What can come through multiple layers of paint....

We're repainting an old dresser. There are a few small spots on it that are coming thorough no matter how much paint we put on them. We even primed it first. Does anyone know what type of substance might do this? We have no idea what it is. It was painted dark blue before so these blue spots didn't' show up.
  16 answers
  • Was your primer oil based? If not it wouldn't help. It seems like the oil/sap of the wood is bleeding through and because it had blue paint underneath that is how it is showing itself on your final white coat. Try spraying 2 light coats of shellac on the spotty areas then paint it again. Shellac might help. -Handan
  • Lookinforideas Lookinforideas on Apr 30, 2016
    Kilz. It's a stain blocker. Can buy at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc & you get it in spray can or brush on. Very inexpensive & will do the job. Good luck!!!
  • Cheryl Skala Cheryl Skala on Apr 30, 2016
    ink will bleed through
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Apr 30, 2016
    It appears primer was omitted from those spots. Lightly sand the areas of the blue and re-apply the primer. Allow to dry and re-paint.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Apr 30, 2016
    Good tips. Am a big fan of shellac. It will seal anything.
  • Marrianne Rudy Marrianne Rudy on Apr 30, 2016
    Love all the tips! I don't always have those to share but always read the questions because there are always answers that are great! I LOVE Hometalk! :)
  • Sbsb1005 Sbsb1005 on Apr 30, 2016
    A trick my dad showed me was silver paint. Cover those spots with silver then reapply your color
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on Apr 30, 2016
    Give the areas a good sanding and apply a coat of Kilz and allow to dry. Paint or finish as you had intended.
  • MN Mom MN Mom on Apr 30, 2016
    Sometimes primer just doesn't take. I'd lightly sand that section, paint it with a product called Kilz and after its dry, repaint it as the rest of the piece is painted.
  • Well we sanded the spots down to the wood and painted them and it appears to be working. Thanks so much for the input!
  • Sanded the spots down to the bare wood then painted them. That worked!
  • JOHNNY JOHNNY on Apr 30, 2016
    BESIDES THE HE USUAL ANSWER'S OF USING A PRIMER OR KILLS, TRY THIS..DILUTE CONCRETE GLUE DOWN TO A CONSISTANCY OF THINK PAINT, BRUSH IT ON, DRY, THEN REPAINT... WHAT IS BLEEDING QUESTION.... IT IS THE PRIOR PAINT, MANY TIME WHEN YYOU PRIME A PIECE OR NOT, THE NEW PAINT LIGUIFIES THE OLD, AND THIS HAPPEN'S... TRY THE CONCRETE GLUE GOTTEN ANY HOME STORE...
  • Stephanie Stephanie on May 02, 2016
    I had painted wood walls in my home which were sanded down to the wood and something kept showing through the Kiltz and then the paint. I used White-Out on it and painted over the White-Out and it has never bled through. I am sure it has been 10 years or more since I did this.
    • Diena Cameron Diena Cameron on Jun 13, 2018

      Hi Stephanie, I'm intrigued by your answere. Can you tell me what White-Out is ? A paint, a primer, a stain, a shellac, a poly.......????? I may have to stock up, lol. Thanks.

  • Flossie Flossie on May 06, 2016
    Try using Shelac, (I don't know what you call it in US) you can buy it in the painting section of a good art shop, it will stop the stains coming through.
  • Dusty Dusty on Aug 02, 2016
    It's probably an oily substance that got splashed onto the wood when it was bare. I would try sanding it down to the wood, again, and then rubbing in a high-quality degreaser. After that, let it dry good before repainting. Good luck!
  • Stephanie Stephanie on Jun 13, 2018

    It is something that is used when writing or typing to cover up mistakes. It is a bottle with a little brush in it. It is a small bottle so it is something you would not paint an entire wall with but just spots that show through.