Heads up about that new 'fast dry' lacquer from the big box store

Honestly, I grabbed a can of that 'Pro Dry' spray lacquer last week for a quick chair touch-up. Ngl, it went on smooth and dried in 20 minutes like it said. But two days later, the finish was so soft you could leave a mark with your fingernail. I ended up having to strip the whole seat and redo it with my usual brand. Has anyone else run into this with the newer fast-dry stuff? I'm wondering if it just needs way longer to fully cure than they claim.

3 comments

3 Comments

faith_king2mo ago

Used to swear by those fast dry labels for saving time on small jobs. Your experience with the soft finish lines up with a shelf I did last month, same brand. It seems like the top layer sets fast but the stuff underneath stays gummy for days. Now I just plan for the longer cure time of the old reliable stuff, even if it means the project sits overnight.

gavinb972mo ago

A thin coat fixes that gummy layer every time.

julia5492mo ago

Ugh, been there! I've found a hair dryer on low helps speed up that under layer without messing up the top.