Brushing Lacquer

[Cody Colston]

I just completed a Pine Pie Safe and finished it with four coats of Deft brushing lacquer followed by Briwax and 0000 steel wool. The Pine was unstained.

I believe it is the best finish I have ever achieved to date. It's very smooth and "soft" looking with a great satin luster. The lacquer dries so quickly that I was easily able to apply 2 coats a day. After the first two coats I scuff sanded with a 320 grit synthetic pad between coats.

The only drawback are the strong vapors from the lacquer and lacquer thinner. Good ventilation is a must.

This is my first time to use a brushing lacquer but it won't be my last. I'm really pleased with the results. My laptop doesn't have a disc drive so I can't post a picture right now. (desktop is contrary and camera is a Mavica) but I will later if I can get things working.

Just thought I'd pass along my new-to-me finishing experience.

Cody

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul?

[rrich]

Cody,
You had your big chance and missed it...

He: "I need a spray system. Everybody knows that you can't brush lacquer."
She: "No! Go ahead a brush it."
He: "Would you want me to brush the paint on your car?"
She: "NO! Oh alright."

[rburkett1]

Yeah Cody, I've used that once before with good results too.

I know what you mean about the fumes, I was in the garage (basement) and even had the wife complaining upstairs! I had to set up a fan on one side of me blowing across my work area and out the open garage doors before I could stand it.

Can't wait to see the pics when you get them worked out.


Ron

[Cody Colston]

Rich,

A man of your experience should know that you need to pick your battles. I have already begun the process of convincing Karen that the Grizzly GO586 jointer is a must-have tool and a great bargain, too. Building that pie safe for her mother will only help my cause and I don't want to appear greedy.

Tonight while showing it to her I pointed out that the rather tall door doesn't close flush right in the middle of the latch side since the stile has a slight bow to it. I then commented that if I'd had a long-bed jointer the bow would have been removed during dimensioning.

I've got a very good Sharpe cup sprayer which is what I'm used to and I'd rather have the jointer than an airless system right now. :)

Cody

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul?

[10_Biscuit]

Hey Cody, I have a simple work surface project going (a 12 x 18 block made from 2 x 4 yellow pine glue ups). This will bolt on to a Grizzly G7120 grinder stand so I can use the stand for multiple bench top machines (grinder, sander, scroll, etc.).

Would you recommend this finish for my project (considering I don't necessarily need a "pretty" piece but perhaps a "hardened" finish instead (both would be nice))? I was considering tung oil varnish here. Your thoughts?

[Cody Colston]

Charles,

I've been using oil based Poly on my shop cabinets, etc. but I don't see why brushing lacquer wouldn't work, also. I don't remember what that quart of Deft cost but it's probably a little more than poly.

Like I said, it dries quickly and I believe subsequent coats "melt" into the previous coats so it should also be easily repairable if desired. It is a hard finish when cured. For a small piece like yours you might want to consider a getting a spray can of Deft lacquer. You can shoot several coats a day and you won't have a leftover can of finish when you are done.

FYI, Shellac is also a hard, repairable finish. It doesn't offer much moisture protection but that shouldn't be a concern in your shop.

I'm by no means a finishing guru but I hope this info helps.

Cody

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul?

[10_Biscuit]

Sorry, Cody, two more questions. Would you think you can wipe the Deft on? Did you thin and if so, ratio? Thanks much...Chuck

[Cody Colston]

The directions said not to thin or spray the lacquer, so I did neither. It's fairly fluid stuff but I don't think it would wipe on very well.

I used a good China bristle brush and wet the bristles with lacquer thinner before dipping in the lacquer. I cleaned up after each coat by dipping the brush well in lacquer thinner again and then washing with Dawn dishwashing liquid. After shaking out the excess water, I wrapped the bristles with a paper towel secured with a rubber band.

The brush stayed soft between coats and the bristles didn't splay, either.

Cody

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul?

[JBark]

>Sorry, Cody, two more questions. Would you think you can
>wipe the Deft on? Did you thin and if so, ratio? Thanks
>much...Chuck

I don't think you can wipe it as it is so volatile and quick drying. They do market it in spray cans which could be usefull for the right projects. Remember that lacquer is really bad stuff, fume wise. Ventilation is a must but for frequent use I would get the best mask money can buy.

John

[quartlow]

Acually I've thinned Deft and sprayed it with good succces, I've had better luck brushing and spraying Watco lacquer though.

The real trick to to lacquer is as soon as you get done spraying it shoot the whole thing with straight lacquer thinner. It flows the top coat in and leaves it like glass. An Old timer who paints cars and used lacquer exclusivly for years showed me that trick