lucindafan

Do not spray nitrocellulose lacquer into anything other than explosion proof fans, vapor resistant lighting etc. Nitrocellulose lacquer was developed after WWI because of all the raw material left over. Instead of weapons, chemists developed it for use in finishes. You may get away with it for a while but the one time you don't, I wouldn't want to be anywhere in the area. Also, the solvents are heavier than air so they go to the floor. A space heater is begging for trouble. Please be careful out there.

Acrylic is a plastic resin. It can be used in lacquer to make the working properties different from a nitrocellulose lacquer. It adds some durability and reduces yellowing over time. Acrylic can also be dispersed in water with some solvents making it possible for the tiny acrylic droplets to come together after the water (carrier) and solvents evaporate forming a film. (i.e. waterborne). The change to acrylic lacquer was brought on by the auto industry in the early 60's. Fender "custom" colors of the 50's and 60's were Dupont automotive lacquer.

There are dye powders you can buy and make your own liquid dye using the appropriate solvent. Water soluble are generally considered the most lightfast (keeping their color with exposure to UV rays over time). When you see a dye concentrate or a NGR dye, it is a water soluble dye first dissolved in glycol ether. That is a bridging solvent making two uncompatible things...compatible. Once it's dissolved in glycol ether it is reducible (thinnable) with alcohol. So it can be used in shellac, lacquer or waterbase coatings. So if it contians alcohol it doesn't necessarily mean it's an alcohol soluble dye. If it is sold as a non-grain raising dye or dye concentrate compatible with mulitple coatings it's as I described above.

You can get Lawrence McFadden 3651 gloss lacquer and compatible sealer from www.woodfinishingsupplies.com. If you want black paint and have access to a spray gun you can make your own using a compatible universal tinting color added to the clear lacquer to make a paint. If you add a dye like Behlen Solarlux it won't obscure the wood the way a pigmented colorant will. Good luck, hope this helps.