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 limeproof). 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 PainterForum 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 from Appropedia:

The following is a recipe for quark, or curdled milk, based paint. Quark is a Casein Paint. The recipe is very specific but casein paints last a long time, are fungi resistant and compostable. Casein paints can be used inside or outside, on wood, stone, drywall, wallpaper, earthen plaster, masonry and to cover existing painted surfaces.

Lots of pictures and details provided, nice job!

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