Rethunk Junk Paint Review

Are you looking to give your furniture a makeover? If so, you might have heard about Rethunk Junk Paint! But is it any good for painting furniture?? Here is our Rethunk Junk Paint Review!

They claim that it’s easy to use and creates a beautiful finish. But, how does it compare to other types of furniture paint, and what things do you need to know about before you start painting?

A 32 oz wild berry color Rethunk Junk Paint

One of my favorite things to do as a furniture painter is to try new paints out. Over on Facebook, I have had MANY people tell me to try Rethunk Junk Paint out because they love it.

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Last time I had a lot of suggestions for a better paint to use, I was led to Heirloom Traditions Paint, which is now, what I consider one of the best paints for furniture.

So, I took this suggestion and tried Rethunk Junk Paint on a piece of furniture, following the instructions from Rethunk Junk Paint. And here’s what happened!

Supplies used for Rethunk Junk paint review

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I also may earn from other qualifying purchases with other companies or get free product to review and use. All opinions are my own.

What is Rethunk Junk Paint?

Rethunk Junk Paint is a high-quality resin paint specifically designed for painting furniture. It is a durable paint that gives a beautiful, chalky but almost satin finish to any piece of furniture it is applied to.

Unlike other paints that require a lot of prep work and sanding, Rethunk Junk Paint claims that it can be applied directly onto surfaces with minimal preparation. It adheres well to a wide range of furniture surfaces, including wood, metal, ceramic, and even fabric.

Find out more about Painting Furniture Without Sanding Or Priming here.

So, the idea is that Rethunk Junk paint is perfect for those who are looking for a quick and easy way to update their furniture without spending a lot of time and money.

Rethunk Junk Paint comes in various beautiful colors as well, so you can find a shade that perfectly matches your taste and the style of your home.

How to Use Rethunk Junk Paint

How easy is it to use Rethunk Junk??

Well, the instructions say to clean your piece of furniture with Rethunk Junk The Prep. It’s their deglossing cleaner that prepares the surface so that the paint can better adhere to it.

Learn how to clean furniture before painting here.

spraying deglosser to the sewing table

I sprayed The Prep all over my table, let it sit for a minute, and then I wiped it off. It did a good job at cleaning the surface, that’s for sure!

Once the surface is dry, you can start painting!

I brushed it on with a Zibra round paint brush, and the consistency was perfect!

This specific color didn’t have good coverage though. But that’s to be expected with similar colors in any paint brand. Certain colors just don’t have as good of coverage as others.

painting furniture with Rethunk Junk paint

I tested out a gray color from Rethunk Junk and it had normal coverage. So I would expect typical coverage from Rethunk Junk Paint.

The paint dried quickly, similar to chalk paint. And then I brushed on a couple of more coats, waiting for the paint to dry in between coats.

Find out more about What is chalk paint? here.

wild berry and gray color of Rethunk Junk Paint

I couldn’t find anything in their instructions that told me what their recommended recoat time is.

They do suggest to apply a polyurethane topcoat on any horizontal surfaces or high traffic surfaces that will get a lot of use.

Check out the best polyurethane for furniture here.

That’s it! Pretty easy huh??

Rethunk Junk Paint Review

Now, for my completely honest review of Rethunk Junk Paint.

Coverage

The coverage is just as good as any other paint, I tested gray color and it had great coverage.

coverage of gray color Rethunk Junk Paint

Texture

Unfortunately, every single coat of paint left a gritty texture behind. At first, I thought it was because some dust got onto the paint when it dried, but nope, it happened on every coat, all over the piece.

So keep in mind that if you want a super smooth finish, you’ll have to lightly sand the gritty texture away, and then topcoat the paint.

Click here to check out the options of Topcoats For Painting Furniture.

Durability

After the first coat of paint, I scratched at the laminate panel that was on the table. I couldn’t get any paint to scratch off of it!

