New Paint Peeling from Surface just Painted?

Question

We are painting an old table and notice the new paint is peiling if scraped with your finger nail or another object. What is the cause, and how do we correct this?

Answer 1

When you find paint peeling like that it is almost always due to having painted over varnish, shellac, or urethane. Those finishes form a slick finish that allows you to put paint on, but it is actually floating on top, not really sticking. When you scrape it, even with a fingernail, it will come off easily. Once you have done this, you really have to take the paint off with a paint remover, a sometimes tedious and messy process. ( If the table is worth something to you it can be worth doing. If not, get another table. ) Once you have the paint off, then you have to scratch all of that other finish with light sand paper, just enough to scratch it all, and then prime it with a good primer for that purpose, most paint stores know what you need, and then put on two coats of good paint, as a table surface needs to be strong enough for the wear you give it with lamps, glasses, etc.

Answer 2

The most important part of painting is preping the surface you are painting. You should have sanded the table, lightly and then cleaned the table and allowed it to dry very well. Then use a primer for wood. Let it dry and then do the actual painting and let each coat dry thorughly, not in the sun or anything either. Make sure it's in a dry airy place.
However, if it is particle board, do not sand...it's not real wood but paper that looks like wood. Just clean, dry, prime, dry and paint and dry in between coats. Most things like tables need two good coats to hold up. good luck.