To make things simple, we’re going to compare the two products using the following criteria: application, permanence, and cost. 1) Acrylic enamel seems to be a thick (high viscosity) paint when compared to laquer and enamel. This reaction cannot be reversed, making it overall harder to repair, but at the same time, more durable. Now, however, both lacquer and enamel paint can be used interchangeably. Lacquer also contains a solution of shellac in alcohol that creates a synthetic coating, causing it to form a high gloss surface. July 25, 2010 at 1:40 pm #23279. I believe that plays a major role in how “alive” the guitar sounds. Aesthetic Differences Between Varnish and Lacquer. Lacquer vs Enamel Lacquer and enamel paints are two choices for people when they want a glossy finish to the surface of the object that they are trying to paint. A super inexpensive urethane may not be better than the worlds best acrylic enamel where there is some phenomenal price difference due to the quality of the products used to make the paints. If you apply some paste wax and rub it out enough, you can get a high gloss. If you use a urethane topcoat, use a urethane primer. Lacquer paint may need several coats to get the right finish, but once it is complete it looks smooth and seamless on furniture and cabinets in the kitchen. Are you trying to determine what guitar finish best suits you? Share. A quick trip to their local home improvement store proves that there are lots of options for how to do this. Lacquer and enamel are two common types of finishes that give the final product a shiny look. It’s actually the best finish for outdoor projects as it’s got an incredible resistance to moisture compared to other finishes, plus it’s got some flexbility which helps with the natural expansion and contraction of outdoor wood furniture. With the lack of time, space, and proper tools, he always finds ways to get great results without over-complicating or over-thinking the process. Nitro needs to air dry to release its solvent and it’s usually a good bet it will take about thirty days to dry. Lacquer is a clear coating that can be glossy, matte or resinous and is available in a variety of … Some varnishes may even contain polyurethane. Also because of the speedy dry time, dust becomes less of a problem when compared to polyurethane and varnish. I believe using the satin variation eliminates the plastic look. Both enamel paint and lacquers can achieve a glossy finish, but lacquer results in a thicker coat. You would be hard pressed to hear any difference in tone in any of our guitars at Huffman & Co. The truth is in all those old GM autos with orginal factory paint which is Lacquer. Varnish is typically a glossy finish, but flattening agents can be added. On a vintage recreation or restoration I want lacquer. Pin 1K. Acrylic enamel is the more traditional option that was used on older cars. A moderately skilled painter can spray lacquer on kitchen cabinets and woodwork and get good-looking finishes. Posts. Clear enamel is like lacquer, in that you can apply it on wood or metal. The drying process is much slower than urethane paints and leaving a coat to sit for 24 to 48 hours before applying another coat is recommended. But anyway, I’ll break these 4 woodworking film-type finishes down in a way that you can easily see the differences. But these finishes also have differences, so they are not the same. This means by adding more solvent, the finish becomes almost like new, meaning it’s easy to repair (but overall less durable). Like other curing finishes, it’s best to sand between coats for proper bonding. Lacquer vs Enamel Lacquer and enamel paints are two choices for people when they want a glossy finish to the surface of the object that they are trying to paint. It can be thinned down to the point you can wipe it on (see how here), which is actually very beginner-friendly and simple. It does not undergo a chemical process over time, it simply dries as the solvent evaporates. This is because the longer the finish remains wet, the longer the time frame for dust nibs to settle in. Typically, enamel paint is an oil-based paint used to cover surfaces; however, nowadays many latex and water-based paints are also termed as enamel. Wood Finishes – Choose The Right One For Your Wood Project, get the perfect look from your polyurethane finish here, Shellac Wood Finish – What It Is And How To Apply It, How To Get The Look You Want From A Polyurethane Finish, Shellac Wood Finish – What It Is and How To Apply It, Wood Finishes – Choose The Right One For Your Project, Danish Oil – What You Should Know About This Amazing Wood Finish, Food Safe Wood Finish – 9 Best Finishes for Cutting Boards, Toys, & More, Should You Wax That? Therefore, you can purchase epoxy enamels, polyurethane enamels, and most frequently, alkyd and/or acrylic enamels. Acrylic lacquer paints can be costlier than acrylic enamels. He is at the very pinnacle of the Guitar finishing field. He has. Acrylic enamel will give you closer to the original look than a urethane or basecoat/clearcoat