Lacquer: nitrocellulose, pre-catalyzed and water-based
Lacquer dries fast. PPG’s ProLuxe (formerly Deft) brushing lacquer is a nitrocellulose lacquer that dries to the touch in 30 minutes and can be recoated in 2 hours at 77 °F; Minwax prints the same times for its Brushing Lacquer and says it needs no sanding between coats. PPG says not to use its brushing lacquer on floors or outdoors.
The name on the can does not always tell you the chemistry. Sherwin-Williams’ Hi-Bild Precat is a catalyzed spray lacquer for shops, ready to sand or recoat in 30–50 minutes. General Finishes’ Enduro Pre-Cat Lacquer, despite its name, is a water-based self-crosslinking acrylic, so it is listed with the water-based lacquers.
Nitrocellulose (brushing) lacquer
Nitrocellulose (brushing) lacquer: recoat across makers
2 h
span 2 h
Only two sources publish this: PPG (ProLuxe, formerly Deft) and Minwax (Sherwin-Williams)
Nitrocellulose (brushing) lacquer: coverage across makers
500 sq ft/gal
span 500–500 sq ft/gal, per coat
Only two sources publish this: PPG (ProLuxe, formerly Deft) and Minwax (Sherwin-Williams)
| Product | Touch-dry | Recoat | Use | Full cure | Coverage | Thinning and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProLuxe (Deft) Brushing Lacquer One source: PPG (ProLuxe, formerly Deft), the maker of that product | 30 min | 2 h | 24 hservice | — | up to 500 sq ft per gallon | Conditions: 77 °F, 50 % RH; apply at 50–90 °F.Nitrocellulose; 19 % volume solids; not for floors or exterior; clean up with lacquer thinner. |
| Minwax Brushing Lacquer One source: Minwax (Sherwin-Williams), the maker of that product | 30 min | 2 h | 24 hnormal use | — | 125 sq ft per quart | No sanding needed between coats; 3 coats, a fourth if desired. |
Pre-catalyzed lacquer (solvent-based, for spraying)
Pre-catalyzed lacquer (solvent-based: recoat across makers
Only one maker’s sheet so far, so no class value: see its own figure below.
Pre-catalyzed lacquer (solvent-based: coverage across makers
No maker we read prints a coverage.
| Product | Touch-dry | Recoat | Use | Full cure | Coverage | Thinning and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams Sher-Wood Hi-Bild Precat One source: Sherwin-Williams (industrial wood), the maker of that product | — | 30–50 min | — | — | — | Conditions: 77 °F.Dry to sand or recoat in 30–50 minutes; four-month pot life once catalyzed; a spray product for shops. |
Water-based lacquer
Water-based lacquer: recoat across makers
Only one maker’s sheet so far, so no class value: see its own figure below.
Water-based lacquer: coverage across makers
Only one maker prints a coverage, so no class value: see its own figure below.
| Product | Touch-dry | Recoat | Use | Full cure | Coverage | Thinning and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Finishes Enduro Pre-Cat Lacquer One source: General Finishes, the maker of that product | 10 min | 1 h | — | 21 days | up to 600 sq ft per gallon | Thinning: Water, GF Extender or GF Accelerator.Conditions: 70 °F, 50 % RH.Despite the name, a water-based self-crosslinking acrylic; touch-dry in 10 minutes; 23 % volume solids. |
| Target Coatings EM6000 One source: Target Coatings (EMTECH), the maker of that product | 25–30 min | — | — | — | — | Water-based acrylic spray lacquer; dry in 25–30 minutes at 3 mils wet; 24 % solids by weight. |
Compared with other finishes
Work it out for your project
Times are the makers' own at the temperature and humidity they name, and several of them say cooler, damper conditions slow their finishes. For how much to buy, the finish coverage calculator uses these same coverage figures. Every finish side by side: the finish dry time chart. What the federal rules say about finishes and food: food-contact finishes.
Elsewhere in finishing: shellac and the shellac cut calculator; for repairs before the finish, wood filler vs wood putty; and for the glue-up, wood glue types.