How Do I Paint Mahogany?

Mahogany is a durable yellowish-brown to reddish-brown usually moderately hard and heavy wood of a West Indian tree (Swietenia mahagoni) that is widely used for cabinetwork and fine finish work.

Painting mahogany wood can be a real challenge. When painting mahogany furniture in a light colour there will almost certainly be the matter of bleed through. You can prevent that if you take the proper precautions and use the right kind of products.

You may not think your substrate has grease and grime all over it but it's more than likely, it does. Make sure you thoroughly clean the wood with a grease remover (especially if it is a unit from the kitchen)! If you don't clean the mahogany properly then the paint may not stick properly and will flake away easily.

Interior

Priming Options

1. Otex Akva
2. Helmi Primer

Intermediate (Blocking Primers)

1. Multistop (ensure left to dry for 24 hours before topcoat). Due to the dark tannins in Idigbo, we recommend 2 coats of our blocking primers
2. Akvi Isolator (ensure left to dry for 24 hours before topcoat)

Topcoat Options

1. Everal Aqua 10, Everal Aqua 40 or Everal Aqua 80, depending on the sheen level required
2. Helmi 10, Helmi 30 or Helmi 80, depending on the sheen level required
3. Empire Furniture Paint

Lacquering Options

1. Kiva 10, Kiva 30 or Kiva 70, depending on the sheen level required
2. Akvilac FD-J 10

Exterior

Priming Options

1. Ultra Primer
2. Otex Adhesion Primer

Intermediate

1. Pinja Flex Isolator (exterior blocking primer)

Topcoat Options

1. 1. Ultra Matt
   2. Ultra Classic
   3. Valtti Opaque
   4. Unica Semi-Gloss Enamel
   5. Unica Akva
   6. Valtti Teho
   7. Miranol

If you require more advice on painting over hardwoods, give our technical team a call on 0131 334 4999 or send a message here.