Let me show you my process and results from working with Fusion Mineral Paint for the first time on our DIY Painted Antique German Sleigh Bed and talk about how I decide if a piece is best painted or left alone.
The guide said if my piece had a varnish finish, to give it a light sanding first, which is what we did. The microfiber cloths from the kit were great for wiping the dust and dirt off the piece before painting.
I mostly used the Staalmeester brush, which did such a good job at getting the paint inside the detail and crevices. On the long sides I used the roller brush.
I found for the sanding and chipping part, I needed a stronger grit of sandpaper than the soft grit that came with the kit I dug through the garage to find a variety of grit to play with.
The more gritty sandpaper did a great job at chipping the details and edges just how I wanted. I went along all the parts that I felt would naturally chip over years of use, and any parts where I wanted the detail to shine a bit more.