Replies

1. 
   HowardAcheson | May 04, 2009 08:00pm | #1

   What do you mean by Mohawk lacquer? Are you referring to their NC solvent lacquer or their waterborne lacquer?

   To answer your question, I would strongly suggest you contact Mohawk. Mixing finishes of different types from different manufacturers can be problematic.

   Howie.........
2. 
   SteveSchoene | May 04, 2009 08:03pm | #2

   I'm not sure I understand this.  Lacquer isn't supposed to need to "cure".  It is an evaporative finish that dries as the solvent evaporates.  I would have thought a week would be sufficient. 

   In general, if a finish has a problem--hasn't dried properly or been somehow damaged so that it isn't as hard as it should be, the problem will not be solved by putting more finish over it.  You would have to remove the defective finish before applying new finish.  Ordinarily the two varieties of NC lacquer ought to be compatible--it wouldn't be a problem if the original finish were behaving properly. 

   From what material was the bowl made?  By any chance was it plastic? 

1. 
   Toolfreak | May 04, 2009 08:14pm | #3

   It was a porcelain bowl, I was planning on either scuff sanding the original finish or try to take of as much of the clear coat without going into the stain and then try to put the finish back on. I would have assumed the Deft would be completely dry after a week so I am not sure what happened because it was a fresh quart of Deft that I bought. I can always strip the top again since it is a small table but I would like a finish to be harder than the Deft and Mohawk is available to me.

   Mike  - Toolfreak

1. 
   SteveSchoene | May 04, 2009 11:29pm | #4

   Tell us about the stain.  What was it? Who made it and which variety was it?  How did you apply it, and how long was it between the application of stain and the first lacquer coat?  Did you have to apply it heavily to get the color you wanted?  Is the table red oak, or white? 

1. 
   Toolfreak | May 04, 2009 11:36pm | #5

   Minwax Jacobean Oil based stain. Two light coats, left on 15 minutes, wiped it off, waited a day and repeated and the table was red oak. I let the table dry for a couple of days while I had other things to do, then I tac ragged it lightly and then I sprayed the Deft ( aerosol) and put on light coats and let it dry a day in between. Lightly sanded before each recoat and there was a total of 4 coats put on.

   Mike- Toolfreak

1. 
   SteveSchoene | May 05, 2009 04:25pm | #6

   Well, I am still perplexed.  With red oak it is possible for stain to retreat into the open pores and cure very slowly.  Perhaps that interacted with the lacquer, but several days should have been plenty of time before applying top coat assuming that it isn't trying to cure in rather cool spaces. 

   Lacquer thinner can attack other finishes below them but this would be lessened with the sprayed lacquer.  My best guess is that this is what has happened but I would have thought this would have been a problem you would have noticed with the first coat of lacquer.      

   Commercial tack rags sometimes carry contaminents to the surface so that is another faint possibility.  Certainly letting laquer dry for a day in between coats is fully ample, and since you were able to sand between coats it appears to have been drying.  So I don't know.

   I'd make contact with Deft.  Try to find a phone number.  E-mails to companies are notoriously un-answered. 

   Try this phone number 330 821-5500.  It is a number for Deft's Ohio office that is given as the place to write for technical support that I saw in a directory of corporate information online. 

   Edited 5/5/2009 9:50 am ET by SteveSchoene

2. 
   Toolfreak | May 06, 2009 04:09am | #7

   Thanks, I will give Deft a call and se what they can suggest I should do.

   Mike- Toolfreak

3. 
   Handrubbed | May 14, 2009 12:00am | #10

   I'm not sure about the wisdom of spraying Mohawk over Deft, but I can tell you for sure that Mohawk spray lacquer is a very hard, durable finish. I have never liked Deft lacquer, as it seems to be soft and prone to abrasion.
   Mohawk builds thickness better than other lacquers out there, which can be a plus or a minus. Another lacquer that is fine for small projects is Watco aerosol lacquer. It comes in three degrees of gloss and can be found in big box stores sometimes. I did not care for Minwax spray lacquer, as it did not level well. Mohawk is worth the extra cost.

4. 
   Toolfreak | May 14, 2009 04:24pm | #12

   I will go ahead and strip the top, if I want it to turn out correctly, might as well start over, not that big of a deal.

   Thanks,

   Mike- Toolfreak

3. 
   integrity_woodworks | May 11, 2009 07:51am | #8

   Toolfreak, It is likely the turpentine in the tack clothe!!!!!!!!!!! I have seen this many time one should never use a tack clothe with Lacquer.

1. 
   Toolfreak | May 13, 2009 11:25pm | #9

   What is the best way to wipe the dust off after I sand in between coats, I have always used tack rags.

   Thanks,

   Mike- Toolfreak

1. 
   integrity_woodworks | May 14, 2009 06:29am | #11

   with lacquer I prefer a cotton rag and lite compressed air ,Yes you can spray Mohawk lacquer over deft. but I wouldn't! I would at least strip the top of the table .Do you mean Nu-lac ,or Mohawks name brand lacquer?both could be applied,but the Nu-lac is a much better (more durable) product.

   Dan

1. 
   Toolfreak | May 14, 2009 04:26pm | #13

   I can find the Mohawk brand locally and I will try the cotton rag and compressed air. I am going to strip and finish it again so it can be done right and hopefully Mohawk will be better for all my future projects.

   Thanks,

   Mike- Toolfreak