Let's look at why most furniture when manufactured is sprayed with a lacquer finish.

Lacquer is a fast drying solvent based product, this allows manufacturers to reduce the amount of time needed to complete furniture. Lacquer has been used for over 2000 years in some form or another. It can be used to protect some metals like copper and brass as well. It is used indoors for the following reasons.

The biggest concern with lacquer is water resistence, whether hot or cold water. Various types of lacquer's can be used depending on the circumstances, there are catalyzed or non catalyzed lacquer's whether they are oil, acrylic or low VOC water based. Lacquer is used on interior wood surfaces.

Let's talk about the wood first, wood needs to breath, it is always moving back and forth depending on the temperature and humidity in the environment it is stored. Lacquer has pores which allow protection for the wood and also allow for movement of the wood. If you have ever seen wood that has been painted and you start to see hairline cracks and or flaking that is due to the movement of the wood, the paint when cured does not want to move like the wood does. Paints are improving however lacquer tends to not only stick better to the wood, it moves very well and lasts longer. I have seen lacquer applied to new wood furniture and after 30 years it is still in excellant shape. It is highly unlikely that paint would last that long.

Paint is also thicker and can tend to build up in corners and grooves leaving areas that are not even. Lacquer is sprayed on in coats that are 1-2 mil in thickness, the end thickness is usually 4-6 mils. This provides a great bond and the ability for the wood to still breath through the finish. The finish looks thinner and professional, more so then a spray painted paint finish.

Lacquer also bonds to itself better then paint bonds to paint. This is helpful when one wants to update a colour on a lacquer finish. Lacquer when applied over lacquer has a softening or melting ability that allows it to fuse itself better, this tends to lead to a stronger finish that moves together along with the wood. Paint tends to layer itself more, this requires more sanding and primers in order to get good adhesion. We use lacquer sealers in substitute for primer and lacquer replaces paint.

This is Why Lacquer is a better finish on interior wood furniture.