Can you paint over shellac on wood cabinets without sanding them?

You don’t have to sand the shellac off, you just have to sand the surface to rough it up enough for the primer to stick. Then prime and paint.

Happy painting! xx

I would either strip them first with something like citristrip, or deshine the surface by wiping it with alcohol.

Another option that has always worked for me is to use an oil based primer like Kilz before painting with regular latex. It sticks better to slick surfaces.

Prep is 90% of the end result.... skip steps and get results that may not meet your expectations. You don't have to sand it to bare wood, just knock off the bumps and crazing that happens with shellac.

I saw a This Old House episode where they used a “deglosser” and didn’t have to sand. It was an easy wipe on then off. Check your local home improvement store.

Thank you I will try that