How to paint mahogany

Are you having trouble painting a piece of Mahogany? Does your white paint job keep turning pink? Read on and find out how to solve that problem.

Mahogany is very rich in  tannins, which is an acidic substance that seeps from the wood’s pores. Long after the tree has been cut and turned into a piece of furniture these tannins will continue to be released. That is why your piece of mahogany furniture will turn pink even after several coats of white paint. Cedar and redwood are other examples of woods that are rich in tannins. Painting these types of wood is not impossible, but it does take a few special steps.

Clean it Using Tri-Sodim Phosphate, commonly called TSP, scrub the piece of furniture to remove grease, dirt and grim. If the piece you are planing on painting is raw, unfinished wood skip this step.

Sand it Using 220 grit sand paper sand in the direction of the wood grain. Sand enough to smooth the surface and create a tooth for the paint to adhere to.

Shellac it Using an inexpensive, throw away brush apply a thin layer of shellac to the entire piece of furniture. I like Zinsser Bulls Eye Shellac because it dries super quick. The shellac will stop all of the tannins dead in their tracks and prevent any bleeding.

Sand it Using 220 grit sand paper give the entire piece a very quick, light sanding.

Paint it Using a high quality synthetic bristle brush apply at least two coats of acrylic paint in the color of your choice. If you wish to use an oil based paint make sure to use a natural bristle brush.