On the bright side, polyurethane adheres well to most surfaces and can be applied over oil-based coats. It's all subjective. Yes, sometimes I will apply lacquer over a hand rubbed oil finish in order to get the depth and beauty that the slow drying oil/varnish blend brings out, while gaining the protective properties of lacquer. It also can go over oil-based finishes and can be applied using synthetic-bristle brushes, a foam roller or a rag, as can other water-based polyurethanes. OldDupontGuy. One word of caution – read the label carefully and follow the specific instructions. Also, can you coat polyurethane? Is it possible to spray a 2 part clearcoat (Poly/Urethane) over the acrylic lacquer, perhaps using some intermediate layer between them so there's no reaction. View Entire Discussion (6 Comments) More posts from the DIY community . Can you use polyurethane over lacquer on kitchen cabinets? Wiki User Answered . The thing about varnishing over wax is that wax is slippery old stuff and it takes an age to fully cure. Minwax Polycrylic is junk, in my humble opinion. The original cabinets have lacquer on them....well dried and well adhered. Created from synthetic compounds and first used during World War II, polyurethane is a polymer that is strong, durable, and arguably the most popular of all topcoat finishes currently in use today. Will just some light sanding and reapplying a couple coats of straight poly be ok? You can choose from polyurethane, lacquer, shellac, or even varnish. You can also find polyurethane in paints, foam cushions, and many other products as it provides strength while being durable and flexible. woodworking. Answered. Last time I used Rust-Oleum water-based matte polyurethane. Lacquer vs. Polyurethane. Also, do you want to keep the bench outside after this? Posted by 3 days ago. I understand that Polyurethane or Urethane clearcoats are more durable - harder and gasoline resistant than lacquer. I proceed in the usual manner of sanding the wood to 320, then applying the General Finishes Seal a Cell as the first coat. Poly, lacquer, waterbased poly…. In contrast, woodworking is physics. You can add additional coats later to even out the finish as needed. It will leave a sticky mess which won't every really dry. Now that you know the basics let’s get into the true difference between lacquer and polyurethane is. You can either use a vinyl sealer or dewaxed shellac as the barrier coat. Use a bristle brush, preferably of high-quality natural bristles, to apply the lacquer. Some people like that and others don't. It can also be a fossilized resin such as amber or copal or Kauri gum (fossilized Kauri tree gum found in New Zeland and similar to amber.) Polyurethane is a more durable coating. A dust mask will not protect you from the vapors of lacquer. Simply so, can lacquer be sprayed over polyurethane? Polyurethane varnish is one of the best finishes for a countertop-- it's durable and, when applied properly, can be just as subtle as lacquer. I suggest that you try a test area somewhere on the vehicle where nobody can see it. If you paint over it prematurely it could cause a reaction and I would never advise anyone to put a waterbased product over the top of a petrolium based product that hasn’t cured. Polyurethane varnish is one of the best finishes for a countertop-- it's durable and, when applied properly, can be just as subtle as lacquer. Lacquer has a high VOC (volatile organic compound) content, which makes it dangerous to use without a respirator that has an organic vapor cartridge. Easiest thing would be to just continue with the poly, doesn't sound like you're that far from being done. It is appropriate that you remove all the traces of grease on the oil-based finish using the procedures highlighted earlier on in this article. Subsequently, question is, can you put polyurethane on countertops? You can never reconstitute polyurethane once it has hardened. Top Answer. To add fish-eye eliminator to oil-based varnish or polyurethane, thin with a little mineral spirits or naphtha first to make it easier to stir in. Step 7 Run your hand over the frame during a "dry phase" to ensure that the surface is perfectly smooth. Oil based poly offers more colour depth and shine. It will be an adhesion problem. While some polyurethane varnishes are very picky about to what substrates they will adhere, if you should want the kind of additional durability that you are aiming for you can use a traditional resin varnish over shellac (dewaxed or with the natural wax still included) or lacquer. 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