What kind of paint over shellac?

Author: Wilma Wehner  |  Last update: Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Yes, you can use acrylic eggshell straight on top of shellac primers. Eggshell is technically self undercoating and depending on the colour you might need 2 or 3 coats.

Can I paint over my shellac nails?

Great news for all nail enthusiasts. You can paint over gel nail polish with regular nail polish. Not only is it possible, but it is frequently done. Many people paint over their gel nail polish to spice up their look or to hide a chipped nail from prying eyes.

How do you prepare shellac for painting?

Break up the shellac with a hammer and dissolve it in alcohol as usual. Dissolve dry shellac flakes in denatured ethyl alcohol sold in most paint stores. The alcohol should be anhydrous; that is, it should not contain water because water will cause the shellac solution to become cloudy or milky in appearance.

Can you put water-based paint over shellac?

Yes, you can use water-based paint over shellac, but there are a few important considerations to ensure good adhesion and finish: Cure Time: Make sure the shellac has fully cured before applying water-based paint.

Can I use latex paint over shellac-based primer?

Shellac Primer

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. The drawback to using shellac-based primers is that they are not as versatile as latex or oil and they give off more fumes.

How to paint over stain / varnish surface - No Sanding

Can I use water-based paint over Zinsser BIN?

Can you use water-based paint 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.

Do you have to sand shellac before painting?

You only need to sand if there are brush strokes or other blemishes. Also you don't need to sand between coats.

How do you paint over shellac?

Paint does not adhere well to shellac and will flake off. If you want to seal the wood, use a sealing primer (such as Kilz) with the same base (usually oil- or water-based) as your paint.

What is an alternative to a Zinsser BIN?

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. Finish coat has rich uniform appearance, with no "high" and "low" spots.

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.

How long to wait before painting over shellac primer?

B-I-N Shellac-Base Primer may be tinted with up to 2 ounces of universal colorant per gallon. 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.

How many coats of shellac should I use?

Paul usually applies 3-4 coats of shellac. Leave the project for a minimum of an hour once coated before you apply the next coat. Sand with 250 grit after the first coat as shellac causes the grain to rise and air pockets in the wood will also cause the surface to become textured.

How long does it take for shellac to dissolve?

Did you periodically agitate the jar? Sometimes, it helps to grind up the flakes into smaller pieces. Shellac should dissolve within 6-12 hours at a reasonable temperature. Howie's dead on target - crunch up the flakes into smaller peices, and agitate/stir mixture.

What not to do with shellac nails?

As already mentioned above, the Acetone Soluble Polymers (tiny tunnels) mean that pigments in Shellac can be easily attacked by chemical exposure during daily activity such as bathing, house cleaning, laundry, gardening, car washing, swimming, etc. Sun light exposure can also make colours fade faster.

Can you top up shellac?

Shellac and other gel polishes are meant to be worn for UP TO 14 days. They are not enhance t products and are not meant to be filled. They should be soaked off every 2 weeks. They can also be removed with a ceramic bit on and electric nail file on very low speed.

How to keep shellac shiny?

If you're doing the dishes, cleaning, or gardening, protect your Shellac by slipping on gloves. Water and harsh cleaning products can break down the polish over time. Keeping your Shellac shiny and chip-free can be as easy as applying a clear top coat every few days.

What paint can I use on top of Zinsser BIN?

Zinsser BIN Primer is a basecoat that can be overcoated with any paint finish including matt.

What is the difference between Zinsser BIN and Bulls Eye 1-2-3?

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

What paint is best for 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.

How do you finish over shellac?

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.

Should I use acrylic or latex paint?

Both can work, but acrylic paint's elasticity and resistance to wear and tear make it better for high-touch areas and furniture. Latex paint works well for larger indoor projects where low toxicity and easy cleanup with a brush are priorities.

What is a good bonding primer?

If you have various stains, shellac Bonding primer is the ideal choice. It can be used to cover rough surfaces and old varnish as well as metal and ceramic.

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.

Do you need primer for shellac?

Without the shellac primer, the topcoat wouldn't adhere to glass for example. After using a shellac based primer, you need to wash your brushes down with methylated spirits whereas with oil based primers, you wash your tools down with white spirit.

What sandpaper is best for shellac?

For most finishes, shellac included, sanding finer than 180-grit is counterproductive. Sanding with 220 and finer between coats is helpful if you want a glossy finish.

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