I like to use brushing lacquer on the segmented bowls I make. A 14" bowl is 44 inches around and by the time I get to the point where I started the lacquer has dried enough that it starts to leave brush marks. If I add lacquer thinner to the brushing lacquer, will it dry faster or slower?
I think it will dry faster since it will be thinner and flash off faster than a more viscous mix. I assume you are applying it while on the lathe. Add some lacquer retarder but be careful not to put on too much lacquer for a single coat. Because it will dry slower and flow out it might pool up if there is too much on the bowl. You could use an aerosol lacquer. I would work well it think.
If you like lacquer but find the aerosols expensive you might want to try the Preval system. It lets you spray what you want, it does a good job, it's easy to clean and pretty cheap.
jonnyfurniture is right thinner speeds up drying time retarder slows it when i spray i add no more than 5-6 ounces per gallon so less is better i would use aerosols myself
I dont have any experience with brushing lacquer but I can say that NOTHING I have used beats the aerosol stuff. I use it on ALL my box making projects.
I use a thinned brushing lacquer on my turnings - it dries fast and leaves brush marks. Then I follow it up with a lint-free cloth soaked in lacquer thinner to even out the finish. This leaves a nice matte finish that is not built up in any way, but it does penetrate the wood significantly. Once I'm done with this, I use spray cans of lacquer for subsequent coats of finish. This seems to be a good compromise between getting a good, penetrating, hard coat of lacquer (from the brush) and a nice looking finish (from the spray can).
That is a good point James. That would work well on some of the porous woods and end grain where only using the spray would leave the pores open.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
LumberJocks Woodworking Forum
2.5M posts
96K members
Since 2006
A forum community dedicated to professional woodworkers and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about shop safety, wood, carpentry, lumber, finishing, tools, machinery, woodworking related topics, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!