it's favorable for children's bedrooms, toys and furniture. Real Milk Paint ® located in Bucks County, PA has claimed its paint will also adhere to porous surfaces or previously painted surfaces. Hobbyists and designers have used its country look on dollhouses, miniatures and stenciled floors and walls. A finished project can be sealed with paste wax, tung oil or flat polyurethane. The Eco Design Company has developed a collection of natural paints call BioShield paints. They are obtainable through The Natural Choice Catalog. Not only do their products minimize air pollution, and have low VOC, but their ingredients include natural beeswax, citrus peel oils and earth pigments. The aesthetically appealing color of earth pigments enhances their used-friendly satin or gloss enamel paints. Their lines of natural resin floor finishes give a "breathable glossy sheen" to wood floors. For those sensitive to turpentine, their natural citrus paint thinner is a healthy alternative. Lidos Natural Paints, originated in Germany by teachers of disabled children, is a good non-toxic paint choice. Their interior and exterior wood stain acts like a moisturizer that penetrates the surface. This company claims, since the stain is added thinly, that it doubles the coverage of conventional paint. For boldness or subtly, these stains come in an appealing array of colors from Capri blue to English red to ultramarine blue, and rosewood. They will assuredly enhance the beauty of your home. For the finish project, a sealant called Geivo Beeswax, and alternative to polyurethane, can be utilized. Before purchasing any kind of paint, calculate the amount that's needed and function of its application. Retail distributors will gladly accommodate you. Follow the label instructions carefully and always paint in a well-ventilated area. Manufactures of biodegradable paint inform us that their leftover paint can be thrown out with the household trash. Otherwise, check the label for the proper disposal of other paints. Painting has become more popular as a vehicle to express one's creativity in interior design. Notably, it reflects the uniqueness of our individuality. The catchword "going green" expresses our concern for the health and safety for our loved ones and the environment. Next time you're in the market for paint, try "going green". Web Sites:
Natural Choice Catalog:
Real Milk Paint ®:
EPA:
Benjamin More: Back to Top |