That’s awesome because a lot of other paints would easily scratch off of laminate without a primer underneath.

scratches after conducting scratch test for Rethunk Junk Paint

But, I did another scratch test a week after painting the last coat and I was able to somewhat easily get some paint to scratch off…

So if you’re worried about how durable the paint is, you’ll need to do more prep (scuff sanding and/or priming before painting) and/or a topcoat for more durability. 

Learn more about how to prepare furniture for painting here.

I will do a scratch test after 30 days to see if it cures to a super hard finish by then.

Finish

I love the sheen! It’s a beautiful satin sheen, which is perfect… except I do feel like it needs to be topcoated for better durability, so the finish doesn’t REALLY matter to me.

I can put a satin topcoat on top of it if that’s what I want.

One of my favorite satin top coats is Varathane Water Based Polyurethane in Satin.

Brush Marks

And last but not last, there were brush marks in the finish, so this paint is not self-leveling. But, I didn’t feel like it left as many brush marks as thick chalk paint do.

Check out our tips on How to Paint Furniture Without Brush Marks here

surface of sewing machine table with brush mark

Cost

Compared to other furniture paints, Rethunk Junk paint is very similar in price, or a little more expensive than other furniture paints that I use often.

Overall Review

Overall, I would say that it is similar to chalk paint, but it’s better than chalk paint.It has better adhesion than more chalk paints do. And I like the sheen better.

You can also check out the Top Chalk Paint Brands here.

It dries about as fast as chalk paint, and both chalk paint and Rethunk Junk need to be topcoated in my opinion.

a sewing table after applying Rethunk Junk Paint

Do you want to see more about this makeover? Check out the full tutorial of the Painted Sewing Machine Table here.

Can it be used on outdoor furniture?

Yes, Rethunk Junk Paint can be used outdoors. I personally haven’t tested it outdoors, so I can’t give you a review on that.

Does it require a protective coat?

In my personal opinion, if you want Rethunk Junk to hold up, you need to topcoat it was waterbased polyurethane.

It would also be smart to lightly scuff sand your surface before painting to help the paint stick better, if you want the best results for your furniture.

Find out What’s The Best Polyurethane For Furniture?

All in all, Rethunk Junk Paint is a great paint for furniture that has good coverage and adhesion. It’s also easy to apply with minimal brush marks.

However, if you want it to last longer, I would recommend lightly scuff sanding the surface before painting and applying a water-based polyurethane topcoat afterwards.

That way your furniture will be protected from scratches and wear-and-tear over time.

Learn more about The Importance of Sanding Before Painting Furniture

If you’re looking for an affordable option with good results, then Rethunk Junk Paint should definitely be on your list!

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7 Comments

  1. Wendy Everett says:

    I never had any instructions, I just started sanding and painting. If the wood is in good shape I prefer to sand stain and apply eurothane with two or three light to start then a little heavier. I’m just now getting into painting furniture. I’ve got to save my pennies and get an electric sprayer. I love watching what you do and I usually learn something I didn’t know. Thanks and keep painting. Oh, where do get the beautiful decals I see, I’m not big on ordering stuff online .

  2. John nettis says:

    Hi, I have blonde kitchen cabinets and would like to know your recommendation and if you ever tried a product called poly stain. Or other paints you have used as in retired autobody person. I have some knowledge on how to refinish things like wood or metal. As you know, some paints you buy in the store that are made for cabinets tend to take an awful long time to dry and a very sticky once they are dried. Thank you

    1. I used to use it a long time ago, I personally wouldn’t use it though. It stinks and takes a long time to dry. It also is very fussy to work with.

  3. Did you ever do the 30 day scratch test with Rethunk Junk paint? I am curious as to what the results were.

    1. Oh, I can’t remember if I tried the 30 day test or not.

  4. Lana fuill says:

    Where can this paint be purchased at? Does it have to be ordered?

    1. Hey Lana, I ordered if from Amazon. There’s a very small chance it would be available locally to you, but most likely you’ll have to get it online.

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