Applying paint

The following are the processes I use for application with brush.

New wood:

1. Fill any imperfections with filler (unless this is an old piece and you would like to retain its character / history)
2. Sand down
3. Wipe down to remove dust
4. Apply 2 coats of undercoat
5. Apply top coat

Previously painted wood:

1. Remove flaky paint with sander / scraper
2. It is up to you whether you would like to sand down to wood.  I prefer this option.
3. Use wood filler if you deem necessary and sand again
4. Follow steps 4 and 5

Note:  There are times when I feel that the top coat is not perfect that I opt for more coats of finish.  However for every subsequent coat the surface needs to be sanded down lightly to create a key for good adhesion of the paint.  For this process I prefer to use a wet and dry sanding, and sand down until the sheen of the paint any any minor imperfections such as paint droplets are removed.

Steel:

Untreated steel:

1. New steel may have a layer of oil.  This is easily removed with thinner / acetone.
2. Any rust may be removed with a wire brush or sandpaper
3. Apply a coat of primer
4. Apply undercoat
5. Apply topcoat

Note:  Some products may be applied directly to metal surfaces without primer, even with a bit of surface rust, however it is always recommended to remove the flaky rusty bits.

Galvanized steel:

1. Apply a mordent to the steel surface to allow the paint to adhere properly
2. Follow steps 4 and 5 for untreated steel above

Some paint systems allow for application of paints direct to galvanized steel.

After the jobs done:

Clean your brushes according to the instruction on the can.  Dispose of paint correctly.