Deft Lacquer

[TAIrving]

Several of our members say they use Deft gloss lacquer to finish their products.  I am interested and would like to try this myself.  I can find images of it in a spray can, see attached, but I cannot find where to buy it.

Where do you get it in a spray can?  Or do you get the wiping lacquer (not spray can)?

I can find Deft lacquer in a spray can as sanding sealer or even water-based gloss.  And I can find other brands of gloss lacquer in a spray can.  But I don't seem to be able to find Deft gloss lacquer, not water-based, in a spray can.  

What am I missing?  

[dgman]

That is what I used to use, but has become hard to find. You can get it on Amazon but is very expensive there. I have been using Minwax spray lacquer lately. It actually works better than the Deft Lacquer, in my opinion. I can find the Minwax spray Lacquer at lowes, but that doesn’t mean they carry it at your local Lowes.

BTW, I like the semi gloss as I don’t like too shiny.

[Scrappile]

It is my main finish for everything.. I get it from my local Home Depot.  But I under stand it is not available in all of the U.S,. for some reason, well I understand why it is not available in California, but I am not sure Cali is still part of the US.. Sorry @OCtoolguy ! but truth is truth... I worry that I may lose access to it so when available I purchase as many cans as I can afford at the time.  It is a great product. The can you show is what I buy, and I use simi-gloss the most.  If it is legal I would purchase some and send it to you at your expense, of coarse,  if it is not legal, I would try to send it to you anyway.. I care not care  about state's stupid laws anymore.  There are so many it is hard to breathe anymore.  So either fight your states stupid laws or, go "breaking bad" like me and live on the edge!  I am 79 what does it matter.  Just having fun,, but really what doe it matter.  Come and get me.. I  an armed and some what dangerous! 

[OCtoolguy]

Paul, I have to agree with you on all counts. I have purchased Deft but it's been a while. I bought it at our local Ace store but the last time I tried to buy more, they no longer carried it. I'm not sure what to suggest. I don't know if it has anything to do with state regs but I wouldn't be surprised. Things just keep getting worse here in the "people's republic" but we learn to go with the flow. There is always a way around it. I recently wanted to replace the shower head in our shower. I found the perfect head but it wasn't available in California. So, I had Amazon ship it to my son in Tennessee and he shipped it back to me. As I said, there are ways to fight the bureaucracy (sp?).

 

[dgman]

1 hour ago, OCtoolguy said:

Paul, I have to agree with you on all counts. I have purchased Deft but it's been a while. I bought it at our local Ace store but the last time I tried to buy more, they no longer carried it. I'm not sure what to suggest. I don't know if it has anything to do with state regs but I wouldn't be surprised. Things just keep getting worse here in the "people's republic" but we learn to go with the flow. There is always a way around it. I recently wanted to replace the shower head in our shower. I found the perfect head but it wasn't available in California. So, I had Amazon ship it to my son in Tennessee and he shipped it back to me. As I said, there are ways to fight the bureaucracy (sp?).

 

It has nothing to do with California regulations. It has to do with with politics between big Orange and big Blue and the manufacturers of the products. When Lowes stopped carrying it I asked the manager why. He said the parent co. Of Deft was no longer being sold at their stores. I don’t remember who the parent co is, but Lowes no longer carries their products.Home Depot no longer caries Minwax products, but Lowes dose. Therefore, you can get the Minwax lacquer at Lowes, at least in So, California. You two always finds the worst in this state!

[Tom-in-Ashland]

The vapors of lacquer solvent is very toxic. That may be related to its lack of availability.  And it is very flammable. 

[ChelCass]

Walmart has the spray Deft on its website for 18.61 a can. Might be worth checking out.

[Bill WIlson]

12 hours ago, Tom-in-Ashland said:

The vapors of lacquer solvent is very toxic. That may be related to its lack of availability.  And it is very flammable. 

When I worked as a carpenter, a whole lifetime ago, we used Deft brushing lacquer on all the interior doors and trim in the houses we built.  It's a fine finish.  I have never been able to use it in my shop, because of the fumes.  They bother me more than any other chemical I've ever used and I'm not particularly sensitive to such things.  My wife absolutely can't stand it.  So that relegates it to being applied outside, which often isn't feasible in this neck of the woods.  I haven't used it in 35-40 years and frankly have no idea if anyone carries it locally or not.  I have seen Minwax brushing lacquer at the local Lowes.  Never tried it though.

[TAIrving]

Thanks for all your insights, comments and suggestions.  Paul @Scrappile, thanks but do not ship any to me, I will struggle and manage to get by with other brands of the stuff.  Judy @ChelCass when I look at the Walmart website, I only see the semi-gloss and matte varieties of Deft spray lacquer and their sanding sealer, but not the gloss.  Maybe it is just not allowed here in the republic of Texas.  We are working on catching up with the republic of California (this editorial comment provided for Ray @OCtoolguy) but we still have a bit of catching up to do.  I see the same items on A***zon that are listed on the Walmart site.

It IS listed on the Ace Hardware website!  However, the website goes on to say that it is not available at my local Ace Hardware store or any nearby.  And it (the website) will not allow me to add this item to my shopping cart.   

[OCtoolguy]

14 hours ago, dgman said:

It has nothing to do with California regulations. It has to do with with politics between big Orange and big Blue and the manufacturers of the products. When Lowes stopped carrying it I asked the manager why. He said the parent co. Of Deft was no longer being sold at their stores. I don’t remember who the parent co is, but Lowes no longer carries their products.Home Depot no longer caries Minwax products, but Lowes dose. Therefore, you can get the Minwax lacquer at Lowes, at least in So, California. You two always finds the worst in this state!

You are right Dan. And they (the state government) keep adding more and more silly regs. We can only pray they see the error of their ways at some point. As for Deft, why doesn't one or the other sell it? Seems strange that neither wants to sell a great product. 

[kmmcrafts]

My local Menards have it.. I used to see it everywhere but it is harder to find the last few years. I've been using the Watco lacquer and been plenty satisfied with it as well. It's been 20 years since I've used Deft so I don't know how different it is from any of the other Lacquers out there... I like how fast Lacquer dries but I do hate the smell of it.. For several years I've been using the water base Poly but as of recently the cans seem to spit rather than spray.. even though I shake them up real well. Probably has to do with the colder temps but recently I switched to the Watco Lacquer.  

[OCtoolguy]

I just got back from a run to the local Ace store. While there I had a chance to speak with the owner. I started by saying "a couple of years ago I bought a can of Deft clear laquer from you." Before I could pose the question he came back with "yeah, but California banned it for who knows why!" So that sort of explains it. Sad! Another great product down the tubes.

[Jim McDonald]

The reason a lot of websites won't allow it in your cart is the labeling and associated costs of shipping a flammable aerosol. 

The cost of shipping doubles or triples. (plus keeping track of which agencies have banned it)

Edited January 23, 2023 by Jim McDonald

[Jim Finn]

I use an acrylic finish available on Amazon or even at Walmart.  "Triple thick finish" from Krylon.  Lowes also carries it, as does Home Depot.  Give it a try , much cheaper than Deft.

[TAIrving]

Happy times!  They recently opened a new Ace Hardware store within reasonable driving distance.  I talked to the owner and they got it for me, Deft gloss spray lacquer!  

[Gene Howe]

On 1/21/2023 at 5:23 PM, Scrappile said:

  So either fight your states stupid laws or, go "breaking bad" like me and live on the edge!  I am 79 what does it matter.  Just having fun,, but really what doe it matter.  Come and get me.. I  an armed and some what dangerous! 

I'm not a rule follower, either. At our age, a life sentence don't mean a whole helluva lot.