Painting birchwood for the first time

Janet Bartee
by Janet Bartee
I want to know if I have to seal or prime a bedside table before painting it for the first time?
  5 answers
  • Dragonintheattic Dragonintheattic on Mar 08, 2015
    If the wood has knots in it that you don't want to eventually bleed through, you need to prime with a primer sealer or shellac. Ordinarily, in this area, wood that's going to be inside is primed and outside is not.
  • Jim Grossman Jim Grossman on Mar 08, 2015
    I always prime anything wood and make sure that it is good and clean. if you just paint it doesn't take long before it peels and cracks. If you spill liquids on it or use a strong cleaner it just doesn't look nice for long. I know people who just want to get out a sponge brush and craft paint and use that because it will not remain fashionable for long and be rotated out to the thrift store in a year or so. Advice above is backwards for Minnesota. Inside is optional outside is mandatory.
  • Kimberly Saxton Scruggs Kimberly Saxton Scruggs on Mar 08, 2015
    Many paints today have the primer already mixed in with the paint. If you're buying your paint from Lowe's or Home Depot, etc., ask the paint pro in that department.
  • Debbie Harris Debbie Harris on Mar 08, 2015
    Priming helps in any case and can save you from having to more paint coats than you might otherwise have to paint to cover.
  • Christina McMullen Christina McMullen on Mar 08, 2015
    I ALWAYS prime before I paint. The best product in the world is called Adhesion Primer. It's a little pricey, but goes a long way and will seal plastics, wood, anything you could possibly want to paint. I never buy Paint with Primer as I don't feel it works at all. Several coats are usually required and if you prime with Adhesion once, your paint coverage is usually one coat