Can you get a good lacquer finish with a brush?

Whether you’re painting floors, tabletops, or bar tops, achieving a good lacquer finish is really important. Not only will it protect your surfaces for years to come, but it can also greatly improve the look of the finished product too.

There are a lot of misconceptions around lacquer and the best ways to apply it, so we’ve put together some tips and advice.

What are the advantages of a good lacquer finish?

First of all, lacquer dries really quickly. It’s usually dry to the touch in minutes and some dry fully within 15 minutes. This means that you can apply multiple coats very quickly - usually in the space of around an hour or so.

Lacquer is also really user friendly. It’s ready to use straight out of the container and doesn’t require any thinning to get started.

In fact, lacquer is thinner than other products are, which can help it to penetrate deeper into the surface to provide a durable seal. This also means that you can easily add layers without worrying about lots of build-up.

That said, two coats of lacquer is usually enough to provide a great finish that will last for years. It doesn’t tend to yellow over time like other products do either so will keep your surfaces looking fantastic for longer.

Plus, if you make a mistake then this is easily dealt with by using a little lacquer thinner to clean up any issues.

Brush or spray?

Lacquer can either be sprayed onto a surface (using pretty much any type of air equipment), or can be applied with a brush.

There’s nothing wrong with using a spray lacquer - in some cases it may even be easier - but we always recommend applying it with a brush.

Some people are hesitant around applying lacquer with a brush but there’s really no need to be. You can easily achieve a really professional finish when using a brush.

In fact, we’ve been in the industry for over 40 years and have recommended this technique to both professionals and non-professionals.

Part of the reason behind why lacquer is so easy to apply with a brush is its thickness. The thin formula makes application really easy and means that it won’t leave lots of brush marks behind.

Which type of brush is best?

There’s not really a right or wrong answer when it comes to which type of brush is best to use. It all really depends on how big the surface that you’re applying lacquer to is. 

We always recommend using our Eco brushes as they come in a variety of sizes, and feature a durable bamboo handle. Made in Britain, they also feature bristles made from recycled natural and synthetic materials and are designed to provide consistently excellent results.

Achieve the perfect lacquer finish with a Trade Coatings brush, or call us now on 01604 781880 for all bespoke coating requirements