Menu
Woodworking for Mere Mortals
  • Learn
  • Store
  • About
Close Menu
March 19, 2014

Mere Mini: How to apply a really nice finish – quick and easy. | Mere Mini

Basics, How To

One of the challenges to building  a project every week is applying a finish. A lot of fine finishes require days or even longer to complete. I simply don’t have the time to wait for coats of polyurethane to dry and sand between each one.

 

The solution is spray lacquer which dries extremely fast (usually within a few minutes) and requires no sanding between coats. Over the years I have developed a technique that produces high quality results in a fraction of the time it takes other finishes.

Drawbacks

The main drawback is that spray lacquer can be expensive. A can will cost between $8-$12, making it impractical for large pieces or furniture. If you have a lot of finishing to do, a spray gun and a compressor is a better purchase. I am also fond of brushing lacquer, but it is a bit trickier to apply.

A lacquer finish can look too “plastic” for some projects. Tung oil or linseed oil will produce a warmer, homier result and can also be applied quickly, but they don’t offer as much protection for the wood.

The Key to a Fine Finish

Whether you use lacquer, varnish, or polyurethane, always give it a light sanding before applying the final coat. A large part of how we perceive a finish is tactile. It needs to feel smooth. This means sanding off tiny dust particles that will inevitably settle on the finish while it is drying and give the finished piece a bumpy, gritty feel.

Since lacquer dries so quickly, dust particles are much less of a problem that other finishes. For a super-fine finish you can buff out the final coat with finishing wax. I have found that with lacquer, this is not usually necessary.

Make a country charm spice rack. Great pallet wood or scrap wood project! Vertical corner planter. Great for any small space!

Related Posts

How to Make Simple Rabbet Joints

Basics, How To

How to Make Simple Rabbet Joints

What is kickback? And how to avoid it.

Basics

What is kickback? And how to avoid it.

How to make a bandsaw box

Basics, For Fun, Gift ideas, How To

How to make a bandsaw box

Categories

  • Basics
  • For Fun
  • For the Home
  • For the Shop
  • Furniture
  • Gift ideas
  • How To
  • Outdoor
  • Plans
  • Projects
Woodworking for Mere Mortals
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclaimer
© Woodworking for Mere Mortals 2021
Website Designed By Reverie House Studio

Get my Curated List of The Most Affordable Woodworking Tools

I value your privacy and will protect it. You can learn about how I handle information I collect by viewing my Privacy Policy. And don’t worry, you can unsubscribe anytime.