I need to learn how to spray Lacquer, need Info please.

I use an Earlex HVLP sprayer for pre-cat Campbell’s lacquer. Was introduced to it 3 years ago after using poly since my first project. Haven’t gone back to poly since. Dries in about an hour or less. I can actually finish a project in an after school afternoon. Lots of fumes, need ventilation badly if using it, or you can try gambling with mother nature and doing it outside. Good results, however I am no finishing expert. Good luck

I do have an old binks spray gun that I have not used in 30 years. But have not thought about spraying lacquer with it. I have some concerns about the solids in satin lacquer in the nozzle. Any thoughts.

-- Life is to short to own an ugly boat.

Lacquer is a great finish, I like it very much. There are many varieties, nitrocellulose(the basic), Precatalyzed, etc. I would recommend you visit a good paint dealer, one brand I have used and like is Magnalac (a precat lacquer) Use their thinner also when you mix it. Usually thin it with lacquer thinner by about fifty percent, no need to be too exacting about the ratio. In hot weather you may need to use retarder to slow the drying a little. Fish-eye preventer is something else you may have to add to your supplies if you run into this problem. Experiment with laying on a coat-it should be shiney but not so much that it runs. If you did not put enough on it looks rough. When doing adjacent surfaces try to keep a “wet edge”. You will have to develop a feel for the thickness of the coat and speed of your passes etc. Use the air presssure recommended by the lacquer maker on your regulator. If you mess up, wet a rag with thinner and wipe it off. Make sure you wear a mask designed for the spraying of lacquer. Give it a fairly light coat, let it dry and sand it with 220 or 320 wet or dry sandpaper. 400 and 600 if you want a silky feel. I take an ordinary spray bottle fill it with water and add several drops of dish detergent (read small amount) to lube the sanding. Don’t worry too much about the sanding, you are only knocking off the “nubs” between the coats. Usually two coats is enough but you will know when you see and feel it. A word of caution!!!—lacquer and lacquer thinner can be explosive so take precautions regarding electric motors on your compressor and other devices that can produce a spark(like a window fan used as a vent fan-NOT a good idea!). To clean your gun, empty out the finish, slosh some thinner around in the cup, spray the thinner through the gun, empty out the thinner and dispose of properly. Also between uses, take the nozzle and tip off the gun and drop them into a cup of clean thinner. Best of luck and I think you will impress yourself with the results.

-- Jon

Spraying lacquer is one of those things that cannot be learned from a book. It would be sort of like learning to juggle from a book. Because you really are juggling….pressure, viscosity, atomization, humidity, temperature, what parts to spray first, hand speed…all at one time. The good news is that once these all get grasped, its like riding a bike, you instinctively know how. Its truly an art that requires many a failure to properly figure it out.

One rule. Be a neat freak about keeping the gun clean and all parts in working order.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

I’m a big fan of HVLP gravity feed cup guns.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Another subject covered in detail in Charles Neils Finishing A-Z DVD

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

I’ve used HVLP’s and Convential Sprayers with no problem. Just remember to thin a little and you’ll be fine. The best part is the drying time. I’ve even brushed it on in a pinch. You can also use Tints-All to custom mix your own color.

John

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