How To Stop Wood Knots From Bleeding Through Paint: Easy Process To Stop Wood Knots From Bleeding Through Paint

Easy Process To Stop Wood Knots From Bleeding Through Paint

Knots usually bleed through the paint which is very much frustrating as well as looks unattractive, however, there is an easy way when it comes to stopping knots from bleeding through the paint. First of all, you need to stop knots from oozing sap with the help of a heated paint remover. Then, you need to sand the knots before applying three coats of a shellac-based stain-blocking primer. Finally, prime the entire project before applying two coats of quality paint. The step by step easy process is mentioned below, go through the steps carefully & achieve the desired result of your work:

Step 1: Stop Wood Knots From Oozing Sap

If you have a knot that is oozing sap, then it is important to first stop it from bleeding before you proceed to the next step. If in case your knot isn’t oozing sap, then skip this step & move on. Remember, it is not possible to paint over a knot that is oozing sap, due to the reason that the sap will continue to ooze and bleed through the paint, which as a result makes it necessary to stop the knot from oozing sap before you apply paint. One of the best ways to stop the knot from oozing sap is using a heated paint remover. The heated paint remover is exactly the same as a high-powered hairdryer. It heats the sap, which in turn helps it to flow to the surface. The sap that flows out will solidify or become hard on the surface of the knot that can be removed. The hardened sap will be hard as a rock, which makes it difficult to remove, therefore, you need to read the instructions carefully for your heated paint remover and work safely.

Step 2: Sand The Wood Knots

If you are looking for a quality finish, then sanding the wood knots is one of the best options. It is important to sand in order to make sure that the primer can “bite” into the surface of the knot. For a rough surface, you need to sand using 80 grit sandpaper, however, generally, it is strongly recommended to start with 100 grit sandpaper and then finish sanding using 120 grit sandpaper. The 120 grit sandpaper will help smoothen the surface of the wood knot but also gives the primer something to grab onto.

Step 3: Apply A Shellac-based Primer

This is one of the most important steps when it comes to stopping the knots from bleeding through the paint. You need to apply a shellac-based primer, such as Zinsser BIN Primer in order to protect the knot. Latex primer will not be helpful when you are looking to stop the knot from bleeding through the paint. Remember, knots are stubborn, therefore, it is important to apply three coats of primer & stop the wood knots from bleeding through the paint. You can use an inexpensive chip brush to apply the primer. Some foam brushes will usually dissolve as soon as they come in contact with shellac. After the primer is fully dry, then apply a second coat followed by a third coat. Three coats of primer should be enough, however, if you can still see the knot, then you need to apply the additional coats. In other words, you need to keep applying coats of primer as long as you can no longer see the knot. After the final coat is completely dry, gently sand in order to get rid of any brush marks. And if after sanding too much and still you can see the knot, then you need to apply another coat of primer.

Step 4: Sand The Primer To Remove Any Brush Marks

Now, apply three coats of Zinsser BIN Primer to the knots, and prime the wood knots with a coat of latex primer. As you know, latex primer will not help stop knots from bleeding through the paint. However, you need to prime the rest of the project, so that the knots will now have a minimum of four coats of primer. It is important not to prime the entire piece if the wood knot has already been painted and only repair a knot that has bled through the paint. The three coats of Zinsser BIN Primer that have been applied to the knot will be a great base for the paint.

Step 5: Apply Two Coats Of A Quality Paint

Finally, you need to apply two coats of quality paint to the wood knot. You can put or spread the paint with the help of a brush or you can also apply the paint with the help of a paint sprayer.