View Full Version : spraying a wood finish
I've been working on basic furniture construction for the last year and have been using the standard process of brushing on the final coats of polyurathane. I do have a small compressor and spray gun and am curious if it's possible to spray on the poly. Does anyone have any experience or advice to share on that?
fjs440
03-11-2001, 03:25 PM
I have tried spraying polyurathane and have been unhappy with it. I just seem to have better control using a foam brush. Maybe it is just me, but that is my experience.
Hope you have better luck,
Fred Scharmann
Avon, OH
Lou_williams
03-12-2001, 03:31 PM
I don't use or spray poly. I don't like the plastic look. There should be no reason that it won't spray though. You might have to thin it a bit to get the results you are looking for.
What type of finishes do you use if not poly? And what have you found to be the most efficient way of applying?
Lou_williams
03-13-2001, 01:15 AM
I use almost all other finishes other than Poly. It all depends on what I am building. For lots of projects I use danish oil. That is brushed on and then wiped off after it has had a chance to penitrate into the wood. For a clear finish I use a lot of shellac that I brush or spray. I also have padded it one (french polish). This makes a very good finish for all applications except where it might come into contact with alcohol. Alcohol is the solvent for shellac and thus it is not a good finish for a dressing table. I use varnish for outdoor applications and some furniture applications. Both brush on and spray.
The finish I use most is lacquer. This I always spray. It drys very quickly allowing multiple coats per day. Is a very nice finish that holds up well and is easy to repair. It is not something you want to do in a inclosed space. I spray in my driveway most of the time.
Hope this helps.
Lou
Poly is not intended to be sprayed. But the newer water based stuff may not be so suseptable to atomization. You may try thinning down the poly also. This should lessen the air pressure required to dipense the poly.
Foam rollers and brushes are best for poly.
Glen
I've read a little and thought about spraying laquer. That looks like my best choice. The enclosed space I have to work in concerns me and have considered going into the garage or out on the drive like you said. What's stopped me is that I live in the north woods where the winters are very cold and was under the impression that a warm temperature is a must for laquer. Any wisdom on that? - Thanks!
I've read a little and thought about spraying laquer. That looks like my best choice. The enclosed space I have to work in concerns me and have considered going into the garage or out on the drive like you said. What's stopped me is that I live in the north woods where the winters are very cold and was under the impression that a warm temperature is a must for laquer. Any wisdom on that? - Thanks!
Lou_williams
03-16-2001, 12:19 PM
Now that is a problem. I live in Northern California and don't have much of an issue with temperature. I do have to make sure that It is not raining but that is about it.
There are lots of regulations for setting up a spray system indoors. Explosion proof fan, external venting, filters, and making sure there are no spark for flame sources in the area that you will spray would be the main issues you would have to deal with.
Lou
dareese
03-16-2001, 05:55 PM
i have taught woodworking for 32 years best spray finish is deft brand clear wood finish...lacquer based...dries in 30 minutes..you can put on 3-4 coats a day.. best part is once i have it in a gun i leave it for the school year..once in a while i clean the tip but it stays in the sprayer can on the gun and i never clean it over vacations etc. it stays and you walk in and spray and it works perfectly....almost student proof..some other finishs you spend as much for cleaner as you do for finish...
Tom D
03-17-2001, 11:14 PM
Tom
I have sprayed both ways and have had these results.
You definitely do not have to thin poly it is already very thin in fact you have to be cautious to spray it very lightly and watch for runs as poly is very thin. Poly drys rather solwly and thats its major set back. On the other hand lacquer needs to be thinned but drys fast. The vapors of lacquer are a problem. Don't spray it anywhere near your home or your wife will kill you like mine did to me, and the vapors are very toxic.