---
title: "Application of paint on wooden articles"
subject: "Engineering Chemistry"
chapter: 8
key: "semester_2/engineering_chemistry:paint-wooden"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_2/engineering_chemistry/paint-wooden
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Application of paint on wooden articles

Engineering Chemistry · Chapter 8: Lubricants and Paints

- Asked in: 2074 Bhadra, 2.5 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_2/engineering_chemistry/paint-wooden
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_2/engineering_chemistry/chapter-8

## Question

How is paint applied on wooden articles?

## Short answer

After cleaning, sanding, and knotting, fill cracks with putty and sand. Apply a primer, one or two undercoats sanded lightly, and finally one or two finishing coats of oil paint or enamel in thin even layers along the grain, letting each coat dry.

## Answer

Steps for painting wooden articles:
1. **Preparation:** remove dust and loose material, and smooth with sandpaper. Seal knots with a shellac solution (knotting).
2. **Filling:** fill holes and cracks with putty and sand again when dry.
3. **Priming coat:** apply a primer (red lead or white lead paint, or aluminium primer) to seal the pores and give a base. Allow to dry.
4. **Undercoat:** apply one or two coats of undercoat and rub down lightly with fine sandpaper between coats.
5. **Finishing coat:** apply one or two coats of oil paint or enamel with a brush, in thin even layers along the grain, allowing each coat to dry fully.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Why are knots in wood sealed with shellac solution before painting?
   A. To make the wood heavier
   B. To dry the primer faster
   C. To stop resin from the knots bleeding through the paint
   D. To fill large cracks
   Answer: C. Knotting seals the knots, preparing the surface before priming. (Key point: Knotting)

2. What is the filling step in painting wood?
   A. Filling holes and cracks with putty and sanding again when dry
   B. Applying the finishing coat to fill holes
   C. Spraying thinner into cracks
   D. Removing all the wood around cracks
   Answer: A. Holes and cracks are filled with putty and rubbed smooth. (Key point: Putty)

3. What is the purpose of the priming coat on wood?
   A. To give the final gloss
   B. To act as a thinner
   C. To seal the pores and give a base for later coats
   D. To remove dust
   Answer: C. The primer seals the pores and gives a base. (Key point: Primer role)

4. How should the finishing coats be applied?
   A. In thin even layers along the grain, letting each coat dry fully
   B. In one thick coat across the grain
   C. Wet over wet without drying
   D. Only after sanding off the undercoat
   Answer: A. Thin even coats along the grain, each fully dry, give a good finish. (Key point: Finishing coat)

## Related in Engineering Chemistry

- [Good paint characteristics; painting galvanized iron](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Apaint-galvanized) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 8, asked 2×

## Related in other subjects

- [Physical meaning of equilibrium and its application](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_1%2Fapplied_mechanics%3Aphysical-meaning-equilibrium-structural) — Applied Mechanics, chapter 2
- [Engineering surveying; two-way principle application](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fsurveying_i%3Aengineering-surveying-two-way-angle) — Surveying I, chapter 1