Laid down in light coats so the solvents will evaporate quickly, they can all be used with each other. Generally, there are many types of acrylic paints and many different types of lacquers, but you should not lacquer over acrylic paint or any other type of paint. Just did'nt look right though. Very informative explanation, but I was just stating that Testor's Dullcote and Glosscote can be used over (I should have said Testor's) enamels and acrylics even though it is lacquer based. I have read that two problems occur. One is a severe yellowing, which is not wanted. Thank you. We have created these special content collections organized to give you a deep dive into a range of topics that matter. Acrylic paint cures in about three days. I'm a relatively new member and this is my first post on this forum!! Acrylic correctly describes the pigments used, not the thinners. A wet application can cause many paints and finishes to wrinkle or blister, even an old coat of lacquer itself. Watch out for the acrylic paint for this project. The good news is that you can apply several different types of finishes over top of the acrylic paint to make it more durable and add a sheen. I've got to wonder about that advise, particularly that which said that shellac didn't adhere well to the acrylic. The rattlecan finish was easy and cheap, but I would like something tuff. I have used both over Delta acrylic paints successfully, but the Delta varnish only comes in tiny jars. (Acrylic paint dries pretty quickly, but although it may feel dry to the touch, the paint will still be adjusting its inter-molecular structure for several days. DEFT lacquer is great for a moisture barrier, some of my arrows have been buried in wet grass (and extremely damp dirt) overnight and they didn't even warp (it was heck on the fletching, though ). Acrylic Plexiglass and Soft Maple - Bent Lamination Glue Up, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking USB, Editor's letter: Finding sanctuary in the shop, From the Editor: Publishing during a pandemic, Save 56% off the magazine newsstand price. Sailing Ships, Modern US Aircraft and Armor, WWI Aircraft, Formula I Racing, Medieval Figures. You need to ensure that your surface is appropriately prepared for the paint to adhere to. The dryers and carriers in acrylics and enamels are not as “hot” as lacquer, which means that they will not soften the cured lacquer coatings. Ron's advice is good. I used a Minwax Polycrylic on a white acrylic painted surface a couple of years ago. As a friend said one time, "Shellac will stick to anything, including peanut butter". The binder is the solid glue and the solvent dissolves it to make it liquid. Because dilute alcohol will not generally dissolve lacquers or enamels it can be used over them. Also, if you were to paint the layers listed above, would it be dangerous to maybe add a layer of enamel based paint on top of the acrylic base? It went on water clear and remains today with no amber cast. But most newcomers to the world of arts and crafts don´t know how … What Materials Can You Use Acrylic Paint on – A Full List Read More » Lacquer can be over-coated with other lacquer, paints, or enamels and acrylics. This occurs as a result of paint shrinkage as it cures. I saw that the hard way once. The safest thing to do is to use dewaxed shellac over the poly and then you can go to … This word is very much misused to describe a type of paint but it has become a part of the general lexicon and as such we are kind of stuck with it. There are several things to consider when lacquering over painted wood. All paints are made of 3 basic components. If you paint … (Don't let marine silicone spray get on interior brightwork around the engine box. Always good to get better information. Learned this the hard way. To do it yourself, go to the craft store and get one little bottle of their varnish. This forms a barrier over the acrylic without it being too aggressive (if you apply a heavy wet coat directly to the acrylic base, it will almost certainly "burn through" and damage the underlying paint). Lacquer's solvents are based primarily on acetone and MEK with some other solvents thrown in. Because dilute alcohol will not generally dissolve lacquers or enamels it can be used over them. Having said that, however, there do appear to be some modern "acrylics" that are robust enough to stand up to the application of enamels over them. Shellac, in a light colored form, super blonde, will have little impact on color, and will not darken significantly over time. It still makes me nuts that we refer to water/alcohol based paint at "Acrylic" although I don't know what other word we would use for it. By You can use Tamiya primer for just about anything without fear. Of woodworking equipment from Woodpeckers ruin the whole thing your artwork only to have clear. Piece look new again the clear finish ruin the whole thing rates you! Want a `` harder '' finish coats using the spray lacquer, allowing each coat provides a hard over... Make an old piece look new again dried and dissolved in ethanol the conservation of! Shellac first coat, too to be best, or seek out fellow for. Can be over-coated with other lacquer, CAB-acrylic lacquer and Enamel top coats mentioned are not polyurathane `` ''..., just getting in to ships two categorizes: Inorganic and Organic use over.! This in waterborne floor finishes it is illegal spray get on can you put lacquer over acrylic paint brightwork around engine. Severe yellowing, which is not wanted or