Sofia Martinez
Black lacquer furniture is known for its upscale and modern aesthetic, but it can be prone to scratches, chips, and stains. To refinish black plastic lacquer furniture, it is important to first repair any damage to the piece. This can be done by filling in scratches and chips with wax, shellac, or varnish, and removing stains with mineral spirits or a mild soap. Once the piece is repaired, it can be sanded down to create a smooth surface for the new finish. It is important to use the correct type of sandpaper and primer to ensure the desired finish, and to avoid getting the furniture wet during the process. After sanding, a few even coats of matching black lacquer can be applied. With proper care and maintenance, black lacquer furniture can maintain its sleek appearance for many years.
How to Refinish Black Lacquer Furniture
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Black lacquer, wax, shellac, varnish, primer surfacer, enamel-based paint, automotive-grade black wet sandpaper, water, rag, respirator |
| Tools | Soft cloth, soft cotton cloth, flannel, decorative cloth, runner, mild soap, wax stick, plastic paint scraper, absorbent cloth, mineral spirits, talcum powder, ammonia, linseed oil, rottenstone, liquid solvent-based wax, boiled linseed oil, turpentine, toothbrush, walnut oil, crayon, olive oil, mayonnaise, stripper, air spray equipment, spray can, sandpaper, grit sandpaper, lacquer thinner |
| Techniques | Wipe with a soft damp cloth, dust with long straight sweeps, use circular motions, fill in scratches and chips, apply lacquer or varnish, use automotive wax, sand, apply coats of paint, simulate antique or modern finish, use a distressed finish, use a flat finish, gloss urethane, wet-sand, repair joints, fill holes, use a matching black lacquer, use a precleaner, use automotive finishes, use car wax, use color-coded wax, use a wet finish wax |
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What You'll Learn
Cleaning and protecting black plastic lacquer furniture
Cleaning Black Lacquer Furniture:
Start by wiping down your furniture with a soft, damp cloth at least once a week. Ensure you use a cloth made of soft cotton or flannel, wrung of all moisture, to avoid scratching the surface. Avoid coarse fabrics or paper towels, as they can cause scratches. When dusting, use long, straight sweeps rather than circular motions to prevent wipe marks. After dusting, go over the furniture with a dry cloth. If fingerprints or smudges remain, use a mild soap, such as Murphy's Oil Soap, sparingly, as soap can leave streaks and weaken the finish over time. Avoid using heavy furniture polish, as it will have a similar streaking effect and may damage the finish.
Protecting Black Lacquer Furniture:
To protect your black lacquer furniture from scratches and chips, consider adding decorative cloths or runners to the surfaces of dressers or nightstands. Watch out for spills and clean them up immediately, as lacquer is prone to water damage. Regularly inspect your furniture for any scratches or chips, and address them promptly. For minor scratches, apply a good two-step car wax to reduce their appearance and protect the finish. You can also use a pre-cleaner to remove surface waxes and any oxidation on the top surface. For deeper scratches, use a cutting compound to remove some of the surfaces and even out the area, followed by a polishing compound and automotive wax. Alternatively, you can hire a professional for refinishing. If you have a piece with an Oriental design and mother-of-pearl inlay, be very careful when polishing to avoid damaging the intricate design.
Refinishing Black Lacquer Furniture:
If your black lacquer furniture has extensive scratches or chips, you may need to refinish it. Find a matching black lacquer and apply several even coats. Before applying the lacquer, fill in any scratches or chips with a wax stick, shellac, or varnish. With proper care and maintenance, your black lacquer furniture will maintain its sleek and shiny appearance for many years.
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Repairing scratches and chips
Identify the Scratch Type
Before attempting any repairs, it's crucial to determine the depth of the scratches. If the scratches are shallow and do not penetrate the finish, you can proceed with polishing and waxing. However, if the scratches are deeper and reach the base material, more extensive repair work is required.
Polishing and Waxing for Minor Scratches
For light scratches, start by using a fine polishing compound. Target Coatings' Menzerna Intensive Polish is a suitable option for non-professionals, as it is designed to be gentle yet effective. Apply the polish carefully, following the instructions on the product. If you are unsatisfied with the initial results, you can proceed to use a very fine paste made by the same company. After using the paste, remember to go over the area with the polish again.
To enhance the results and protect the surface, follow up with a two-step car wax. This will help to reduce the appearance of minor scratches and create a barrier to protect against future scratches. You can find suitable car wax products in the automotive section of your hardware store.
Sanding and Refinishing for Deeper Scratches
If the scratches are deeper and cannot be adequately addressed with polishing and waxing, you may need to consider sanding and refinishing the affected areas. This process is more intricate and may require professional assistance. Begin by using special sandpaper designed for wet use, with grits ranging from 600 to 1200. Carefully sand the scratched area to even out the surface.
After sanding, apply a cutting compound to further smooth out the surface. Following this, use a polishing compound to restore shine to the area. Finally, apply several hard coats of automotive wax to protect the repaired surface. This process can be done by hand or with the aid of a power polisher.
Filling Chips and Deep Scratches
For more extensive damage, such as chips or deep scratches that reach the base material, you will need to fill in these areas before applying a new coat of lacquer or varnish. This process may involve using a product like a "`Flo-Out` blender", which requires skill to apply evenly. Alternatively, you can use a wax stick, shellac, or even black nail polish to fill in the damaged areas.
