Can you use water-based paint over Zinsser shellac primer?

Author: Shania Douglas  |  Last update: Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Can you put water-based paint over shellac primer? You can go over shellac primer with almost any paint, including most water-based products. Just avoid using cheap retail emulsion and contract matt and you should be fine.

Can you use water-based paint over Zinsser primer?

Zinsser Cover Stain Primer can be used on water-stained drywall ceilings. If the source of the water has been resolved, this will effectively cover the staining. Can Zinsser Cover Stain Primer be overcoated with a water based interior emulsion? Yes, you can apply a water-based paint over Zinsser Coverstain.

Can water-based paint go over shellac primer?

Nope you need to prime oil with oil primer or shellac before using waterbased.

When can I paint over shellac primer?

Tinting the primer toward the color of the topcoat helps hide in one coat. Note: The addition of universal colorant may prolong the dry time of this product. Dries to the touch in 20 minutes, can be recoated in 45 minutes. The primer film develops full adhesion and hardness after it cures in 1 to 3 days.

Can you paint over shellac with oil-based paint?

From Paul Snyder, forum technical advisor: You can apply oil-base varnish (non-poly) over shellac without any problem. And it doesn't matter if the shellac contains wax or not. The combination of a coat of shellac followed by a few coats of oil-base varnish will produce an attractive and durable natural finish.

How To Use B I N Shellac Primer

What kind of paint do you use on shellac primer?

Shellac Primer

They also are excellent at preventing normal water, rust and smoke stains, as well as wood tannins from bleeding through new paint. They work well on wood, metal, plaster, and even plastic, and are fast drying and highly adhesive. They also can be used with both oil-based and latex paints.

What paint to use over Zinsser bin?

Absolutely, you can paint over Zinsser BIN with almost any type of paint, be it water-based undercoat, satinwood, gloss, eggshell, or emulsion.

How long to wait to paint after Zinsser primer?

How long should Zinsser primer dry before painting? Products like the Zinsser 123 Primer are generally touch dry in 30 minutes, allowing a subsequent topcoat in just an hour.

Should I sand after shellac primer?

You only need to sand if there are brush strokes or other blemishes. Also you don't need to sand between coats. I only sand if I have brush strokes or drips (I'm finally getting to the experience level where this rarely happens).

What is the benefit of shellac primer?

Shellac based primers provide the best stain-blocking and adhesion properties. They adhere to tricky surfaces like glass, creating a surface that the topcoat can adhere to. Without the shellac primer, the topcoat wouldn't adhere to glass for example.

Is shellac primer better than water based?

Water-based primers even out patched or repaired surfaces very well. They can also cover and seal in previous minor stains from smoke, lipstick, crayon, etc., but are not as effective at covering stains as oil- and shellac-based primers.

Can you use a roller with shellac primer?

If you're working on a larger project I recommend a microfiber roller. In addition to preventing bleed through, BIN Shellac sticks to any surface without sanding. It can be used inside or for spot-priming outside and it can also be used under-or-over any chalk, milk, latex or oil based paint. It dries really fast, too.

Can you use water-based paint over oil-based primer?

Latex paints will not stick to oil based paints. The exception is that an oil based primer may accept any kind of top coat paint. For that reason, an oil based primer is recommended to be applied over any oil based top coat, then a water based paint may be used as a top coat.

Can you paint water-based over shellac primer?

Can you put water-based paint over shellac primer? You can go over shellac primer with almost any paint, including most water-based products. Just avoid using cheap retail emulsion and contract matt and you should be fine.

What is the difference between Zinsser bin and Bullseye 123?

What is the difference between Zinsser BIN and Zinsser Bullseye? Zinsser BIN is a shellac-based paint, Bullseye 123 is water-based.

Is Zinsser primer oil or water based?

It's important to note that Zinsser Cover Stain is an oil-based primer, which means it has a strong odor and requires proper ventilation during application.

What happens if you don't sand in between coats of shellac?

You do not need to sand between shellac coats, but it can seriously improve the piece's finish. That is because small imperfections like specks of dust get bigger and bigger every time you add a new coat. Shellac will bond with the coat under it, making one layer. Not sanding can leave you with a lumpy finish.

What is the best brush for shellac primer?

Natural bristle is the best choice for oil-based paints, varnishes, shellac, alkyd enamels, oil stains and oil-based polyurethanes. The highest quality bristles come from mainland China. Experienced, traditional painters will say there's nothing like the finish that a China bristle can provide for oil-based coatings.

How long does it take for Zinsser shellac primer to dry?

Dries to the touch in 25 minutes and can be recoated in 45 minutes. It is fully cured in 7 days. For knots and stain blocking, allow 2 hours to dry. When sealing water stains, some stain may appear in the primer film as it dries.

Which is better, Kilz or Zinsser?

Original Kilz Primer allowed more seep through when put in two coats to two different walls in the same area, whereas Zinsser provided superior coverage.

What happens if you paint over primer too soon?

It's recommended to wait at least 24 hours before adding a coat of paint over your primer. Painting over it soon could cause your paint to adhere to the wall improperly, flaking and peeling.

Should I sand after Zinsser primer?

Pigmented Shellac like Bins is a great stain blocking primer. We use it for many purposes, bare wood, worn wood cabinets smoke and water damage etc. Bin's is very sandable and should be sanded between coats. When you apply it, work fast, get it on as even as you can, but do not try to over work it.

What roller is best for bin shellac?

I used a foam roller and an angled 1.5" brush (I got a blue hawk from lowes that I only use for it and saved my nicer brush for the cabinet color) and they came out great!

When can I paint over Zinsser?

Dry Time– In most cases B-I-N® will dry to the touch in 20 minutes and can be recoated in 45 minutes. The dry primer film develops full adhesion after it cures in 1 to 3 days. Lower temperatures, higher humidity and the addition of tint will prolong dry and cure time.

What is a good alternative to Zinsser bins?

Also consider fossa Block & Bond as a direct alternative to Zinsser BIN, it's a bit nicer to use, and quite a bit cheaper: Zinsser BIN Primer Sealer and Stain Blocker seals surface pores so you use less finish paint.

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