Incidently, my 1951 Chevrolet (the only car I've ever owned) was painted with lacquer originally. That is strong stuff, though it tends to crackle eventually.

I have one positive thing to say about a finish retaining some of its original solvents. I wish that varnish and polyurathane retained their oils longer. New varnish and poly (less than 2 or 3 years old) can have water spilled on it with no problems. Once varnish gets old, it turns white from moisture, and is easily dissolved with mositure. I'm not sure about poly, as it hasn't been on the market long enough. Lacquer, which loses a lot of its solvents in a rather short time, though, is not at all problematic with moisture if kept glossy, so I guess retaining solvents isn't always necessary. When used on wood, however, which expands and contracts, it develops hairline cracks which allow water to absorb in.

I guess in the end it is just not a good idea to spill things onto an object which you like unless the object happens to be a well painted desk lamp which hasn't been bounced around much.

Thomas