Before you can decide whether water based polyurethane or oil based polyurethane is best for your project, you need to define what you want the end result to look like and how you want it to perform. It is extremely hard to sand off by hand or with power sanders. Polyurethane and lacquer are two of the most popular finishes for wood. (Lacquer thinner often has ethanol as a dilutant.) Water-based finish goes by many names that may include the words "lacquer" or "polyurethane," but most use acrylic or acrylic/polyurethane resins in solvent and water. Share. However, each type of finish has a variety of pros and cons that you should consider to better determine which may be right for your application. 7 Best Wood Fillers Lacquer finishes are easier to apply than polyurethanes, as they can be a little bit more forgiving, particularly when brushing the lacquer. Catalyzed lacquer vs. polyurethane… CJH | Posted in Finishing on May 9, 2005 08:41am My wife collects orchids and we are getting ready to build some more birch cabinets to display them. Polyurethane. Lacquer vs Varnish. They are both relatively easy to apply and clean up. Epoxy is simply better for sealing wood. When it comes to woodworking projects, you have so many options and very few limitations. Epoxy Vs Lacquer: What’s better for wood? Polyurethane originally was an oil-based varnish with more plasticity than older varnishes or paints. Pin 1K. It is made from the dried secretions of the female Lac beetle. For indoor finishes that aren't being used as a commercial bar, and if you can spray it, lacquer wins. 1K Shares. Making the right choice will decide the project leads to completion successfully. Both finishes share similarities and differences that make them ideal for specific jobs. Polyurethane (PUR and PU) is a polymer composed of organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links. Pre-Catalyzed Lacquers vs. Polyurethane coating for furniture. What Is Polyurethane Varnish?. I heard poly turns yellow over time? Varnish vs. Lacquer. Enamel traditionally refers to oil-based paint which dries very hard and will not rewet. Once they are dried, collected, and processed, you can dissolve them in a solvent such as alcohol. It is used on guitar bodies and other musical instruments among other items. Unlike nitrocellulose, polyurethane won’t shave off with wear and heavy use. Overall, lacquer seems to have an edge over polyurethane due to the ease of application and shorter drying time. Lacquer and polyurethane are two of the most common finishes used for wooden furniture. They dry much faster and tend to show far fewer brush strokes. Polyurethane is a polymer material that has urethane linkages. Lacquer is a highly flammable finish when wet. Polyurethane is a highly durable finishing material that comes in high-gloss, gloss or matte finishes. Here is a comparison of these two products so that you will be able to make a fully informed decision as to which of the two to use on your next wood project. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. Polyurethane or Lacquer (close 2nd place) Best for Outdoors: Varnish-Spar Urethane-Detailed information on each Topcoat-SHELLAC: Shellac is a natural product. Lacquer is the clear winner here, with water-based lacquers drying lightning fast compared to the competition. By eliminating oil, and using acrylic and other clear resins, water-based finishes don't yellow as they age. Alkyd varnishes are a polyester resin that will adhere better and repair more easily. Lacquer. Lacquer, Varnish, Shellac, Conversion Varnish, and Polyurethane all serve to protect a wood product from water, heat, and other spills. Epoxy vs Polyurethane: Epoxy or epoxy resin is a class of polymer material that consists of epoxy functional groups. Once dry, many people would have difficulty determining whether the craftsman used a varnish or lacquer to seal the wood. Lacquer Vs Polyurethane: which should you use. Although they are both effective finishes, it is important to know the difference between lacquer vs. polyurethane. Second, polyurethane is not the best choice for painting over lacquer finishes. You might be scratching your head here, trying to figure out whether polyurethane is the right choice for your tabletop finish, especially with options like varnish and shellac available, as well – but rest assured you've made the right call: But each one has a specific purpose. Manufacturers make polyurethane from synthetic resins that are resistant to water and most solvents. While most polyurethanes are thermosetting polymers that do not melt when heated, thermoplastic polyurethanes are also available.. Polyurethane polymers are traditionally and most commonly formed by reacting a di- or triisocyanate with a polyol. There are many wood finishes available in the market but these lacquer and polyurethane are the most popular wood finishes and these are mostly used by the armature and seasoned woodworkers so much. Lacquer vs. Polyurethane . Instead, use an alkyd varnish. The modern lacquer of choice, polyurethane is an organic compound that is essentially a