lakker

Lakker is an occupational term used in Dutch and Flemish contexts for a craftsman who applies lacquer or other protective coatings to surfaces. The word is formed from the verb lakken, meaning to lacquer, with the agent suffix -er, and the noun lak meaning lacquer or varnish.

In practice, a lakker may work in furniture making, cabinetmaking, shipbuilding, automotive refinishing, or industrial coatings. Key responsibilities include surface preparation (cleaning, sanding, filling), applying coatings (lacquer, varnish, polyurethane, shellac), and finishing steps such as curing, sanding between coats, and final polishing. The precise techniques and products vary by industry, with both water-based and solvent-based systems used, and with differing gloss levels and hardness requirements.

Historically, lakkers were part of craft trades and, in some regions, guild systems that managed standards and apprenticeship training. In contemporary settings, finishing lines and automated spray booths are common in larger operations, while skilled lakkers work in smaller workshops or restoration projects.

Safety and environmental considerations are important in the lakker’s work, due to exposure to solvents, dust, and fumes. Proper ventilation, personal protective equipment, and adherence to local regulations govern modern practice.

The term is mainly used in Dutch-speaking contexts; related English terms include painter, varnisher, or lacquerer, though these do not capture the full specificity of the Dutch occupational title.