Thread: Lacquer spraying sequence

Gazza you're a brave man. Jumping into the deep end attempting to spray a cabinet as a first spray project. Lacquer spray finishes are fantastic, but even with years of experience, they can still be tricky, for me anyway.

A few recommendations....

. Read up all you can on spraying techniques and trouble shooting. Check the archives in this bulletin board. Also, contact your local Mirotone rep and have him e-mail to you a copy of their spraying guide. I got one from Mirotone in WA.

. Try to find someone who's experienced with spraying (furniture finishing shop, car repair shop) and ask to watch them. There is a technique to it. And vertical surfaces, edges, require care compared with flat table tops. Also gun settings (amount of air, amount of fluid, spray cone) have a big impact on the quality of finish. As can the air pressure from your compressor. You don't want it blasting out at 100 psi.

. Have a practice run on something other than your entertainment unit. Even if it's just sanded boards. Stand them vertical and get a sense of what it takes to get a nice even coat.

. Wear a respirator. Even if outside, you don't need to breath in all the fumes. And pick a day without flying bugs! They love to dive-bomb onto the workpiece just as you've finished.

Good luck with it.

Richard

One thing I've found with spraying inside of cabinets, leave the back off until you've coated the insides... saves getting blow back and it gives a more even coat.

fast drying lac is easy to spray, build it up with light coats and not heavy coats, on a large cabinet by the time you get to the end you can start on the next coat straight away. Do two coats at a time, four coats is plenty thickness.
overspray is a problem with fast lac, pays to have a well draughted/open area to avoid this other wise you end up with a dusty feeling to touch finish.

I'm still on a learning curve with the mirotone stuff as wee speak.
Make sure you have the appropriate stain for what you wnat to do.
I've just had the top coat pull almost all the stain out of a job I'm doing at the moment.
seems I have the incorrect stain for what I'm trying to do.
Do try out a test piece of the same material. Think about using one of the slower thinners. It will help you get arround the unit.

If it comes apart easily spray the bits seperately.

cheers

Originally Posted by soundman

I'm still on a learning curve with the mirotone stuff as wee speak.
Make sure you have the appropriate stain for what you wnat to do.
I've just had the top coat pull almost all the stain out of a job I'm doing at the moment.
seems I have the incorrect stain for what I'm trying to do.
Do try out a test piece of the same material.

Hi Soundman,

I am planning to use 30% Mirotone PC3220 Mirocat Clear pre-catalysed laquer
with the stain noted in the product sheet which is Mirostain 2013 Antique Baltic stain.

Did you use either of these products ?
Do you spray in a booth or outside ?
I am planning to spray outside as I don't have a boot.
Have you found the "dust free" time to be as short as what they claim ?

Thanks
Gary

After the OWE at the Major's early this year, I've been happily using NC lacquer: Mirotone 3210

I'm not sure, but I understand the main difference is that using Non Catalised stuff, successive coats build into the preceding ones (like using shellac) and this has certainly been a turning point for me in terms of getting a reasonable finish!

What preparation do you need between coats with the PC ones?

We need a comment from the Major!!

Cheers,

P

Well, thanks for the intro Midge

When I started to spray I went & had a chat with one of Mirotone's tech reps.
He advocated I use 3220, which I did. I wasn't happy with the results :mad:

I then went off to talk to a mate who is a furniture maker & asked him what he used. He was the gent who put me on to 3210 & I've had good results since.
Here is the product discription of both products;

MIROCAT PC 3220 Clear Lacquer

Description
A premier grade, high build, user friendly, precatalysed
clear lacquer used for fixture and furniture
finishing. Formulated to provide a full bodied grain
filling finish with excellent surface hardness, smooth
feel, mar resistance and minimum sink back
features. Contains ultraviolet light blocker’s to help
prevent premature substrate discolourisation.
Suitable for application as a Sealer-Topcoat over
timber or timber veneer. For interior use only.


MIROCAT PC 3210 CLEAR LACQUER

Description
A superior grade, high build, user friendly, single
pack, clear, pre-catalysed lacquer used for fixture
and furniture finishing. MIROCAT PC 3210 Clear
lacquer is formulated to provide a full bodied, grain
filling finish with superb surface hardness and
smooth feel plus exceptional flow and minimum sink
back features.

Hi Major,

Other than the UV light blocker and use a a self sealer there does not seem to be much difference between the 3220 & 3210.

I was going to use the 3220 because it is available in 4litre cans locally.

What was the problem you had with the 3220 ?

Do you know what is the main difference between the NC range of Nitrocelulose Laquer and the PC range of Pre-catalist laquers ?

The NC range are only available in 20litre drums locally.

