Old Fashioned Milk Paint Gives Bright, Durable Finish

Old Fashioned Milk Paint Gives Bright, Durable Finish FARM HOME Miscellaneous 28-3-32 People who needed paint before the middle 1800's usually made it themselves. And chances are, they used a formula that dates back to ancient times and is based on, of all things, milk. The most common recipe in early America contained milk protein, quicklime, and pigments from the earth, according to the Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co., Inc., Groton, Massachusetts. The company was formed in 1974 to market milk paint using antique recipes, but produced with modern technology and packaged in dry form. Instead of milk, the user just adds water. Pigments used include ochre, umber, iron oxide and lampblack. Milk paint contains no hydrocarbons or any other petroleum derivatives. It is environmentally safe and non-toxic when dry. The company says the paint has a slight milky odor when it is applied, but it's completely odorless when dry. It's safe for children's furniture and toys, and can also be used for interiors of homes of people who are allergic to modern paints. The company says its milk paint authentically reflects the deep rich colors found on existing antique furniture and buildings. It says modern paints cannot compare with either the colors or the texture of the finish that can be achieved with milk paint. And, like the paints used hundreds of years ago, the colors in Milk Paint will not fade. Since Old Fashioned Milk Paint is packaged as a powder, you can mix up the exact amount of paint you'll need, whether it's a pint, quart or a gallon. And you can control the thickness of the paint. While Milk Paint is intended for use on wood, you can use it on other surfaces by mixing the company's special extra-bond concentrated acrylic into the first coat of milk paint applied. The paint is intended for indoor use, but with a good urethane outer coat, it can be used outdoors, too. It comes in 16 different finish colors and a primer. If those colors don't suit your needs, you can also order a base formulation and add your own pigment. It's been featured on several HGTV specials. Prices vary. Check the website or call the company to direct you to a local dealer. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co., Inc., 436 Main Street, Groton, Mass. 01450 (ph 866 350-6455; fax 978 448-2754; website www. milkpaint.com).

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