What Kind of Paint Can I Use for Painting Craft Designs on Laquer Finished Wood?

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• Lacquer is a relatively easy finish with which to work, as it is much softer than polyurethane or acrylic finishes. This means that the new coatings are more likely to bond to a lacquer-finished surface than polyurethane or acrylic surfaces. Lacquer also comes in different gloss levels; matte or semigloss lacquer will perform better as a substrate than a high-gloss lacquer finish. Lightly sand the lacquer finish prior to painting craft designs onto the surface so that the new coating will effectively adhere.

Coating Compatibility

• Before attempting the finished product, apply a small amount of the new coating to an unseen surface of the project. Allow the test area to dry thoroughly, and then inspect closely, using a magnifying glass. Examine whether the coating peels away from the substrate as it dries; this will indicate a lack of adhesion between the surfaces. Also look closely at the painted surface. If the new paint causes the underlying coating to bubble or crinkle up, there is a chemical reaction between the coatings. The presence of either of these conditions means that the new craft paint is incompatible with the lacquer surface.

Gloss Finish Coatings

• Inert, high-gloss acrylic coatings are ideal choices for painting over lacquer finishes. High-gloss acrylic paints have a high degree of adhesion built into the coatings. Acrylics are also water, not solvent, based. A water-based coating will not react chemically with a lacquer-based finish.

Durability

• The durability of an accent craft applique, such as a group of flowers or country scene, does not require the same durability needed if the entire piece of furniture was repainted. Accent craft painting is meant to give a furniture piece color and character. As long as the craft painting won't experience high amounts of wear and tear, or high impact use, the craft painting will perform well.

Clear Finish Coats

• If possible, apply a clear acrylic or lacquer finish coat over the item after the craft paint is applied. Lacquer finishes can be safely re-coated with compatible clear coats at any time. Clear acrylic finish coats will not affect the bright colors of a craft application. If the entire piece can be coated after the craft painting is applied, that clears the way to sand the piece before starting the project, which is the best way to get an excellent bond between the existing furniture's lacquer finish and the craft paint.