What type of paint for bookshelf shelves in Hawaii climate? (Hilo: Home Depot, living in)

[hapci534]

Years ago, while living in Waikiki, I painted some bookshelves white. Even though I waited 48 hours for the paint to dry before putting things on the shelf, throughout the years the seemingly dry paint stuck and fused to the bottom of some books and other items on the shelves. Maybe this was caused by Hawaii's climate, I don't remember such a phenomenon elsewhere.

I can't recall what kind of paint it was, but given its rubbery film aspect, I'd presume latex. So now that I live on the wetter part of the Big Island (and need to paint some shelves again) what type of paint do you recommend instead?

[WaikikiBoy]

Originally Posted by hapci534

Years ago, while living in Waikiki, I painted some bookshelves white. Even though I waited 48 hours for the paint to dry before putting things on the shelf, throughout the years the seemingly dry paint stuck and fused to the bottom of some books and other items on the shelves. Maybe this was caused by Hawaii's climate, I don't remember such a phenomenon elsewhere.

I can't recall what kind of paint it was, but given its rubbery film aspect, I'd presume latex. So now that I live on the wetter part of the Big Island (and need to paint some shelves again) what type of paint do you recommend instead?

I would recommend giving Enamel Paint a try. It should dry with more of a hard shell finish. And since it is normally used on outdoor items, it should hold up better with the humidity ... especially if you're using it inside. I'd just do the actual painting outside in a garage and keep it there until fully dry.

Full disclosure, I've never used enamel paint this way before. But I think it would be worth a try.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by hapci534

what type of paint do you recommend instead?

Satin and Semi-Gloss do well with high humidity.

When you go to Home Depot or wherever, ask the person selling the paint - they deal with these questions everyday.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

I was going to recommend going to the Sherwin Williams store in Hilo. They were good about helping us choose a stain a couple of years ago.

[hapci534]

Thank you for your replies. I still had some cream colored Satin paint, so I used that on the shelves. (The only enamel paint I had was black, not a good match for the room.)

It hit me that I still have half a can of clear concrete sealer from WalMart; the $20 urethane garage floor varnish cars can park on (without getting stuck into it.) So, on a moments whim, I top coated the painted shelves with it. It made the 1/2 inch shelf boards rigid, shinier and a bit yellower. I'll report back in a couple of years if my book bottoms still stick or not...

(I also had a gallon of 2-component epoxy I could have tried, but epoxy rarely ever works right for me. Either it never sets and I get a tabletop size flypaper, or it sets violently fast still in the bucket with room-emptying smoke, or it sets nice & clear but then overnight develops inch size bubble holes underneath. No luck with this poxy epoxy... :/)