Water-based lacquer

Overview

The waterborne equivalent of a spray lacquer is an acrylic or acrylic-urethane dispersion that dries fast and cleans up with water. General Finishes' Enduro Pre-Cat Lacquer is a "self-crosslinking acrylic", spray only, which means it forms a film that hardens over time without a separate hardener. It is chosen where shops want low VOC and no amber tone. Note the name is borrowed: it does not dry by solvent evaporation the way a solvent lacquer does (see Nitrocellulose lacquer).

Pros

• Water-white and non-ambering per General Finishes (manufacturer), good over pale woods.
• Touch dry in 10+ minutes and recoat in 1+ hour on GF's sheet.
• Water-based, with VOC well below solvent lacquers (see below).
• VOC under 250 g/L (GF figure), well below solvent lacquers' federal limit of 680 g/L (40 CFR 59).
• Self-sealing per GF, so no separate sealer is required, though GF suggests its sanding sealer for faster build.

Cons

• GF itself rates durability "Medium" (Koenig hardness 130, Taber wear 94.2 mg loss, chemical resistance 89 of 105) and recommends its Enduro Clear Poly where higher durability is needed. These are the manufacturer's tests and scales.
• Spray only: GF lists it as not brushable.
• Full cure takes 21 days on GF's sheet, with 7 to 10 days to light use.
• GF recommends a minimum of 3 coats, and for faster build over raw wood its Sanding Sealer for the first 1 to 2 coats followed by 2 coats of the lacquer.
• Interior use only per GF.

Suitability

Good for interior furniture and cabinets, especially pale or painted work where yellowing would show: Soft maple, Hard maple, Eastern white pine. Not for exterior or for work needing high chemical resistance; step up to Waterborne acrylic and urethane-acrylic topcoats or Catalyzed polyurethane (2K).

Coats and application

GF's sheet for raw wood: sand no finer than 220 grit, remove dust, strain the finish, and spray a minimum of three coats at wet films of 3 to 5 mils with an HVLP tip of 1.1 to 1.3 mm (Spraying with HVLP). Thin with distilled water 5 to 10% if needed. Recoat after an hour or more; test dryness by sanding to a powder with a fine sponge. GF's other water-based sheets warn against steel wool, since particles trap in the film and rust. Example: stain, let it dry, three coats at about an hour apart, light 220 to 320 sponge between, and hold off on heavy use for 7 to 10 days.

Compatibility

• GF: let oil-based products dry 72+ hours before water-based topcoat, and water-based 24+ hours before oil-based topcoat.
• GF warns against using water-based products with linseed or Danish oils.
• GF cautions against clear coats over white or light paints, which may yellow or let tannin bleed.
• On pre-finished or sealed surfaces, GF says to scuff clean with a non-woven pad and a 50:50 denatured alcohol and water mix, dry 1 to 2 hours, sand lightly, and test for adhesion.

Care and repair

Wipe with a damp cloth; avoid commercial cleaners during the 21-day cure (GF). Scuff and recoat for repair. See Waterborne acrylic and urethane-acrylic topcoats for similar GF products.

Safety and environment

Low VOC (under 250 g/L per GF) and water clean-up. GF says to work in a well-ventilated space and wear a mask when spraying. No food-contact claim is made here. Mohawk's EnduraGreen page carries a California Prop 65 warning.

Related

• Nitrocellulose lacquer: solvent lacquer
• Waterborne acrylic and urethane-acrylic topcoats: brushable waterborne topcoats
• Catalyzed polyurethane (2K): harder waterborne option
• Water-based polyurethane: brush-on cousin
• Spraying with HVLP