The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
OIL VARNISH OVER OIL VARNISH
No coat other than oil varnish can be successfully used over a first coat of oil varnish. Of course paint or oil enamel can be used over a varnish coat, but this would be unnecessary, as a pigment undercoater would be the logical first coat for enamel. Shellac should not be used over oil varnish at any time.
LACQUER OVER LACQUER SEALERS
It is seldom proper to use any other material over lacquer, but finish up with lacquer instead for all coats. Of course if brushed, a pulling up of the first coat may result to some extent, and much care must be used in its application in this way, but if sprayed, you may be sure of a good application provided your air gun is in good working order and the pressure is correct. Varnish is often used over a first coat of lacquer sealer.
ENAMEL SECOND COAT
This material must be used over a good covering of undercoater to get good results. Two coats of a good undercoater and two coats of oil enamel will give an excellent job over close-grain woods. This should be used over birch, beech, gum or pine. Of course the enamel will not be the second coat if two coats of undercoater are used.
LACQUER ENAMEL COAT
There are a number of lacquers ground in pigment and some made from japan colors mixed with the lacquer, and these are known under different trade names which is quite confusing. Of course there is no law like the ruling of the Federal Trade Commission on shellac, saying that only such a material can be called "lacquer." Everything that has a nitro-cellulose ingredient is named as a lacquer and, of course, of many different formula?. It would seem that some difference should be noted between a clear, transparent product and the opaque product. The transparent is called clear lacquer, but the opaque one is known as lacquer enamel.
A lacquer enamel should not be used over any other coating than itself, a lacquer enamel undercoater or an oil base undercoater, and in this rule you will find satisfaction.
SPRAY APPLICATION OF SECOND COAT MATERIALS
Much care should be exercised in preparing the materials according to the directions on the packages before attempting to use them. The spray should be clean and adjusted to the right spray for the application of the material and this tested on a separate piece before proceeding.
