Painting With Spray Lacquer

Clean

• Ensure you clean the surface of the wood with a de-greaser before painting with spray lacquer. The lacquer will not adhere properly to a dusty surface. The spray lacquer can also crack or flake off if you do not prepare the surface properly. Apply the de-greaser and wipe off the surface thoroughly. Let the surface completely dry before spraying on the lacquer.

Sanding

• Sand the surface of the wood with a medium-grit sandpaper. Sanding creates a rough surface to which the spray lacquer can adhere properly. The rough surface allows the lacquer to absorb into the wood and firm up the surface of the wood. Sanding will also prevent the spray lacquer from running too much. After sanding, ensure you wipe the surface down with a damp rag to remove any dust remnants. Let the surface dry and then apply the spray lacquer.

Applying

• Once you have prepared the surface, you can begin to apply the spray lacquer. Hold the nozzle 12 inches away from the surface of the wood. Always be moving the head of the spray gun and apply a thin layer of lacquer to the surface. If you hold the spray lacquer in one place, you will cause the lacquer to run, bubble, blister or look fuzzy after application. Make sure you overlap the spray lacquer during each pass. This ensures that you cover the complete surface. Apply a minimum of two coats of lacquer, letting each coat dry before applying another coat.

Inspection

• After applying each coat of spray lacquer, inspect the surface to determine the problem areas. Spraying lacquer and letting it dry allows you to see any missed spots or imperfections in the surface. If you have any imperfections, such as bubbles, sand the area and apply another coat. You can apply lacquer to just the problem areas, but make sure you use the same back-and-forth motion.