How to Apply Resin on Wicker Furniture

Resin is usually used in the making of wicker furniture, rather than as a topcoat application. Shellac is also a type of resin that is used in varnish, but used by itself, shellac resin will yellow your furniture. If you are trying to protect and seal your wicker furniture, try using lacquer or varnish. You can follow this up with a waxing to add extra protection, shine and durability so that if anything gets on the wicker, it will be easier to clean off.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tack cloth
• Drop cloth or newspapers
• Precatalyzed lacquer
• Wax
• Waxing cloth
• Buffing cloth

How to Apply a Protection Agent on Wicker Furniture

1. Use a matte finish, precatalyzed lacquer for your wicker furniture. Lacquer dries quickly and is more durable than varnish. Use a spray-on lacquer, rather than attempting the more difficult task of using a paintbrush with the lacquer.

2. Set out drop cloths or newspapers around your wicker furniture. Clean the wicker furniture well with a tack cloth before adding a coating. Test the spray can out to get comfortable with the best method to use to apply an even coating.

3. Cover the entire surface of the wicker furniture using horizontal strips. Start at the top and work from side to side until you reach the bottom. Hold the can 18 inches away from the furniture. Hold the can upright to give an even spray. Spray so that you are slightly overlapping each horizontal strip. Apply one thin layer. Allow the lacquer to dry for two full days. The lacquer will be dry within 30 minutes, but it needs 48 hours to cure.

4. Clean the furniture again with the tack cloth. Apply a second and third coat, leaving the furniture to dry for 48 hours for the second coat and four days for the third coat.

5. Apply the wax coating, then buff until you see a good shine on your wicker furniture.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use any number of different types of waxes, a paste wax will give the best results. Do not use nitrocellous lacquers. These will yellow over time and are not durable. Do not use CAB (butyrate) lacquers. Although these are more durable than their nitrocellous lacquers, they are still not durable enough to protect your wicker furniture.