Refinishing Wood With Lacquer

Prepare the wood for refinishing. If you are lacquering over painted wood, remove the entire coat of paint. Wear a dust mask before sanding. Sand the painted surface with 60-grit sandpaper and an orbital sander. Remove the paint down to the natural wood surface.

Smooth the wood with 80-, 120- and 220-grit sandpaper. Sand in steps, beginning with 80-grit paper and finishing with 220-grit paper. If hand sanding, sand in the direction of the grain rather than across grain.

Spray on one coat of lacquer. Loan an electric sprayer with lacquer finish and spray directly onto the wood, keeping the nozzle eight to 12 inches away from the wood surface. Let the first coat dry for 30 minutes to an hour. Double-check the label on the lacquer for the exact drying time.

Sand the surface of the wood by hand with 220-grit sand paper. Sand lightly, smoothing only the raised grain of the wood. Lacquer causes the wood grain to rise as it dries. Because of this, you must sand lightly between coats.

Reapply the lacquer in three more coats, sanding between each coat. Make sure the lacquer has completely dried. Let the lacquer cure for 24 to 48 hours out of direct sunlight.

Rub the dried surface with #0000 steel wool, working in circular motions. The steel wool will further smooth the lacquer finish and provide a glass-like finish.

Apply wax paste with a cotton rag. Let the paste set for 30 minutes and remove it with a clean, dry cotton rag. Repolish if necessary. Rub the paste in with steel wool for further polishing prior to removing the paste.