How to Paint a Mahogany Veneer Dresser

A new coat of paint is a great way to update your dresser's look, but wood veneer is more difficult to paint than the wood it mimics. Most of the problem lies in its smooth, shiny surface. Paint just can't stick to it. To make the surface accept paint, you'll have to prepare the wood veneer to encourage adhesion. While this will give you a professional-looking paint job, the changes to the wood veneer are permanent. You can repaint for the rest of the dresser's life but you'll never recover the original wood veneer.

Screwdriver
Plastic bag
Canvas
220-grit block sander
Tack cloth
Broom
Primer
Paint

Instructions

- 1
  Take apart the dresser. Remove the drawers and unscrew metal handles and hinges. If the individual panels are easy to unscrew or pull apart, take them off. Keep small pieces in a plastic bag to avoid losing them.
- 2
  Spread the pieces out over a tarp. Work in a garage or in a well-ventilated spot if possible.
- 3
  Sand the wood veneer surfaces you intend to paint with sandpaper. Use medium pressure and sand just enough to roughen the surface and remove the shine.
- 4
  Clean up the sanding dust. Even small dust particles show up as big imperfections in the final paint job. Wipe the dresser pieces down with a tack cloth. Sweep the sanding dust off of your tarp. Lay the pieces back on the tarp once the area is dust-free.
- 5
  Cover the wood veneer with a bonding industrial enamel or epoxy primer. Spray, roll or foam brush the primer on. Use white for light-color topcoats and grey for dark-color topcoats.
- 6
  Allow the primer to dry for the manufacturer's recommended time listed on the label.
- 7
  Apply a topcoat of paint using a foam roller or brush. Allow the paint to dry for the manufacturer's recommended amount of time then apply a second coat of paint.
- 8
  Allow the paint to dry for the cure time listed on the manufacturer's label before assembling the dresser again.

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