Can I paint over lacquer

[Zahid Naqvi]

We have a set of old sitting room tables that LOML wants to replace. I convinced her to try refinishing them to get a new look (I know mistake number one). To cut the long story short, I showed her a few finished samples on the actual work surface. After going back and forth a few times we decided the painted look was better. In the process I have ended up with one end table with water based stain and lacquer clear coat, which will now have to be painted.

Can I just sand the lacquer to create a scratch pattern for better grip and paint over, or am I better off sanding the whole thing off. The table top is about 20"X22" so it's not a very large surface. But sanding is not a very exciting componant of woodworking either.

If it matters the tables are pine.

[Steve Clardy]

I'd suggest sanding all the lacquer off

[Jason Roehl]

I'd just scuff sand, clean, then use a bonding primer. Go to a paint store for their recommendation.

But I've never painted anything before ( <--- statement dripping with sarcasm).

[Howard Acheson]

There is not problem with overcoating lacquer with an oil based paint or varnish. Just scuff sand with 320 paper and go at it.

[tod evans]

zahid, what type of paint? cured lacquer is compatable with most oils so scuffing, priming and painting is okay...i wouldn`t use latex anything on a table but it`ll stick too. some of the automotive paints aren`t compatable with nitrocellouse but most are with cab acrylic. or you could shoot tinted lacquer with little or no prep work......02 tod

[Zahid Naqvi]

zahid, what type of paint?

Anything I can get off the borg in "Espresso". I have a can that I used on the other table, not sure what the chemical composition is. But as you said if oil based is compatible with lacquer, I'll go get one of those.

[Larry Fox]

Just a thought but another possible option is to shoot with a coat of dewaxed shellac as a barrier coat and paint over the shellac. I have always heard that "shellac sticks to everything and everything sticks to shellac".