A quick guide to furniture finishes

Lacquer, polyurethane and varnish are all readily available in satin, semi-gloss and gloss – but as furniture finishes, they have different benefits and disadvantages that you should consider. Here is a quick guide to the characteristics of different furniture finishes, as well as some advice on how to apply them.

• Acrylic varnish is a water soluble varnish.
• This kind of varnish usually leaves a genuinely clear, thin, hard film with no amber tones.
• It offers moderate resistance to wear and spills.
• Acrylic varnish is usually sold in a spray can.
• To apply this varnish, spray or, if necessary, brush on two or three thin coats.

• Oil-based varnishes need to be removed with mineral spirits.
• This varnish leaves a hard film with a warm, amber tone.
• It offers moderate to good resistance to wear and spills.
• Brush on two to three coats for regular applications, sanding between coats.
• Recoating with oil-based varnishes is easy but spot-repairs can be quite problematic.

• You'll need lacquer thinner to remove this kind of finish.
• Lacquer finishes leave a thin, hard film.
• These finishes offer very good resistance to spills and wear.
• This is the kind of finish you'll often see on commercial furniture.
• Usually you'll need professional equipment to spray on two or three coats of a lacquer finish.
• However, if you're using a slow-drying product, you can apply it with a brush.
• But, don't use a lacquer finish over top other finishes.

• You can remove Penetrating oil with Mineral spirits.
• These kinds of finish soak into wood fibres for a natural-looking finish.
• To apply this type of finish, you wipe or brush it on, then let stand for 30 minutes before rubbing it vigorously.
• Three coats are usually required.
• Be sure to wet-sand the surface before applying the third coat.

• You'll need to use turpentine or mineral spirits to remove polyurethane finishes.
• These finishes leave a very hard film with a warm, amber tone.
• Because this finish is so hard it offers excellent resistance to wear and spills.
• Brush on two coats to apply a polyurethane finish.
• But be sure to recoat within the specified time to maintain the look of your furniture.
• Spot-repairs of a polyurethane finish are tricky because it's such a hard finish.
• Make sure you don't use this kind of finish over top of a shellac.

• You'll need denatured alcohol, or ethanol to remove a white or orange shellac.
• A thin, lustrous film, that's either clear (white shellac) or amber-toned (orange shellac) is characteristic of this finish.
• Shellacs wear well but spills will usually leave a mark.
• Thankfully, though, spot-repairs are easily done.
• You can apply shellac with a brush in two or three thin coats.

Refer to this quick guide when you're choosing between furniture finishes and you'll be better able to choose the best for you.