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How to paint an old dresser black

2.2K views 19 replies 8 participants last post by  cocomonkeynuts  
#1 ·
I have an old wood dresser that is stained a dark cherry color, I sanded it all so that the top coat is pretty much gone, but of course the stain coat is still there. I'd like to paint it black. 1. Do I need primer since it is already stained I don't suspect the paint will soak up? and 2. do I need the primer to make the paint stick? 3. will black paint cover over white primer if I do need to use it? 4. should I use latex or oil based primer, I'll be using latex paint. I assume the stain that is on it is oil based, since I don't know. Thank you!
 
#2 · (Edited)
1. Primer is designed to stick to a surface , where paint will not.

2. Yes.

3.in thicker coatings, it will cover anything. Or several thin coats.

4. Match your paint and primer base. oil with oil, latex with latex, water with water.

Happy to help.


ED
 
#4 ·
Not at all, new primer and new paint must match, but any old that is left, is inconsequential.

After your sanding, there should be plenty of fresh wood to adhere to for the new paint.


ED
 
#10 ·
I didn't want to use urethane product for the top coat as it yellows/discolors, and I already had some of the acrylic top coat that I bought recently for another project. I don't know if it will look milky over the black though? I know it will show dust alot, but I am painting it black because it will have a fish tank on top and that is trimmed w black, so I wanted to match it. It won't get everyday use as far as the furniture itself. The drawers will only be used by me when I clean the tank. I put towels around it to catch any water that may drip, but usually it all stays entirely dry-I have a fancy hose system I use to clean it and it hooks to my kitchen faucet. Now my kitchen cabinets are painted white (last ditch effort to make them work until we can replace them, they are pretty rough--guessing 80's?) and I used the polyacrylic on them and I do not recommend using that in a high use area like a kitchen-it does not hold up. They have been painted for 3 years now and they need some retouches over quite a few areas.
 
#11 ·
I have done a couple of projects in black and find clear coating is tricky. I used water-based polyurethane and found that it starts to dry so quickly - especially with lower winter humidity - that streaks are hard to avoid. Don't overbrush. If I have to do it again I will try an oil-based poly.
 
#19 ·
Latex paint lets drawers stick especially in hot weather. I painted one white 12 years ago with oil based Tractor Supply gloss tractor paint sprayed from a gun using a compressor. It looks like new to this day.
 
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