If you are looking to produce a glossy finish on wooden items, lacquer is always a great way to go. Lacquer is also a great way to protect wood from various forms of damage. That said, for the best result, you do need to use it properly. Providing it with enough time to dry is essential.
So, how long does lacquer take to dry?
How Long Does Lacquer Take to Dry?
One of the most convenient aspects of using lacquer on wood is the fact that it dries very quickly. This speedy drying is accomplished through solvent evaporation. The solvent contained in the substance evaporates, leaving just the resin behind, which becomes solid. For lacquer to totally dry, it will take just take five to ten minutes, depending on a variety of factors.
Do, however, keep in mind that drying and curing are not the same things. This is something that we will discuss later in the article.
6 Factors Affecting Lacquer Drying Time
Lacquer should be dry after about ten minutes, although there are some factors that will affect its drying time. To be specific, there are six factors that you need to be aware of.
1. Thickness of the Layer
How much lacquer you put on the wood is going to make a difference here. If you apply an extremely thin layer, it may take just two or three minutes to dry. However, a super thick layer of lacquer may take 10 to 15 minutes, or even longer, to dry. The amount of lacquer used will always make a difference in terms of drying time.
2. Surface in Question
Another thing that is going to make a difference here is the type of wood that you are putting the lacquer on. For instance, raw wood that has not yet been treated will allow the lacquer to absorb and dry much quicker.
On the other hand, if there is already some sort of finish on the wood, it will greatly increase the time needed for the lacquer to dry. This is also the case if you are putting on multiple layers of lacquer. If there is anything underneath, the next layer will take longer to dry.
3. Method of Application
Exactly how long lacquer takes to dry is also going to depend on the method of application. For instance, if you put the lacquer on and then wipe off the excess, it will dry relatively quickly.
Moreover, if you spray the lacquer on using a sprayer, it should also dry fairly quickly.
However, if you apply a relatively thick layer using a paintbrush, the lacquer is going to take much longer to dry. Brushing lacquer on almost always results in the longest drying time.
4. Type of Lacquer
The type of lacquer that you use, or in other words what the base is, will make a difference as well. Generally speaking, oil-based lacquer is going to take up to twice as long, if not longer to dry than water-based lacquer. However, oil-based lacquer is oftentimes much better for a variety of reasons.
5. Temperature and Humidity
Something else that will make a difference in terms of the drying time is the temperature, as well as humidity. Lacquer dries through a process of evaporation. Therefore, the drier the air is, the faster it will dry. Lacquer can take a very long time to dry in high humidity levels. As far as temperature is concerned, lacquer will dry much faster in higher temperatures than in colder temperatures, as the warmer temperatures will allow it to evaporate faster.
6. Airflow
The other thing to take into account here is airflow. Higher airflow generally means lower humidity levels, which therefore leads to a faster drying time.
Can the Lacquer Drying Process Be Sped Up?
It is technically possible to speed up the drying of lacquer, although you don’t want to speed it up too much.
If lacquer dries too quickly, you could end up with some unpredictable results. With that being said, if the conditions are very cold or humid, the best way to decrease lacquer drying time is to add a bit of acetone into it.
If you want your lacquer to dry faster, creating some airflow will help as well. A simple airfan will do the trick. Also, try to ensure that you don’t apply lacquer in cold conditions or humid conditions.
Something else that may help to decrease humidity is using a dehumidifier. If you want your lacquer to dry as quickly as possible, only apply an incredibly thin layer, and preferably do so with a paint sprayer.
Drying vs. Curing: Is a Lacquered Surface Ready to Use Once It’s Dry?
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, curing and drying are not the same things. Drying simply means that the solvents have begun to evaporate out of the surface and that it has begun to harden. The liquid film has turned solid.
However, curing is then the second phase, which takes much longer. This is when all residual solvents leave the film and the chemicals start to crosslink with each other and with the air around it, which develops strength, abrasion and chemical resistance, and general toughness.
Lacquer curing typically takes much longer than drying. It can take up to 21 days for water-based lacquer to cure, and 30 days for oil-based lacquer to cure. When lacquer is dry, an object can be used for light purposes. However, for the best results, you do want to wait for it to totally cure.
Summary
As you can see, lacquer is a very easy product to work with, mainly because it dries so quickly and can produce amazing results.
Depending on the type of finish you are doing, you might also want to read about how long paint takes to dry and how long wood stain takes to dry.