Originally Posted by MajorPanic

Well, thanks for the intro Midge

When I started to spray I went & had a chat with one of Mirotone's tech reps.
He advocated I use 3220, which I did. I wasn't happy with the results :mad:

I then went off to talk to a mate who is a furniture maker & asked him what he used. He was the gent who put me on to 3210 & I've had good results since.
Here is the product discription of both products;

MIROCAT PC 3220 Clear Lacquer

Description
A premier grade, high build, user friendly, precatalysed
clear lacquer used for fixture and furniture
finishing. Formulated to provide a full bodied grain
filling finish with excellent surface hardness, smooth
feel, mar resistance and minimum sink back
features. Contains ultraviolet light blocker’s to help
prevent premature substrate discolourisation.
Suitable for application as a Sealer-Topcoat over
timber or timber veneer. For interior use only.


MIROCAT PC 3210 CLEAR LACQUER

Description
A superior grade, high build, user friendly, single
pack, clear, pre-catalysed lacquer used for fixture
and furniture finishing. MIROCAT PC 3210 Clear
lacquer is formulated to provide a full bodied, grain
filling finish with superb surface hardness and
smooth feel plus exceptional flow and minimum sink
back features.

From the above they both seem to be precatalysed. Now I'm more :confused: than ever. Somebody please shed some light as I want to use Nitro C finish on the next harp.

:confused: :confused: :confused:

This might help.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...highlight=Chux

Originally Posted by Gazza

Hi Major,

Other than the UV light blocker and use a a self sealer there does not seem to be much difference between the 3220 & 3210.

I was going to use the 3220 because it is available in 4litre cans locally.

What was the problem you had with the 3220 ?

Do you know what is the main difference between the NC range of Nitrocelulose Laquer and the PC range of Pre-catalist laquers ?

The NC range are only available in 20litre drums locally.

Hey Gazza,

I found that with 3220 there was a marked difference between coats & each coat needed very careful application.
Although the 3210 is a pre-cat lacquer it seems to behave more like a N/C finish. By this I mean it seems to 'melt' into the previous layer.
In short I found easier to use.
Have a read of the link to the other thread posted by . Between he & Shane Watson there is all the spray finishing knowledge you would need to know & they are only too happy to help!!!!!

I am trying to understand the difference between (NC) Nitro Cellulose and (PC) Pre-Catalyst Laquers.

From the Mirotone site:
(PC3210)
A superior grade, high build, user friendly, single
pack, clear, pre-catalysed lacquer used for fixture
and furniture finishing. MIROCAT PC 3210 Clear
lacquer is formulated to provide a full bodied, grain
filling finish with superb surface hardness and
smooth feel plus exceptional flow and minimum sink
back features.

(PC3220)
A premier grade, high build, user friendly, precatalysed
clear lacquer used for fixture and furniture
finishing. Formulated to provide a full bodied grain
filling finish with excellent surface hardness, smooth
feel, mar resistance and minimum sink back
features. Contains ultraviolet light blocker’s to help
prevent premature substrate discolourisation.
Suitable for application as a Sealer-Topcoat over
timber or timber veneer. For interior use only.

(NC3150)
A fast drying, single-pack, pigmented, nitrocellulose lacquer topcoat used for fixture and furniture finishing. MIROLAC NC 3150 Lacquer is formulated to provide a timber finish of high build and good durability with a smooth feel off the gun. Specifically formulated for use over MIROLAC NC 3130 Undercoat. For interior use only.

I STILL DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO USE
Is anyone able to give a definitive description of the differences and advantages/disadvantages over using a PC or NC laquer both in terms of ease of use and servicability.

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

After the OWE at the Major's early this year, I've been happily using NC lacquer: Mirotone 3210

Hi bitingmidge,

Can you please tell me what the shelf life of a can of PC3210 is after you have opened it ?

I have just read on a website that most pre-catalyst laquers only have a shelf life of up to 48hrs once the can has been opened.

Is this true ?
Could be expensive if so as the smallest can I can buy is 4 litres.

I don't know is the short answer.

My last can was open for about three months and had NO sign of deterioration.

The current one is about half full and two months or more and NO sign of a problem. I do give the thing a bit of a swirl to "wet" the seal after putting the lid on, but that's probably a bit of an old wive's tale as well.

Sounds to me like the advice relates to a two pack type of product?

Cheers,

P

Originally Posted by Gazza

I am trying to understand the difference between (NC) Nitro Cellulose and (PC) Pre-Catalyst Laquers.


I STILL DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO USE
Is anyone able to give a definitive description of the differences and advantages/disadvantages over using a PC or NC laquer both in terms of ease of use and servicability.

I am not 100% sure but:

I think that all lacquers denoted as nitro cellulose are quick drying using thinners as their base rather than an oil or turps based lacquer, varnish or polyurethane.

Pre cat is a one pot mix that relies on evaporation of the carrier to dry. Acid catylist or any others are a 2 pot mix that rely on a chemical reaction to dry.

2 pot mixes are generally harder wearing than single pot but require some skill in getting the mix right or you can end up with a horrible mess. DAMHIK.

Pre cat is easier to use in as much that you open the can, put it in a gun and spray it basically.