Sealing Over Nitrocellulose on Existing Cabinets
Nothing beats shellac for sealing between coats. June 18, 2009
Question
I am finishing some cabinets they were originally finished in nitrocellouse lacquer clear finish and I am going back over them with a white nitrocellouse lacquer sealer and two coats of white lacquer finish, but I have already ran into a problem. After I sealed the original clear finish with the white lacquer I began to see some light reddish brown spots bleeding through. If it were oil or latex I would just prime it with stain killer primer, but I'm not too sure what to use with lacquer.
Forum Responses
(Finishing Forum)
From the original questioner:
Since my post I have been informed by Duron paints that I can use a shellac based stain killer primer called T2. Is anyone familiar with this?
From the original questioner:
Correction - it's called OTC Compliant Terminator 3 White Pigmented Shellac.
From contributor J:
Looking over the MSDS and Data Sheets for the Duron product, it seems to be identical to Zinsser BIN primer which would probably is a lot easier to get. I can confirm from personal experience the BIN is compatible under lacquer.
From the original questioner:
Thanks contributor J! Have you had any success putting it over lacquer (nitro cellulose)?
From contributor J:
It's ok to put it over a lacquer finish. My only warning (unknown territory) at this point is whether you have too much build already to simply put the shellac, then lacquer over all the stuff you already laid down. You'd be talking about some serious mil thickness which could bite you later. If possible I would try to remove the previous layers that you applied by sanding as best you can back to the original lacquer.
From the original questioner:
Great advice! Thanks a ton. I have only fogged in the white sealer coat and the previous finish was sanded very well not to mention the fog coat was also sanded well, so hopefully I will be fine with some spot priming on the spots and a finish. The nitro cellouse sands almost off with little effort.
