Laquer finish users

[Pen Man]

How long does it take for laquer to completely Cure?

up to how long after you put it on , are you not able to apply any more? I finished one last night, so tonight I went ahead and put it together. It was a 3 hr closed end pen with the rope twist Very Very nice one, pushed a little to hard and the finish started to crack on the end so I sanded the but of it.

 

[wdcav1952]

Tom,

I use Deft when I use lacquer. I am lazy and use the spray or rattle cans. I spray a coat every 15 to 30 minutes. Each coat burns its way into the previous coat. After I get 6 or 7 coats on, I let it cure for a week before using plastic polish very carefully to smooth and polish the finish. Letting it cure for a week is critical in my opinion.

FWIW,

 

[bnoles]

I have learned that you can apply coats is sets of 3 about 15 minutes apart and lightly sand in 24 hours to re-apply more. A final cure of a week or longer would be advisable.

 

[DCBluesman]

You probably won't like this answer, but here goes. It depends. Is it solvent based lacquer or water borne? What is the composition of the solvents? (Even water borne have solvents.) What drying agents have been added? What is the percentage of solids in your lacquer? Now it is unlikely that you or I will know these things about our lacquer, so based on my last few years of using lacquer on my pens here's my advice. Note that this is just my way.

With most lacquers, I can put two coats on in an evening...with spray Deft I can often put three on. I do this for 2 consecutive nights, then I let the whole thing sit the following night. I may use this timing to build between 6 and 15 coats depending on how well the wood is taking to it. When I've gotten to where I'm satisfied with my lacquer, I give it at least an extra day or two to cure, then do a light buff. A few more days of rest and the pen should be ready for assembly. As you can tell, my lacquer finishes take from 1-2 weeks...except for Irish Bog Oak, which can take me three weeks or longer.

 

[alamocdc]

For lacquer like Deft, I apply coats like Cav, every half hour or so. Then I let it cure for at least 7 days during the cooler (& colder) months, and at least 5 days during warmer weather and not too much humidity. Sometimes I wait even longer, but these are the bottom lines. You'll know if you try to buff it out too soon.[]