Milk Paint: A Paint From The Past Natural paint Eco friendy

Have you ever wondered how they get the real old distressed look in the primi's of today's world?

Way before the colonial days people and settlers made their own paint !

It gives new wood that thick old paint look due to the paints contents.

Then you would do a little "ageing by sanding,hitting it with objects

 like,chains,hammer,keys,wood and so on.

This is called "distressing"

Now if you stain your project the distressing shows up more.

If there are areas you don't want paint,then apply a lite coat of candle wax to the areas you don't want paint to be and the paint will not adhere there.

Below are recipes for the Old Time Milk Paints

These are still used today and  ever !

I will have links at the bottom for supplies to make your own or you can purchase ready made.

And a brief history following 

Homemade Milk Paint Recipes


Today’s feature is packed full of recipes for milk paint, each from three different sources.

What is milk paint? See Real Milk Paint Facts:

Milk paint has been used for several centuries and has proved to be a very durable paint. Many antiques have survived to this day with their original milk paint intact. The rich colors are just as vibrant today.

Each of the recipes are listed below…


1870 Milk Paint Formula

The first recipe is from RealMilkPaint.com with this Homemade Milk Paint Recipe From 1870:

1 Quart skim milk (room temperature)

1 Once of hydrated lime by weight (Available at building centers. Do not use quick lime, as it will react with the water and heat up. Hydrated lime has been soaked in water then dried.)

1 to 2 1/2 pounds of chalk may also be added as a filler.

■Stir in enough skim milk to hydrated lime to make a cream. Add balance of skim milk. Now add sufficient amount of powder pigment to desired color and consistency (Pigment powder must be lime proof). Stir in well for a few minutes before using. For best results continue to stir throughout use. Apply milk paint with a cheap natural bristle brush. Allow project to dry sufficiently before applying next coat. Extra paint may be kept for several days in the refrigerator, until the milk sours. Double or triple the recipe for paint. Allow to dry thoroughly 3-4 hours before use. For extra protection, give paint a coat of oil finish or sealer. Color may change – test in inconspicuous area.



Basic Milk Paint Recipe

Another recipe including tinting suggestions found here on the Painter Forum Basic Milk Paint Recipe:

For approx. 1.5 Gallons Milk Paint...

 One Gallon Skim Milk

Two Cups Builders Lime also called Hydrated Lime (Do NOT use Quick Lime)

One Quart Linseed Oil (the boiled type)

1/2 Cup of Salt

Dye (Color) add in as needed

■Strain with cheesecloth or fine mesh screen wire

Use within Two Days of mixing


The pioneer recipes for milk paint all had two things in common, Milk and lime. When combined they form a natural binding agent that is, in some ways, unmatched by today’s modern coatings. Color can be added with any natural substance ( rust, berries etc.) or water soluble dye. The classic red barns are most likely the result of an abundance of milk and the availability of red pigments in the form of rust (iron oxide). Livestock blood was also added to milk to produce blood paint.



Curdled Milk Paint Recipe

The best for last? Here’s a fantastic tutorial for Curdled milk paint recipe;
http://www.appropedia.org/Curdled_milk_paint_recipe   ( this was popular )



RealMilkPaint.com
http://painterforum.com/milk.html
http://toolmakingart.com/2008/06/16/two-layer-milk-paint/      ( this one is really homemade )