INDUSTRIAL FINISHING: WOOD LACQUERS AND VARNISHES Wood Gets All Lacquered Up LACQUERS AND VARNISHES HAVE BEEN USED TO FINISH, BEAUTIFY AND PROTECT WOODWORK FOR CENTURIES V arnishes provide a protective coating without changing the color of the surface: They are paints without pigment. A lacquer is a clear or colored coating that dries by solvent evaporation or through a curing process, and produces a hard, durable finish, in any sheen level from ultra matte to high gloss. In previous issues we reported that the first nitrocellulose lacquers appeared in the 19th century and provided a fast-drying, relatively durable finishing solution. In the recent past, a lacquer could be described as a thermoplastic resin in a fast-evaporating solvent blend that could easily be spray applied. These lacquers were easily softened by solvents and were very susceptible to yellowing from UV exposure. Due to these less than desirable traits, there has been great incentive to improve lacquer technology. Today, " lacquer " is used as more of an umbrella term that covers most acid-cured wood coatings including acrylic lacquers, pre-catalyzed and post-catalyzed lacquers November/December 2021 19