Clear Lacquer on Alder

You shouldn’t get any blotchiness with just lacquer.

-- http://www.columbiawoodscreendoors.com

Jack,

First of all welcome to Lumber Jocks!

Now I haven’t used lacquer on Alder, but I have used poly, and it worked wonderfully. If you take a look at the only project I have in “my projects” the top of the desk is out of alder, and there was no stain or conditioner used at all. Even upon close inspection did it not have any blotches.

In reality most conditioners are just some sort of clear finish thinned down so that it will somewhat fill up those spots where the wood absorbs a lot of stain. You will probably find that your first coat doesn’t cover as well as you are use to because of absorption, but just put on one more coat then you would normally apply.

Again welcome.

Aaron

-- "Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops."--Cary Grant from the movie Arsenic and Old Lace

Sanding sealer and Clear lacquer should be fine without a conditioner. Staining Alder is difficult without the conditioner because of varying wood densities absorbing the stain differently. Lacquer is a surface finish.

-- Michael Murphy, Woodland, CA.

awesome feedback everyone
Michael, that was the exact thought process I had – thanks for affirming it.

Aaron, I will be sure to check out your profile a bit more. I work with my father, and we do things…welll…sort of the old fashioned way sometimes. Even thats not a fair statement, but I suppose we just do things “his” way or the way he has “always done it”, but with the innovative new products coming out these days, and the wealth of information and technique sharing on a great site like LumberJocks, I think its time to reinvent our company a bit.

I came here planning to post a quick quesiton, get a quick answer, and then vanish – but now I have the site bookmarked and cant wait to join the discussions and learn learn learn!
Thanks again everyone, I look forward to many more chats.

Wash coat with shellac then clear coat with the lacquer. It’ll work just fine.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

Finished the job today. As you guys said, a basic sealer (2 coats), followed by several coats of clear lacquer. No conditioner needed :)

Thanks again for the help!

Jack,

Welcome to lumberjocks! My experience with Alder is considerably limited, but I’ve had really good result using 3 coats of Watco Danish oil finish followed by 2 coats of Briwax. So far this finish has stood up to daily use for the past 7 months.

You can see the results here: http://lumberjocks.com/projects/34824

-- -Gerry, Hereford, AZ ” A really good woodworker knows how the hide his / her mistakes.”