~ Is Chalk Paint Worth The Price? And A Few More Tips

So as you wander around looking at the fabulous makeovers, you are thinking that you might give this ol' chalk paint stuff a whirl. Then you see the price, especially if you have to pay shipping! It's high enough if you can find a local source, but by the time you add shipping it is really expensive.

** Please note if you are not familiar with these paints, it is NOT "chalkboard" paint that you buy at the craft store.

Here are some of your questions from the last post:

Why did you start using chalk?

At first I was looking for milk paint. It has been many years since I used it, but remember the dull, chalky old look of it. But instead, I wound up finding Annie Sloan Chalk paint. And the hype was pretty darn good. I doubted it was that much different than regular flat latex paint. And it is and isn't.
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Could you have done most of your projects with a cheaper paint and still been pleased with the outcome?

Mostly yes, but there were times when regular paint would not have given the same finish.

Flat and matte finish paints will sand off or distress, but not as well as the chalk paint.

How about the blue mirror in the last post, was the chalk paint that important?

Yes. This is the first time that I found the paint and wax made a huge difference.
The mirror finish came about due to the properties of the chalk paint.
There was a play between the paints and the wax that would not have been the same while painting, nor looked the same with afterwards by using paints and a paste wax.
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Is the wax a lot less work than paste wax?

Not to me. But others have said it did not take a lot of buffing for them.
To me, I had to put some buffing elbow grease into it anytime I've used the AS wax.
It has been a while since I used the paste wax on a large project, but I do remember it is work. And worth it, just as the AS wax is.
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When you use a damp rag to wipe off the paint or excess, is the paint still wet, or do you let it dry first?

This one depends.

When doing an antique glazing, you apply the glaze, and quickly wipe off the excess. Usually a glaze is darker than your base paint color, and you need a damp cloth to get the excess off. Often quickly because the glaze pigment can stain the areas you don't want glazed or darkened. So when working with a glaze, wipe it off before it dries.

With the chalk paint, you want it to set up and be more dry if you are using the damp cloth to distress it. Don't wipe too soon, or too much will come off. Wait until it dries too much, and it is just more work, but it will still come off. A kitchen scrubby works wonders if it gets dry before you get back to it. But again, the scrubby and the cloth will give you slightly different looks.
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Where do you get this gosh darn expensive stuff?

Because they have a flat rate shipping fee by the amount you spend and the per quart price is the lowest anyone has, try Robyn Story Designs. If you live near Tampa, FL you can save the shipping. But otherwise, she is often less expensive for the shipping fee than ordering even in your own state. Shipping is often expensive and will vary site to site.
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Is it worth the high price?

The paint is about $35 a quart, and often runs another $10+ shipping depending how many cans your order. It is usually cheaper to buy more than one can at a time.
There is the huge advantage of being able to paint without much prep. Just clean the item well, and start painting. No sanding or primer usually. Than in itself is the reason most people think it is worth the price after using it.
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