Do all lacquer smell the same?

andy2 · 1st June 2006, 05:23 PM

I am using Deft lacquer but after more than a month, there is still some smell which is not very pleasant.

Are there other brands of lacquer that does not smell as much?

poobah · 1st June 2006, 05:48 PM

Are you kidding? Laquer smells great!

Water based or 2-part finishes tend to smell less.

www.pianolac.com

peranders · 1st June 2006, 06:06 PM

Sooner or later the smell will disappear... maybe later in your case.

kec · 1st June 2006, 06:26 PM

Andy2,

The smell should be gone by now. I use Deft laquer all the time and haven't noticed any smell after a couple of weeks.

What did you use, gloss, semi or satin???

Also, how many coats did you apply???

Not that this makes any difference.... or does it???

-Ken

poobah · 1st June 2006, 06:37 PM

The more coats you put on... and the faster you put them on... the more solvent you will trap.

Put them in the sun... get em hot... that will speed the volatiles away.

andy2 · 1st June 2006, 07:01 PM

I must have put on about 7 or 8 coats at about 1hr interval.

As for polishing, i used Minwax stuffs .. don't remember the name ..

The smell gone away somewhat but still lingering especially in a small room I have. The weather has been hot and humid around here so I really notice the smell coming home from work.

Here are a few pics. I couldn't get the finish as smooth as I can since I was using brush. The spay-on would have helped but probably cost more.

The veneer is called "wormy maple" I bought from ebay for cheap which looks sort of cool but probably will have pretty low waf score.

http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...rrent=Both.jpg

http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...rent=Right.jpg

http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...rrent=Rear.jpg

poobah · 1st June 2006, 07:07 PM

Look good dude,

Get em hot... humidity doesn't help either.

Next time put on 6 coats and let dry for weeks... wet sand with 400... and follow with one fianl coat. Be sure to use a real hair brush (high $). Or, do the last coat with a spray can of the same material.

You can also smooth 'em up with fine steel wool if you want a satin finish.

poobah · 1st June 2006, 07:10 PM

Forget the WAF.

If a spouse is going to get involved with your speaker building, they should do so with a cold beer and a tasty sandwich.

gl · 1st June 2006, 07:54 PM

Hi andy2,

Poobahs advice is good. I will add some experience of my own.

The biggest improvement in my lacquering projects came when I started leaving 1 day between coats and then 10 days before leveling and polishing the finish.. Far fewer runs, faster final cure, overall tougher finish and lots less lingering smell.

Six coats is a good overall number. With more than that the finish gets too thick and the danger of runs goes up. Thick lacquer finishes also have a greater tendency to crack and craze over time. "Opening up" the finish after 3 coats with a light sanding 400 grit will also speed up out-gassing.

The best book on lacquer finishing is the one on guitar finishes by Erlewine and McCrostie from www.stewmac.com. Hands down. Indispensible.

Final point - I don't use Deft lacquer anymore. I switched to Watco nitrocellulose lacquer with far better results. It dries harder and polishes out way better. Unfortunately, I have heard that Deft bought them a while ago so I'm looking for another easily available nitrocellulose lacquer.

Cheers,
Graeme

andy2 · 1st June 2006, 08:06 PM

All is not too late I guess. Once I have sometimes in the future, I can resand them with grit 400 then spray the final layer.

1st June 2006, 05:23 PM	#1
andy2 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles	Do all lacquer smell the same? I am using Deft lacquer but after more than a month, there is still some smell which is not very pleasant. Are there other brands of lacquer that does not smell as much?

1st June 2006, 06:06 PM	#3
peranders Electrons are yellow and more is better! diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Blog Entries: 4	Sooner or later the smell will disappear... maybe later in your case. __________________ /Per-Anders (my first name) or P-A as my friends call me

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1st June 2006, 05:48 PM	#2
poobah diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	Are you kidding? Laquer smells great! Water based or 2-part finishes tend to smell less. www.pianolac.com

1st June 2006, 06:26 PM	#4
kec diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: California	Andy2, The smell should be gone by now. I use Deft laquer all the time and haven't noticed any smell after a couple of weeks. What did you use, gloss, semi or satin??? Also, how many coats did you apply??? Not that this makes any difference.... or does it??? -Ken

1st June 2006, 06:37 PM	#5
poobah diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	The more coats you put on... and the faster you put them on... the more solvent you will trap. Put them in the sun... get em hot... that will speed the volatiles away.

1st June 2006, 07:01 PM	#6
andy2 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles	I must have put on about 7 or 8 coats at about 1hr interval. As for polishing, i used Minwax stuffs .. don't remember the name .. The smell gone away somewhat but still lingering especially in a small room I have. The weather has been hot and humid around here so I really notice the smell coming home from work. Here are a few pics. I couldn't get the finish as smooth as I can since I was using brush. The spay-on would have helped but probably cost more. The veneer is called "wormy maple" I bought from ebay for cheap which looks sort of cool but probably will have pretty low waf score. http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...rrent=Both.jpg http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...rent=Right.jpg http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...rrent=Rear.jpg

1st June 2006, 07:07 PM	#7
poobah diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	Look good dude, Get em hot... humidity doesn't help either. Next time put on 6 coats and let dry for weeks... wet sand with 400... and follow with one fianl coat. Be sure to use a real hair brush (high $). Or, do the last coat with a spray can of the same material. You can also smooth 'em up with fine steel wool if you want a satin finish.

1st June 2006, 07:10 PM	#8
poobah diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	Forget the WAF. If a spouse is going to get involved with your speaker building, they should do so with a cold beer and a tasty sandwich.

1st June 2006, 07:54 PM	#9
gl diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sierra Foothills - California	Hi andy2, Poobahs advice is good. I will add some experience of my own. The biggest improvement in my lacquering projects came when I started leaving 1 day between coats and then 10 days before leveling and polishing the finish.. Far fewer runs, faster final cure, overall tougher finish and lots less lingering smell. Six coats is a good overall number. With more than that the finish gets too thick and the danger of runs goes up. Thick lacquer finishes also have a greater tendency to crack and craze over time. "Opening up" the finish after 3 coats with a light sanding 400 grit will also speed up out-gassing. The best book on lacquer finishing is the one on guitar finishes by Erlewine and McCrostie from www.stewmac.com. Hands down. Indispensible. Final point - I don't use Deft lacquer anymore. I switched to Watco nitrocellulose lacquer with far better results. It dries harder and polishes out way better. Unfortunately, I have heard that Deft bought them a while ago so I'm looking for another easily available nitrocellulose lacquer. Cheers, Graeme

1st June 2006, 08:06 PM	#10
andy2 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles	All is not too late I guess. Once I have sometimes in the future, I can resand them with grit 400 then spray the final layer.

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