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Q. I’m just getting started in woodworking and would like to know a little about using lacquer as a clear finish. What exactly is it and how is it applied?
A. Lacquer has been the preferred finish of furniture and cabinet manufacturers since its invention in the 1920s. It’s good looking, easy to spray, fast-drying and quickly repaired with subsequent coats. Lacquer is made from cellulose derived from cotton or wood fibers that’s combined with resins and plasticizers to help improve durability and flexibility. Furniture manufacturers like its incredibly fast drying time. They can put on several coats in a short time, which is important for reducing costs.
But lacquer has its disadvantages, too:
It scratches easily and doesn’t stand up particularly well to solvents, heat or water, so it’s not well suited for high-wear surfaces like table or dresser tops.
It’s not a food-safe finish—it can’t be used on cutting boards, fruit bowls and the like.
Lacquer and its solvent, lacquer thinner, are extremely flammable and emit toxic fumes.
For these reasons, and because it’s best applied by spraying, lacquer is not a good choice for home woodworkers to use on big projects. Spraying large projects with lacquer requires sophisticated spraying equipment, a power-ventilated spray booth and expensive protective gear.
Whew! With all that said, lacquer in aerosol spray form can be the perfect choice for small projects, if you work in a well-ventilated area. I like to use it for ornate pieces that are hard to finish with brushes and that get little wear. And I also like being able to spray on five or six coats in a day. Another benefit? Because each fresh layer of finish dissolves and binds to the previous one, you don’t have to sand between coats unless you find flaws to repair.