enamel will. Simply put, Scotty’s sense of color and finish detail is as good as it gets. An acrylic lacquer base coat has a high HMIS flammability rating of 3 (source). Automotive paint resins are usually one of the following three chemical compounds: lacquer, enamel, or urethane. You can't mix it into paint as you can with lacquer. But these finishes also have differences, so they are not the same. You can thin it with mineral spirits to help. Example of Lacquer paint are Mr.Color and Modo paint. If you use an enamal topcoat, use an enamel primer. Scotty has built, finished and/or counseled me on 14 guitars and 1 Bass. More specifically we are going to compare Lacquer with Emerald Urethane. As an oil based finish, varnish will leave an amber hue in the wood which darkens over time. On one of the other lists I'm on had a discussion of Enamels vs Clear Coat Base Coat paints. But for this article, we’ll focus on the 4 main film-finishes listed above, so you can stop stressing about which finish to use, and start cranking out more projects. April 18, 2016 by Scotty Huffman Leave a Comment. But there are differences between these protective finishes: Acrylic urethane is typically water-based, while traditional polyurethane is oil-based. Polyurethane is harder to apply, as it’s easy to get bubbles and brush strokes. When a painter uses the word "enamel" he is usually referring to a high gloss, smooth, decorative alkyd and/or acrylic top coat. Lacquer thinner is more of a mix of other solvents (acetone, MEK, etc) designed to specifically thin lacquer paints. Enamel primer is the same as urethane primer, but is meant to go under enamal topcoats. Spar varnish or marine varnish is the best choice for uv protection and flexibility. Durability may be what you are looking for over vintage correctness. I would have done it anyway. How you store it makes a difference, it should stay in a cool, dry environment, sealed up from the atmosphere to avoid oxygen, as this is what really degrades the integrity of the shellac. Another distinction is that clear enamel is a topcoat. Lacquer paint requires a special kind of paint thinner aptly named lacquer thinner to make it even. The information on this page is a general guideline of the very basics of each kind. A moderately skilled painter can spray lacquer on kitchen cabinets and woodwork and get good-looking finishes. But different manufacturers have created various concoctions and advertise them as a finish designed for specific uses. Lacquer is considered the best finish to use for wood because it’s durable and dries quickly. Nitro is very fragile and can be damaged easily or even cracked by cold weather. You can read more about Adam here. My nephew had a 63 Riviera back in the late 90s and it had its orginal fatory white lacquer paint and all it took was a little rubbing and buffing to bring back the shine. Your new kitchen cabinets sparkle like a jewel. Copyright © 2021 Huffman & Co. Lacquer and varnish are glossy coatings that are applied over wood and other surfaces, to have a protective covering that also looks aesthetically pleasing. Pin 1K. Acrylic. What are these finishes capable of, why ever choose one over the other, and where will the final project end up being used. Check It Out. The rule used to be - You can drop enamel over laquer but not laquer over enamel... not sure if that still hold true but I agree with rw, I would have sealed it off with epoxy to be safe.. _____ Gary R. 08-17-2009, 03:32 PM ... Don't put polyurethane over lacquer primer, there will be inadequate bond. They are very similar and some people even use the phrases interchangeably. Why? It is not easy to determine the difference between lacquer vs. enamel. Read this article to see how I apply polyurethane using a foam brush. The difference in the two are night and day. Be sure to sign up below to get beginner woodworking tips, guides, and free plans sent to your inbox from time to time. Polyurethane originally was an oil-based varnish with more plasticity than older varnishes or paints. Understanding the differences between lacquer vs. polyurethane durability can help you to make a wise choice wh… 1K Shares. Lacquer and polyurethane are two of the most common finishes used for wooden furniture. Lacquer and enamel are two common types of finishes that give the final product a shiny look. While the terms varnish, polyurethane, lacquer and shellac are commonly used to reference a final finish in general, these products are not the same, nor are they recommended to be used interchangeably. Advantages and Disadvantages of Lacquer in Woodworking. Home builders in Kansas City love putting lacquer finishes on custom kitchen cabinets. It is made from the dried secretions of the female Lac beetle. For example, a kitchen table may require a different finish than a mantle clock, which would differ from an adirondack chair. The ravages of time and use of a piece of furniture can be limited by a durable top or finish coat. This horse has been beat to death. 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