Painting Over Shellacked Wood With a Deglosser

Sand the shellac surface with 220-grit sand paper and an orbital sander. Work in a circular motion and place light pressure on the surface to prevent the removal of the shellac finish.

Wipe over the surface of the shellac with a damp rag to keep the surface cool. The water will also serve as a lubricant, preventing the sander from scraping the shellac surface. Alternate between water and sanding three times to ensure that the surface has been primed for deglossing.

Wipe over the surface of the shellac one final time to remove sanding debris after the final sanding pass. Polish over the shellac surface with a dry cotton rag until the surface is clean and dry. Clean any dry debris with a damp rag and rewipe the surface dry with a rag.

Wipe on three coats of oil-based deglosser, allowing 10 minutes' drying time between coats. Thoroughly coat and wipe away the deglosser for full function of the product. Allow the deglosser to fully dry, then visually observe the surface. If the surface is still highly glossed, reapply the deglosser -- one coat at a time -- until the surface is dull but clear.

Dry the shellac finish completely with a cotton rag. Wipe on four coats of satin, clear-coat finish, allowing 30 minutes to one hour of drying time between coats. Lightly wipe over the surface with a 220-grit steel-wool pad between coats to remove any surface imperfections.