Oil test
If you bought a piece of painted furniture at an antique store or live in an older home, it’s likely that the furniture or some of the woodwork, molding, cabinets or doors in your home were painted with oil-based paint.
Nowadays oil paints are rarely used and most paints you buy to paint your home are water-based latex formulas. But, now you know how to check to see if the paint is oil-based, before you start your painting project.
Time-Saving PrimerTip:Most primers are white. If you are painting a dark color over a previously light color of paint, buy or have the primer mixed to a gray color. Thiswill help bring out the depth in the dark color and also save you time, since the dark base will lessen the need for multiple coats of paint to obtain complete coverage.