combination of large carbon based monomers. Let’s start with why you would use polyurethane in the first place vs. other types of wood finishes such as shellac, lacquer, varnish, etc. By applying a topcoat you can have a finished wood project that lasts for a long time to come. Polyurethane vs Varnish comparison. While lacquer finishes aren't quite as durable as polyurethanes, they are much easier to repair if any damage occurs. I feel like I should sand the lacquer down and give the polycrylic another shot. Polyurethane vs. Varnish vs. Shellac: Did You Pick the Right Finish? Share. But the lacquer over poly could have more immediate bad consequences as the solvents in the lacquer attack the varnish. Polyurethane will not bond or grip well with the lacquer and will peel off over time with general use. Polyacrylic has a relatively short surface drying time, but requires a minimum four hour wait, making both polycrylic and polyurethane a hard sell in a busy household. Varnish and lacquer are two very similar substances, and it is common to confuse the two. Poly guitar finishes are therefore much easier to use and quicker to apply. Polyurethane/acrylic lacquer is one of the toughest lacquers available. They could attack the shellac as well if that was used as an intermediate. Looking to get a high gloss finish. Whether you're getting ready to refinish your deck, your kitchen cabinets or your wood floors, it is crucial to use the correct finish for the job. This means that multiple layers of polyester or polyurethane aren’t necessary, unlike nitro finishes that require many. Lacquer is considered the best finish to use for wood because it’s durable and dries quickly. As polyester and polyurethane is based on synthetic resin, no solvents remain after their application to a surface; hardening completely. The Differences Between Shellac and Polyurethane, Varnish and Lacquer September 19, 2011 Shellac vs Polyurethane Dave Wood finishing, as its name suggests, is the last step in the process of repairing and refinishing furniture. Polyurethane is like a liquid plastic, often either a pure synthetic plastic or a blend with resin. So i have the clear satin lacquer spray, the clear gloss polycrylic, and also fast-drying clear satin polyurethane spray. Similarities . Read More: Polycrylic vs. Polyurethane: Which Is Better For You? You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. Prefer to stick with water based if possible but i really want what will look best. Email. coats. Also, polyurethane is the best choice when working on wood floors. I'm not sure if the satin finish simply looks more matte than I expected, humidity played a factor or it just didn't work with the polycrylic. For outdoor-grade furniture, or if you don't have a spray booth, polyurethane thinned to a wiping varnish, put on in several (3-5?) Redoing my heresys, lacquer or polyurethane? Updated Jan 03, ... Polyurethane finish is a brushable liquid that takes a … Let’s take a look at these factors. Pre-Catalyzed Lacquers vs. Polyurethane coatings for furniture Pre-catalyzed lacquers have been a great invention, they look great and are harder and tougher than regular lacquers, but they have some draw backs and aren’t always the solution to your finishing needs. Wood Finishes 101 – Polyurethane vs Varnish vs Lacquer vs Shellac. Thanks to its tight molecular structure, polyester has a solid content of +/- 96% which gives the product superior mechanical and chemical resistance, and limits the VOC content dispersed into the environment. For us, that’s an easy choice to make. However, there are distinct advantages to using each. It dries to a clear, almost indestructible plastic-like finish. Polyurethane is a water- or oil-based plastic resin used for coating wood or as a wood finish. Lacquer vs. polyurethane: Paint pros & cons to make informed decisions. It's faster, and is a pro-grade finish in two coats. Understand the differences between two popular wood finishes—polycrylic vs. polyurethane—to make the right choice for your furniture or flooring project. Polyester is a three-component paint that utilizes the resin + catalyst + accelerant. It benefits from being new technology designed, at least in part, for sealing as opposed to lacquer (or shellac, for that matter) which is what people used before there were labs to create perfectly tailored products. What kind of finish is Polyester? Polyurethane. Monomers: The monomers for epoxy resins are phenols and epichlorohydrin, but the monomers may vary depending on the type of epoxy resin. Polyurethane knows many applications, amongst others strong adhesives, synthetic fibers (Spandex) and varnish. Lacquer vs. polyurethane; If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. They both serve the purpose of coating wood to enhance its looks and protect it. Wood stains, a lso known as wood dyes are designed to change the colour of wood while leaving the grain still visible. Monomers: the monomers for epoxy resins are phenols and epichlorohydrin, but the lacquer attack the varnish the... 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