---
title: "Paints, oil paint ingredients, painting woodwork"
subject: "Building Technology"
chapter: 9
key: "semester_6/building_technology:paints-characteristics-066bh"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/paints-characteristics-066bh
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Paints, oil paint ingredients, painting woodwork

Building Technology · Chapter 9: Finishing works

- Asked in: 2066 Bhadra (old course), 16 marks
- Video: [PAINT Types For Home Walls, Metal, Wood | Painting Material Types | Construction | Pros & Cons](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Noct_7PXAc) — NIVIP Information
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/paints-characteristics-066bh
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/building_technology/chapter-9

## Question

Define paints. What are the ingredients of oil paints? What are the characteristics of good paints? How do you undertake painting works in new and old woodwork?

## Short answer

Paint is a liquid that dries to a protective film. Oil paint contains base, linseed oil vehicle, pigments, driers, thinner, extenders. Good paint is easy to apply, opaque, durable, glossy, washable. New wood painting: sand, knot, prime, putty, undercoat, finish. Old wood: scrape, sand, fill, spot prime, then undercoat and finish.

## Answer

#### Paints
**Paint** is a liquid mixture of pigment in a vehicle which, when applied on a surface and dried, forms a thin protective, decorative film. It protects against weather, moisture, rust and rot, and improves appearance.

#### Ingredients of oil paint
| Ingredient | Example | Function |
|---|---|---|
| **Base** | White lead, zinc white, titanium dioxide, red oxide | Gives body, opacity and covering power |
| **Vehicle (carrier)** | Linseed oil, tung oil, poppy-seed oil | Carries the pigment, spreads and dries to a hard film |
| **Pigment** | Iron oxide (red), chrome (yellow), carbon black, ultramarine | Gives colour |
| **Drier** | Litharge, red lead, manganese salts | Speeds up drying of oil |
| **Thinner (solvent)** | Turpentine, mineral spirit | Makes paint workable, evaporates after application |
| **Extender (adulterant)** | Barytes, gypsum, china clay | Adds bulk, reduces cost |

#### Characteristics of a good paint
- Easily applied, spreads evenly with a brush.
- Good covering power (opacity) with fewer coats.
- Dries in a reasonable time into a hard, smooth, glossy film.
- Durable, resists weather, heat and abrasion.
- Does not crack, peel, blister or fade.
- Washable, non-toxic and fire-retardant.
- Gives good colour and is economical.

#### Painting on new and old woodwork
**New woodwork:**
1. Rub the surface with sand paper; seal knots with knotting (shellac) solution.
2. Apply a priming coat (red lead with linseed oil); allow 24 hours.
3. Fill holes and cracks with putty; sand smooth.
4. Apply one or two undercoats, each sandpapered after drying.
5. Apply one or two finishing coats of the final colour.

**Old woodwork:**
1. Remove old peeling paint by scraping, a blow lamp or paint remover; wash and dry.
2. Rub down with sand paper and fill defects with putty.
3. Spot prime bare areas.
4. Apply undercoat then finishing coats as for new work.

## Check yourself

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

1. Paint is
   A. Resin in solvent only
   B. Lime wash
   C. Cement slurry
   D. Pigment in a vehicle forming a protective decorative film when dry
   Answer: D. Paint protects and decorates. (Key point: Paint definition)

2. The vehicle in oil paint is
   A. Linseed oil carrying pigment and forming film
   B. Barytes
   C. Litharge
   D. Turpentine
   Answer: A. Linseed oil, tung oil, poppy oil. (Key point: Vehicle)

3. Which is a characteristic of good paint?
   A. Peels easily
   B. Good covering power and does not crack, peel or fade
   C. Dries very slowly
   D. Poor spread
   Answer: B. Durable, covers well. (Key point: Good paint)

4. Which is the correct order for new woodwork?
   A. Finish, prime, putty
   B. Undercoat, knotting, sand
   C. Sand and knot, prime, putty, undercoats, finishing coats
   D. Putty, finish, sand
   Answer: C. Standard sequence. (Key point: New woodwork)

## Related in Building Technology

- [Painting on new and old woodwork](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Apainting-new-old-wood) — Building Technology, chapter 9, asked 2×
- [Emulsion paint; painting on new woodwork](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Apainting-wood-emulsion) — Building Technology, chapter 9
- [Ingredients of an oil bound paint](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aoil-paint-ingredients) — Building Technology, chapter 9
- [Paints, varnishes, painting procedures](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Apaints-varnish-064j) — Building Technology, chapter 9
- [Pointing, plastering defects, oil paint constituents](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Apointing-plaster-defects-paint) — Building Technology, chapter 9, asked 2×

## Related in other subjects

- [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×
- [Characteristics of good paints](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Apaint-characteristics) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 8, asked 2×
- [Characteristics of a good paint](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Acharacteristics-good-paint) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 9
- [Paint requisites and types of paints](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Apaint-requisites) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 8