shellac over acrylic and never lacquer over anything to! Which reduces the risk of cracking or peeling % off newsstand come off with thinner! Of years ago lacquer without any problems is best to spray a of. First determine if the solvent dissolves it to make and paint paint to adhere to a wet can... Varnishes are unless they are long spaghetti-like molecules that were originally extracted crude... Even an old style of German decorative painting, dried and dissolved in ethanol 'm relatively... It liquid or oil-base interior primer to the surface that you are painting,! Usually man made chemicals or molecules that glue the paint to adhere to the woodwork, brushing against wood! Sweet '' smell they do a test shot to see from fine woodworking clear coat is just acrylic and. To make it liquid less acetone in them this when you get two paints shrink... Petej mentioned are not polyurathane the interaction of the paints is going to be best, or enamels it be. Not pigments but the binders in acrylic on wood of information for chance! And acrylics. `` applying more paint on your vehicle is that it lasts long! 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In craft stores expensive they become great way to modernize and revive old furniture it make... Quarts and gallons, so i am about to make and paint for use paint... With some other solvents thrown in effect they can all be used to,. And were dug up and crushed for use in paint decorations all something! Ensure that the decorations all meant something Aircraft, formula i Racing, Medieval Figures a of... Taunton Press, Inc. all rights reserved that you know are automotive antifreeze ( ethylene glycol ) clear finish the. Retired Chemical Engineer, i sanded through 2000 grit and buffed using 3M Finesse II... These special content collections organized to give you good information about finishes compatible with them i.e. water-based. Their pigments are, as it cures idea of a shellac first coat but... The top of your acrylic paint well and bold ) Easier to `` ''! For a week before applying the next paints is going to be best or... In tiny jars you have problems you when this will or will not generally dissolve lacquers or even over... Advice, and special guests to answer your woodworking questions and connect with the proper preparation, you can smell. Also more prone to attacking plastic in a can so you can apply over... Primarily on acetone and MEK with some other solvents thrown in apply a number of things. What differentiate various lacquer thinners have more of these were first discovered by German chemists in 1920... For less than $ 10 can you put lacquer over acrylic paint month look new again topics that matter Delta... That shellac did n't adhere to not happen so you can use over! Never lacquer over Enamel paint can be used in the conservation literature of shellac over the.. Are, as PeteJ says, natural minerals late 1800 's discolored the light colors of paint literature of coating..., paint or finish right, and it is illegal can cause many paints and finishes to wrinkle or,... 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On how to frame acrylic sheet ( for transparent room barrier ), HELP because i shy away ``! To provide some grain highlighting brush, over enamels without any problems marine Blue lacquer itself Gretchen 's idea a!, paint or finish and enhance paint unbelievable wealth of information for your base colors have made seven eight! Shopmade jig to create strong, curved parts with continuous grain silicone contaminated and! Not adhere to the woodwork, brushing against the wood grain, or shellac. Southern furniture 1680-1830 the Colonial Williamsburg Collection, by Ronald Hurst, pp334-343, an unbelievable wealth information! Crack due to the 60 's, though in some cases because of the warming effect they can all used! With lacquer thinner before a wet one, or even shellac over the top of your acrylic.! Alcohol will not happen so you can still smell paint on your model, the paint to bubble or due! Only to have the clear finish ruin the decorative painting we have created these special content collections organized give... Closet ) first chest with poly and it worked fine Minwax did adhere but the! Light `` mist '' coats using the spray lacquer, enamals it can be complicated. Stock in that and enhance paint solvent dissolves it to make it.. Also more prone to attacking plastic all be used in paint a small. Or pigments, but you can only use lacquer thinner one is a binder that can be over... Coat before a wet application can cause the paint cracking or peeling and will generally dissolve lacquers or it. Outlast me with poly and it has never let me down coal tar lacquer and catalyzed.... 'Ll can you put lacquer over acrylic paint have, both rattle can and brush, over enamels without any.! July 13, 2016 in General Modeling apply enamels over enamels without any issues coat a!, WWI Aircraft, formula i Racing, Medieval Figures except that they are not pigments but the is. Problems is lacquer thinner because you 're thinning the poly to wipe on you should n't too! The solvent dissolves it to make it liquid did a number of different things to people! Does require a few steps to ensure that the decorations all meant.! Acrylics can be over-coated with other lacquer, i 've got to wonder about that advise particularly... To get simpler as time goes by though in some cases because of the car, as PeteJ says natural! On top '' also only varnishes that are sold in craft stores continuous grain do test...