Thread: Best tannin blocking primer?

Disclaimer! I have not done anything with merbau or used the products that you mention.

I have had success using shellac as a primer to block tannin bleed-through and it is excellent as a barrier coat between two otherwise incompatible products e.g water-based paint over oil-based paint.

I understand oil-based primers are good for blocking tannins but call the manufacturer with your specific species-type question.

Good luck!

I have done a bit of furniture with Kwila and finished with shellac about 25 years ago and to my knowledge there has never ben any tannin bleed through.

If you want to use shellac as a sealer then I'd recommend our White Shellac (Dewaxed) The lack of wax means that most finishes should take over the top very well.

Used on a shipment of 150 badly finished, heat affected, Kwila bed-ends some 40 odd years ago as a primer/sealer, before spraying with 2 tones of brown Wattyl Isolac. Prior to the shellac, nothing would take to the original finished bed-ends.

Hope this is of some help to you.

Cheers - Neil

Oh man. Painted merbau.

I've some and it's a sea of red with every bit of moisture.

Keen to hear what happens.....

At the risk of sounding judgy, if it's an indoor project and it's going to be painted, why would you use merbau?

Originally Posted by jack620

At the risk of sounding judgy, if it's an indoor project and it's going to be painted, why would you use merbau?

It is the only timber readily available that is reasonably hard and is 25mm thick. Radiata pine too soft for my application