Painting over varnished wood

[sammyjammy]

Sorry guys, lazy woman here, I have a varnished wooden bed which I would like to paint white, I'm planning on using satin paint (can't remember its proper name but like gloss but not as shiny), do I need to sand down the bed until there is no trace of varnish? Its a really detailed bed and will not only take me days and days but will probably be rubbish. Please please tell me I can put a coat of primer underneath and it will be ok?

Yours hopefully

Sam

 

[HandyJon]

I stand to be corrected, but I would lightly sand down the varnish to provide a key for a coat of undercoat. No primer needed. Then two coats of eggshell (I assume from your description of satin like gloss), lightly sanding between the two coats - though if you are painting the 2nd coat as soon as the first is dry you could get away without sanding the 1st coat of eggshell.

 

[sammyjammy]

Thanks, I will give it a go.

Sam

 

[Zampa]

As Jon says lightly sand the wood. but give it a coat of either melamine primer. Dulux Super grip or something similar first.

Paint doesnt take at all well to a varnished surface...thats why you see loads of chips of wood work in old houses.

It will be ok for a while......but as soon as the paint fully cures it will become brittle and lose its ahesion easily.....especialy when knocked.

Thus.....it does need a special primer to adhere to the difficult surface.

 

[Mazey]

Hi Sam, and anyone else wanting to paint over varnish or another surface which won't receive paint easily......

I never mess about with sandpaper. It takes forever and is too messy.
I use a liquid sander. It's a bit like the old Windolene. You just rub it firmly into the surface and wipe off the excess using a slightly damp cloth. Job done. If I was then wanting to use a satinwood/gloss, I'd undercoat it first as well.

I've revamped some boring shiny orange pine bedside drawers using this method, followed by spray paint, (outside of course)and then spray matt varnish to seal it, so that it's easily cleaned afterwards. I've done melamine wardrobe doors, tables etc.

Hope this helps.

Mazey.

 

[joe-90]

Considering the post is almost 5 years old - I bet she's sorted it by now (and got a few more notches on the headboard).

 

[Zampa]