A common finish for high-quality guitars, nitrocellulose lacquer is a significantly prevalent modern lacquer. The properties of nitrocellulose lacquer also make it a popular choice for the home-brew rocket community, where it is used to protect the black powder used in igniters. For this purpose, rocket hobbyists create nitrocellulose lacquer by dissolving ping pong balls in acetone. The industrial analog of this process requires the combination of fast-drying solvents, such as acetone, with cellulose pulp. This pulp is first processed with the addition of sulfuric or nitric acid to soften the fibers, enabling them to dissolve.
A clear lacquer preferred for light-colored and softer woods, such as ash and birch, acrylic lacquer is gaining in popularity. The majority of these lacquers are made from the combination of cellulose acetate butyrate and acrylic resin, causing these lacquers to be known as CAB acrylic lacquer. Acrylic resin is an industrial product derived from acrylic acid and methacrylic acid.
Popular in the industrial furniture and cabinet industry, catalyzed lacquer has recently gained favor among hobbyist woodworkers. Chemically similar to nitrocellulose lacquer, catalyzed lacquer is produced by combining nitrocellulose resins with resins derived from urea. To cure the lacquer, a chemical acid catalyst is combined with the lacquer. These lacquers are available in pre-catalyzed varieties, in which the lacquer is mixed with catalyst at the point of sale or in the factory, and post-catalyzed, in which the end-user mixes in the catalyst prior to use.
For most users, nitrocellulose lacquer is the most inexpensive and least time-consuming choice. This lacquer cures quickly and is considered to be durable. Unfortunately, nitrocellulose lacquer can crack and yellow over time. Acrylic lacquers are less brittle than nitrocellulose lacquers, but are generally more expensive and their flexibility can pose an issue in some uses. Catalyzed lacquers offer a compromise between the durable protection of nitrocellulose lacquers and the resistance to cracking and yellowing of acrylic lacquers. For hobbyists, however, catalyzed lacquers present the choice of needing to use an entire batch of pre-catalyzed lacquer before the end of its shelf life and taking a chance at properly mixing post-catalyzed lacquer.