Lacquer has been used for thousands of years
to produce very hard, durable finishes that
are resistant to damage from water, acids,
alkaline substances, and abrasives. The finish
can be polished to a very high gloss that
gives the illusion of depth. Lacquer can
also be colored with pigment. It became popular
in the 1920’s, when it began to replace shellac, because it is more resistant to damage
from heat and alcohol. Lacquer is used to
coat furniture, automobiles, metal ware,
textiles and paper.
Many modern lacquers are made from quick
drying solvents containing nitrocellulose.
These can be applied with a brush, but even
the clearest will have a pale yellow cast,
which will increase with age. To get a truly
clear finish a lacquer must be manufactured
from a cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB).
Best results are obtained when these CAB
lacquers are sprayed on. Since they are extremely
flammable, an explosion-proof spray booth
should be used to apply them, and good ventilation
is necessary. Aerosol cans of lacquer can
be
successfully used on small projects, but
they will not produce the same quality finish
as proper spray equipment. |
