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problems with spray lacquer

2K views 14 replies 8 participants last post by  shampeon 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I decided to use spray lacquer on the paper towel holders i am making b/c it is faster. This is the first time I have ever used a spray finish. I am usin the deft semi-gloss. I cannot get the finish to look smooth like it does with brushed finishes. Its this just the way spray finishes turn out??? I put a bunch of light coats on, but if you look close you can see the small dots/droplets, like a mist… I hope this makes since. I tried doing a heavier coat but then I just got bigger droplets/dimples. It kind of looked like and orange peel in the heavier areas. Is this the way spray finishes are supposed to look? I put a few light coats on, sanded, then put a couple more light coats on. Should I just resand and wax to get a smooth finish? It looks good from a foot away, but if you look up close, you can see it…and it bugs me lol. Thanks!! My technique: I am holding about 6 in. away, starting the spray before I hit the wood with every pass, and moving it pretty quick….
 
#2 ·
You should not need to move "pretty quick", move the gun at a steady pace. Another thing, your lacquer might be too thick and it is not atomizing properly, thus the orange peel. The best way to come up with a good mix is to use a viscosity cup and keep track of the dilutions until you get a nice even coat.
 
#4 ·
Shelly,

How cold is it where you're spraying? Even in a spray can, if the lacquer is cold it will not flow out the way it should. If I'm spraying when it's cold, I try to fool my finish and project to think that it's actually warm. I will keep both the spray lacquer and my project in the house for at least 24 hours so it's all equal to room temp. and then just before I spray the finish, I will take it to the shop, turn off the heat out there, make sure I have good ventilation and spray.

Works pretty good for small projects, but not so well it you're building a big piece of furniture.
 
#8 ·
ok, thank you:) and yes, with the woodburner i'm sure the air is dry. damn, i sanded one down and put some wax on it already…it doesnt look bad, but now i can't take all your suggestions and put another coat or 2 on it. i also had a can of brush on laquer that i tried for one of the lids, but it's gloss and looks awful! lol i'm hoping some sanding will tame down the shine. if not, i will be doing alot of sanding:/ as for the rest, i guess i will go buy my 4th can and warm it up and give it a try, and maybe still a pot of water on the woodburner. I made 3 holders, and have already used 3 cans of lacquer…if i ever get them finished i will post pics:)
 
#9 ·
Make sure you have shaken the can really well and the paper towel holder is not cold and the can in the water is a good idea too,just make sure it's warm water not hot on a stove. You can dull the gloss down with some 600 grit to look more like satin.
 
#10 ·
I use the Deft spray cans all the time. I haven't had any problems. Of course I'm in Vegas so I don't worry about cold (except this week it's in the upper 30's). I do sand between coats with 400 grit paper. It take about 4 or 5 coats to get the look I want.
 
#11 ·
i'm pretty sure i shake enough, so i'm thinking it is the cold. i'm sure it was around 50 for most of the applications, and for sure not over 60. probably colder than 50 some of the nights so i will try warming it all up. i only sanded before what i thought would be my final coat. i chose lacquer instead of poly so i wouldn't have to sand since there are 3 and lots of tough corners to get into. i could take the paper towel holders inside, as long as they don't sweat when i take them out lol. although it is actually in the 60's here in SE ohio this weekend…to bad i'm stuck at work!
 
#12 ·
doninvegas: i have already used 3 cans! and there are 3 papertowel holders, plus lids…so with one can per holder i would think they would have plenty of layers lol. i kept thinking this will be the last layer! i think i will sand again and add another coat with everything warmed up a little…except for the one i added wax to already.
 
#13 ·
Read your can Shelly I would guess it says not to use it below 50 degrees. even if it doesn't 50 degrees is border line but you might get a way with warming the can and having the paper towel holder inside and quickly shoot it in your 50 degrees and bring it back in as soon as you can hopefully within 5 minutes . Since your shooting at a cooler temperature I would give it extra time to dry between coats.
 
#14 ·
I have used deft spray can lacquer on nearly 100 of my boxes and have found that it is very important to spray lightly misted coats and always move the can quickly so as to not spray in one spot more than a fraction of a second. If you spray too heavily or linger on a spot it will produce the orange peel effect or even worse…run.
I always buff with steel wood in between the first several coats.

As others have mentioned…the tempurature and humidity will also be a determining factor. You will know if it has drieds enough when you sand between coats and get a fine powder when sanding.
 
#15 ·
Deft is nitro lacquer, so it will melt in to the underlying coats. So if you've brushed/sprayed a gloss coat, you can follow that up with a semi-gloss coat, and it'll melt into the previous gloss layer. Boom, you've now got a semi-gloss coat, no sanding.

In fact, most instructions say to spray your initial coats gloss then move to semi-gloss as your final coat.
 
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