- 1). Remove flowers or any other adornments that could interfere with your ability to paint.
- 2). Wash the wedding arch with a water-based soap using a sponge. Rinse the arch using a water hose. Let the arch dry for five hours.
- 3). Sand varnished and bamboo wedding arches with 80-grit sandpaper until they look dull. Move the sander toward the wood grain or the arch will splinter. Sand a second time to smooth the wood; use 150-grit sandpaper.
- 4). Abrade vinyl or fiberglass wedding arches or they won't hold primer. Sand these with 100-grit sandpaper until they feel gritty.
- 5). Wipe the wedding arch with tack cloths.
- 6). Cover portions of the wedding arch that are to remain unpainted, using tape. Spread canvas drop cloths beneath the arch.
- 7). Coat non-stained arches with acrylic primer, using a polyester brush. Apply shellac primer to stained arches, using a natural brush. Use light pressure with each stroke. Look over the entire arch to spot runs and sags before they dry; smooth these flaws, using the brush. Let the arch dry for two hours.
- 8). Wash polyester brushes with water; use alcohol to wash natural brushes.
- 9). Paint the wedding arch as you primed it. Don't use ordinary latex paint. Use an enduring, easy-to-wash gloss acrylic latex paint or acrylic enamel. Let the arch dry for two hours.
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