Shrinking Lacquer. - Woodworking Talk

JCCLARK · 01-30-2007, 03:22 PM

Hello all, I've been lurking and wondering what some of you do when
spraying lacquer.

Do you find it to do better if you spray the sealer and wait a day
before top coating?
When I finish all in one day it seems it always shrinks down a lot later
on and looks grainy.

pitbull · 01-30-2007, 04:30 PM

what type of laquer are you using.

Big Dave · 01-30-2007, 05:23 PM

I use a high build laquer and spray the sealer wait 1/2 hour sand and spray laquer. I'm not usually going for a show room shine but I've never noticed any graininess to it unless it was a little orange peel or overspray.

pitbull · 01-30-2007, 05:46 PM

thats what I tend too do. Thats the whole idea of sealer. To stop the graining.

little but often. Spray, knock it back, spray again,

Ohhh....whats your dilution like also. if you dont dilute it (thin it down)enough it will go on heavy, and when drying out, it can give a receading look.

knock it back, spray......and do this about 4 times, through from sealer, stain to tint, sealer again, then 2 top coats.

MinConst · 01-30-2007, 11:24 PM

Waiting a day for sealer to dry is counter productive. The beauty of Lacquer is the speed at which you can build it up. Spray your sealer in light coats and as soon as its is dry to the touch put another coat on (light) half an hour should suffice to be able to lightly sand it. You can use a scotch type pad. Just want to knock of the over spray. In a clean environment you can almost use your hand to knock it down if your hands are ruff.

JCCLARK · 01-31-2007, 07:57 AM

I'm using a local paint store lacquer for wood.
I don't know who actually makes it, I'm sure it's relabeled.
It just always seems to die back a lot.
Even with several coats, I can spray it to where it looks like glass
but by the next day you can see the grain again, even on cherry.
It seems to help if I wait longer after the sealer.

kevin · 02-16-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCCLARK

I'm using a local paint store lacquer for wood.
I don't know who actually makes it, I'm sure it's relabeled.
It just always seems to die back a lot.
Even with several coats, I can spray it to where it looks like glass
but by the next day you can see the grain again, even on cherry.
It seems to help if I wait longer after the sealer.

First of all, any good pre-cat laq/post-cat laq (AKA CV) will seal itself so no need for a separate sealer. You have to go with top quality stuff like MLC, Target Coatings, Becker Acroma, Chemcraft. I would not use any product but these 4.

And as far as filling the grain...it can't be done and still be within the recommended max dry mil thicknesses even though they are high build. Your solution is using a grain filler before staining.