TACKLING THE TANNIN BLEED THROUGH PROBLEM…WITH SHELLAC!

Many types of wood that I work with have tannins that will bleed through and nothing is a bigger pain when I am on a roll!  Typically an oil based primer will do the trick when my lacquer binding primer will not. but sometimes I need to take a different route.

Here is a perfect example of how the tannins of this wood are bleeding through my oil based primer and topcoat.  95% of the time the stain blocking primer Kilz will take care of this for me but not so much this time...

Although not quite as cost effective as the quart or gallon, I usually buy the cans of Zinsser Bulls Eye Shellac and hit all the areas that are bleeding through.  

I believe that most people do not prime and probably go straight to the paint, but I always feel more secure with priming and THEN using my topcoat.  I am an overkill sort of girl when it comes to my custom pieces.  Last thing I ever want is a customer calling me after a few weeks or months telling me there are little pink dots coming through their pretty white dresser!

I love my customers but the only time I want to see them again regarding furniture is because they loved their piece so much and want me to do another one for them, not because something is wrong.  So I continue use my trusty 'overkill' techniques:)

Tannin free and lovely!  This is going into a nursery as a dresser/changing table combo for a sweet baby girl:)

Isn't this pink bubbly glass hardware gorgeous!  My customer bought it from Anthropology and brought it to me to install.

Love the chevron liner she picked up for me to put in drawers for her.