Lacquer topcoat over GF gel stain ???

[wood2woodknot]

I have a recurring project where part of it is stained with GF gel coat and part of it is painted with acrylics. The GF directions say to use Arm-R-Seal for a topcoat. The acrylics call for a lacquer type top coat. Can I simplify the topcoat process by using rattle can lacquer over both sections? I don't like the results of using Arm-R-Seal over acrylics. Is the lacquer compatible with the gel coat? Or will I have problems?

[fredhargis]

You can always do a simple test, but I don't think you'll have any problems. I've used lacquer over other gel stains, and it worked just fine. The stain does need to be somewhat cured, maybe 48 hours or so.

[wood2woodknot]

Thanks. I already did a sample after the stain had dried maybe 5 or 6 hours. But I had no clue as to long term effects. These are for presents that I have to get in the mail in the next 10 days, so I wanted to hurry the completion as soon as I could. I should be in good shape then.

The directions from General Finishes obviously only touts using their own gel coat and Arm-R-Seal. I did have trouble with lacquer softening another finish on a Christmas project several years ago and did not want to revisit the frustrations.

[KLaz]

I recently tried Waterlox over GF gel stain and did not have the best results.  Seemed to want to lift the gel stain off the piece in certain areas.  Now I will say I only let the gel stain cure for about a day and a half so probably not long enough.  

But holy cow, the odor from Waterlox can be overwhelming

[Stwood_]

After a good gel coat cure, I don't see a problem with the lacquer top coat.