# What is the difference between paint and enamel?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-paint-and-enamel/313164>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 19, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-paint-and-enamel/313164 "2005-07-19T17:33:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-paint-and-enamel/313164/1 "2005-07-19T17:33:54Z")

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What’s the difference between paint and enamel? I’ve been doing some artwork lately with spray paint (it’s not graffiti, I swear!), but when I go to the hardware store to buy paint, I see that there’s paint and enamel. Of course, I don’t see anything on the labelling telling me which one I should be using for my needs. What’s the difference? And do I need primer for them? I’m painting on wood.

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-paint-and-enamel/313164/2 "2005-07-19T17:53:56Z")

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Usually, enamel just refers to paint that has a hard, glossy finish. Originally, enamel was a glass-like material that was baked onto an item.

Primer will help you get a nice smooth finish in the gloss level you were expecting. Spray paint on bare wood tends to come out patchy in both color and gloss unless you re-coat a few times. By this time, you could have primed and been done with just one or two color coats.