Lacquer Finish on
Oak Wood

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Q:  We recently purchased a Broyhill Table made of distressed oak finished with Nitrocellulose Lacquer.  Within 10 days, we had water ring marks on the table.  I am a cautious person and never expected this to happen to a table that I thought to be of superior quality.  Is it common for this type of lacquer not to seal the top?

A:  Although nitrocellulose lacquers were used exclusively on high quality furniture in the past, it is rarely used as a furniture finish today.  Broyhill is a quality manufacturer and for them to use lacquer on the oak table indicates that it is a quality piece of furniture.  It adds more beauty than utility to the room.

Water spotting is common for nitrocellulose lacquer finishes and I sense you are a cautious person.  You may need to be extra cautious when serving liquid drinks.  One way to avoid the water spotting is to apply a coat of simonize auto paste wax to the surface and buff it with a soft T-shirt or diaper cloth.  If you use this treatment a couple times a year, you will enhance the beauty of the table and provide durability to the surface.

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