Preventative Measures
To minimize future scratches and chips, it's important to properly care for your black plastic lacquer furniture. Avoid using coarse fabrics or paper towels, as they can cause scratching. Instead, opt for soft cotton or flannel cloths to wipe down the furniture. Clean spills immediately, and avoid getting the furniture excessively wet. Consider using decorative cloths or runners on surfaces that are frequently used to provide an extra layer of protection.
By following these instructions and taking proper care of your furniture, you can effectively repair scratches and chips on black plastic lacquer furniture, restoring its sleek and shiny appearance.
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Applying a distressed look
Before painting, prepare the surface of the furniture by lightly sanding it. If the piece has a previous finish, sand all surfaces thoroughly. After sanding, wipe the furniture with a tack cloth to remove any residue.
Now, you are ready to start painting. Apply the base coat colour of your choice. Once the base coat is dry, start sanding off areas that would typically show signs of wear and tear, such as places where hands would have held it or corners that could easily get nicked.
If you want the bare wood look, simply stop sanding before you go too far, and then wipe the piece with a tack cloth. For a layered paint effect, mix two colours and add an anti-foaming agent to the first batch, allowing the other colour to settle naturally. You can also use a foam roller for a smooth surface or a standard paintbrush for a traditional painted look.
If you want a coloured finish, rub candle wax on the areas where you want the base colour to show through. Then, paint over the base coat and the wax with your chosen colour. Once the paint is dry, rub steel wool over the waxed areas to reveal the base coat underneath. Finally, wipe off the piece with a tack cloth.
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Using wax to reduce scratches
While black plastic lacquer furniture can be refinished, it is a skilled, time-consuming, and tricky process. The finish on this type of furniture can be easily damaged, and black has a tendency to show any defects. To reduce scratches on black plastic lacquer furniture, you can use wax.
Firstly, you should be wiping your furniture down with a soft, damp cloth at least once a week. Be sure to only use soft cotton or flannel. Never use coarse fabrics or paper towels as they can cause scratching. Begin dusting the furniture in long, straight sweeps rather than a circular motion, which can leave wipe marks. Once dusting is complete, go back over the furniture with a dry cloth. If there are still fingerprints or smudges, it may be necessary to use a mild soap.
If your furniture has scratches, you can use a wax stick to fill them in before applying a lacquer or varnish. Small, shallow scratches can be removed by rubbing beeswax across the damage. When there are a lot of small scratches, buff them out with pumice and rottenstone and then polish with a coat of paste wax. For any smaller scratches that have nicked the wood, apply a coloured furniture polish and scratch-hiding polish to conceal the raw wood. Special soft-tip markers or wax filler sticks will also work.
Regularly maintaining two or three coats of wax on the surfaces that get the most use will also reduce wear on those areas by providing a hard wax barrier. A good two-step car wax will do a great deal to improve the appearance and both reduce and hide minor scratches. A pre-cleaner removes surface waxes and has a mild abrasive for removing any oxidization on the top surface. A colour-coded wax will also help, as will a 'wet finish' wax.
If the scratches are too deep, you may need to proceed with a cutting compound to remove some of the surfaces and even out the area. Special sandpaper designed to be used wet is also available in grits from 600 to 1200. This is followed by a polishing compound and topped off again with several hard coats of automotive wax.
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Spraying techniques for lacquer
Lacquer is a popular finish for wood grain, and spraying it on is more efficient than brushing because it dries quickly. You can use aerosol cans or spray guns, but the latter are better for large surfaces and can be purchased at a low cost.
If you are using a spray gun, you will need to mix your lacquer with a thinner before filling the gun. The ratio of lacquer to thinner will depend on your project, climate, and weather conditions. For instance, coloured lacquers may require equal parts thinner and lacquer, while clear lacquers use substantially less thinner.
Before spraying, create a safe, clean work area. Lacquer is highly flammable, so do not use it near open flames or heat sources. Inform others to keep themselves and pets away while spraying, as the mist is dangerous to breathe. If working indoors, clean the area of dust and bugs, which can become trapped in the lacquer as it dries. Cover surfaces with drop cloths or other protective coverings.
When spraying, keep the nozzle about 6 to 8 inches away from the surface. You don't want to be too close and apply so much lacquer that it runs, nor too far away that it dries in mid-air and creates a powdery film. Spray in consistent sprays, covering a given surface area before the lacquer dries.
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Frequently asked questions
First, make any necessary repairs to the piece of furniture. Then, sand the surface to remove any previous top coats. Next, apply two full coats of primer surfacer, let it dry, and sand the primer. Finally, apply your top colour coat, which should be enamel-based paint.
If the scratches are minor, you can polish them out with a cutting compound and then apply automotive wax. If the scratches are deeper, you may need to fill them in before applying a lacquer or varnish.
To clean black lacquer furniture, wipe it down with a soft, damp cloth at least once a week. Be sure to wipe up any spills immediately and avoid getting the furniture too wet. You can also use a mild soap, such as Murphy's Oil Soap, to remove fingerprints or smudges.
