Found a weird use for a hair dryer on a stubborn lacquer job

Had a piece with a milky haze that wouldn't buff out, so I hit it with low heat from about a foot away for 30 seconds. The clouding vanished completely, has anyone else had luck with this trick on solvent-based finishes?

3 comments

3 Comments

murphy.abby7d ago

Ever try it on a stubborn shellac? I had a patch that just wouldn't level, and a little warm air from the heat gun made it flow like magic.

harpery476d ago

So you're saying we should just ignore the science and go with magic?

jana_hart186d ago

That trick works because the heat drives off trapped moisture in the finish. Shellac is a different animal though, it's alcohol-based and dries by evaporation, not curing. A heat gun on shellac can actually re-melt it and cause more problems if you're not super careful.