Should I use oil based paint on very old interior shutters

[Kathy]

I previously posted a request for suggestions on how to deal with peeling paint on shutters. I have used a heat gun and Bahco scraper which worked brilliantly. They will need a light sanding and then will be ready to paint.

The house is 18C . I don't know how old the shutters are but the colour of the wood is a warm brown. Is it very old pine or some other wood? Next question is how to paint them? They were probably originally painted with oil. Given the age of the wood I am not sure a water based paint is a good idea. Should I use an oil-based paint? Appreciate your thoughts/suggestions.

 

[phillc]

A photo of the shutters, close up enough to see the wood grain and any flecks of black in the wood or similar would aid identification. Also, what is your house - a 15 bedroom mansion with 3000 acres of parkland that you outbid the National Trust for ownership of likely has different wood in it to an agricultural labourer's cottage, etc ...


Personally, I'd have no qualms about using water based paint. It's reversible (sand it off) and works as well as anything else. That said, I quite like using linseed oil paint for woodwork, just because I do. I've tried various concoctions. I find Brouns best for inside stuff, Allback is good for outside stuff (but gotta get it on early in the season so it properly cures before damp weather, otherwise it goes mouldy like nobody's business).

 

[Flyfisher]

FWIW, I've used Little Greene oil eggshell on most of our interior woodwork, including window shutters and panelling, on the basis that it might be a bit more hard-wearing than water-based paint. Having said that, I've no particular evidence either way but so far it seems to be OK.