How to Lacquer a Table

Lacquer is a finishing product that is often used for wood furniture. It dries relatively quickly, sands easily and requires only four coats to protect a wood surface. Lacquer is typically sprayed onto a piece of furniture to achieve a flawless finish, but you can also brush it on if necessary. You can lacquer the surface of a table in a day, allowing you to get it back in the dining room quickly.

Plastic tarp
Soapy water and rag
Sandpaper
Tack cloth
Sprayable lacquer
Paint gun (optional)
Goggles
Respirator
Rubber gloves

Instructions

- 1
  Spread a large plastic tarp on the floor of a garage or covered outdoor area. If working in a garage, leave the door open for ventilation.
- 2
  Set the table onto the tarp.
- 3
  Wash the table thoroughly with soapy water to clean off any dirt or other surface debris. Allow it to dry.
- 4
  Sand the table's surface with 250-grit sandpaper to prepare it for lacquer.
- 5
  Wipe the sanded surface with a tack cloth to remove the sanding dust.
- 6
  Add sprayable lacquer into the paint reservoir of a spray gun. If you have lacquer that is already packaged in an aerosol can, you can skip this step.
- 7
  Spray a coat of lacquer onto the table surface, working in long stripes following the length of table. Overlap each pass slightly onto the one before it to ensure full coverage.
- 8
  Allow the lacquer to dry for the amount of time printed on the lacquer container.
- 9
  Sand the surface of the table with 250-grit sandpaper, then wipe it with a tack cloth to remove the dust.
- 10
  Apply three more coats of lacquer, drying and sanding each before adding the next.
- 11
  Allow the final coat of lacquer to dry completely. Do not sand it as this is the surface coat.

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