Spraying lacquer??

[sam4msu]

I just got an HVLP sprayer and wanted to try my hand at spraying lacquer. I was looking at Deft and noticed that it says in BOLD letters not to be thinned or sprayed...What is the reason for this? What is a good brand of lacquer to use for woodworking. I happen to work for Lowe's and this is all we carry. The answer would not only help me personally, but also professionally.
Thanks

 

[jeffj13]

I don't know why they put that on their cans, but I have thinned it and sprayed it with good results.

jeff

 

[Firefyter-emt]

I use the spray can with great results. I do get many pens out of a can too. Unless you are doing a lot of pens it is much simpler to use the spray can. HVLP is nice, but I personaly think that you may spray more in the air unless you are using a "jamming gun" (bigger than an airbrush, smaller than a normal guy)

 

[sam4msu]

Jeff, how much do you thin it? I was thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of 25% thinner?

Thanks
Sam

 

[woodman928]

Dont thin Deft its thin enough right out of the can. I have sprayed a lot of it in a small HVLP touch up gun on my Street Organs and it works fine. [^]
Jay

 

[jeffj13]

I thin to about 80/20, lacquer to thinner. I use an airbrush, so there is virtually no overspray.

For those of you using a rattle can, if you have a compressor I'd recommend getting an airbrush. They cost about $6 at HF. You'll more than save that very quickly.


jeff

 

[Rifleman1776]

They may just be trying to sell you their product in spray cans. Which is not a bad thing. Deft spray laquer is my standard finish and I am well pleased with it.

 

[hanau]

they put not to spray or thin on the cans because of the epa,(think California laws) but you can spray it right out of the can. This what was told to me by a guy at woodcraft.

I have sprayed it out of an hvlp.

 

[dbriski]

I used their Water based Clear Wood Finish last night on a flat project, all the stats are the same vs the solvent based, 2hr recoat time, no sanding betten coats necessary, but water cleanup. I used brush and it went on nicely and evened out very well with no brush marks, but my skill at it sucks so I got lots of drips and sags. (this was Wednesday). I took the same stuff dumped it into my HVLP conversion gun and witha little adjustment I got a great coat no thinning necessary.

Also I think they say don't think it /spray it is because the formulated it for brushing so takes longer to cure so the brush marks flatten out and you would get better results with a spraying lacqur due to quicker drying times keeping out dust and such, although I don't think that really applys to the small scale of the pens.