Unlike painted cabinets, the glossiness of shellac does not hold paint well unless you prepare the surface before you apply the paint, requiring extra preparation. You must remove the shellac before applying the paint if you want to keep the paint from flaking off the surface at a later date.

Can you paint over clear shellac?

The trick to successfully painting over the shellac is in the preparation of the finish and the wood itself. Be sure to strip the shellac, clean the surface, and sand as necessary. Depending on the state of the shellac, you may even need to consider applying a thin coat of primer before you paint the final coat.

How long before you can paint over shellac?

For new Cedar and Redwood applications, allow B-I-N Shellac-Base Primer to dry 24 hours before painting or topcoating. Sand interior bare wood surfaces using medium to fine grit sandpaper.