Cloudy Lacquer

May 23, 2016 13 Replies

Had the dashboard wood on my old Rover refurbished at vast cost by a specialist just over a year ago. They re-veneered it due to the original being cracked as well as obviously new lacquer or whatever. And all of the four separate parts have gone cloudy.



What causes this?


IME, moisture. Is it kept in a dry/heated garage?

Inferior (water based) lacquer.

I vaguely remember that happening due to damp, and it reclearing once it dried out. Memory far from sure though.

NT

yes, its damp. its known as 'blooming' or 'blushing' , but it shouldn't happen once the lacquer has dried.

If it gets ok once the humidity drops, well ok, but if not contact the bloke who did it for you. It should never ever happen a year down the line, and I used to overspray a coat of clear polyurethane on cellulose to stop any issues with water absorption.

If the surface is just the cellulose, wiping thinners over it - acetone/nail varnish remover or MEK - whatever - get dope thinners from a model shop? may re-dissolve the cellulose and allow it to dry out clear.

I would be asking the expensive specialist.

The moisture has to be in the wood though under the glazed surface and I'd hope that those doing the refurbishment would dry out the wood before putting on the lacquer. Brian

I can usually make cloudy varnish clear again with T-Cut. But if it's 'inside' the varnish, then that isn't going to help.

You *think* you'll get an explanation from a company when they f**k up?

Ask them. If the response is unsatisfactory inform them that you'll seek advice from another 'specialist'. The law is on your side.

Toothpaste on a Dremel mop can work very well sometimes, follow up with a hard wax polish.

They have agreed to rectify them, as I hoped they would. But no explanation as to what caused it - which is why I asked here. After all, every single car has a high moisture content inside it at some point or another. If it didn't no need for a de-mister. ;-)

Well, that worked out fine then.

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