How to Paint Mahogany Grain on a Laminated Desk
- 1). Place the laminated desk on top of a tarp, or move it to an outdoor area. Remove the drawers and remove any handles or knobs on the desk using a screwdriver. Set the hardware in a safe location.
- 2). Soak a rag in a grease cutting cleaner and wipe down the entire desk to remove surface oils from it.
- 3). Put on a respirator and sand the entire surface of the laminate with a 120-grit sandpaper. You only need to sand it enough to dull the surface so that the primer will stick. Wipe the desk down using a tack cloth to remove all of the sanding dust from the surface.
- 4). Open a can of shellac-based primer and paint all surfaces of the laminate with it until no part of the original desk color remains visible. Use a paintbrush to apply primer to the legs and drawers, and a paint roller to apply it to the top and sides of the desk.
- 5). Wait 1 hour to allow the primer to dry completely.
- 6). Open a can of mahogany-colored latex paint in a satin finish. Insert a paintbrush into the paint and apply it to the legs and other tight areas of the desk. Then switch to the paint roller to cover the remaining top and other flat portions. Wait until the paint dries and apply a second coat in the same way.
- 7). Fill a bucket with a mixture of one part white acrylic paint and one part clear acrylic glaze. Mix them together well using a paint stirrer. If you want a darker wood grain on the mahogany desk, use a black or gray paint instead of white. Paint the entire surface with a light coat.
- 8). Place a paint comb at one edge the desk and angle it upward 45 degrees. Drag it along the entire perimeter of the desk. The comb creates faux wood grain lines and it blends the edge of the paint so that you don't have to align the wood graining tool perfectly with the edge.
- 9). Place a wood graining tool at one end of the desk top and shift your wrist forward so the front of the tool rests flat on the desk. You will see an artificial wood grain pattern on the paint that resembles the lines and knots of real wood. Move your hand backward, slowly rocking the tool back toward you as you do so. Stop when the back edge touches the desk.
- 10
Pick the tool up and position it so the front edge again rests on the desk and pull it backward again. Continue the process until reaching the other end of the desk. Create additional wood grain on all remaining surfaces, overlapping each stroke by 1/4 inch. - 11
Wait until the paint is completely dry before reinstalling the hardware or inserting the drawers.
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