Lacquer Or Polyurethane For Table Top: Key Differences Between Lacquer And Polyurethane

Polyurethane and lacquer are regarded as the two best & well-known wood finishes that can usually be used to add a smooth as well as a glossy coat to your furniture product, such as a table. Some of the other types of finishes include shellac and varnish. Polyurethane and lacquer are most of the time used correspondently & vice-versa mainly due to the reason that their identities can be very confusing. Polyurethane and lacquer are unique in many ways, however, one of the important differences is that polyurethane is usually an ingredient in certain alkyd varnishes, dries more slowly, and it cures. Lacquer dries by evaporation, & due to the reason that it dries rapidly, you can layer it on quickly in order to get an ultra-smooth finish on a tabletop.

Key Differences Between Lacquer And Polyurethane

If you are looking to give an exceptional finish to your furniture product including a table, then lacquer & polyurethane are considered two of the best to do this job. However, you have to select only one type of finish among them & in order to choose the one that suits best for your table, go through the below-mentioned important differences between the two, that will surely help you select the best finish for your product.

Quality

In spite of the fact that polyurethane is available in variances, it is more durable, which in turn means it can last for a longer period of time. Polyurethane is thick which will help give it a strong coating. On the other hand, lacquer is thin, which will help penetrate the wood surface. It is also long-lasting, however, it can be susceptible to scratches as well as discoloration after some time.

Ease Of Application

As you know polyurethane is thicker, therefore, you will need a brush in order to apply it to the wood surface. It is important to use a fine brush while applying polyurethane on the wood surface, otherwise, it is highly possible that there could be some brush marks on your surface. As far as the lacquer is concerned, you will need a high-volume low-pressure sprayer when it comes to spraying it on your target. It applies equivalently in spite of the fact if the spray is expensive as compared to the brush. So, in comparison, applying lacquer is easier than it is with polyurethane.

Dry Time

As far as drying time is concerned, polyurethane takes a much longer time to dry out. There are two types of polyurethane finishes, water-based & oil-based. The water-based polyurethane finish dries faster as compared to the oil-based polyurethane. However, when you compare the drying time of polyurethane with lacquer, then lacquer dries quickly, therefore, it is preferred by the majority of the woodworkers. Lacquer can dry within 10 minutes & on the other hand, polyurethane can take many hours to dry. Due to the reason that lacquer dries quicker, it is easy to apply multiple coats using lacquer in comparison to when using polyurethane.

Multiple Coats

Apply multiple coats is easier with lacquer. Polyurethane, on the other hand, needs more time for it to restore and then sanding for the multiple coats in order to adhere firmly.