Waterborne Finishes

[Robert Gleason]

Any of you out there trying waterborne finishes? After 40 years or so of spraying nitro, I'm trying to see if I can convert to waterborne. It ain't easy. What I know about spraying nitro has not prepared me for waterbase. I am currently , for more than a month of testing everyday, trying a Crystal Lac product called Brite Tone. I don't know if you have it there. I'm just testing the water here. No use getting into the mirage of issues that I've encountered if there is no audience. -Bob

[kiwigeo]

I'm interested....

Steve Toscano has used Brite Tone: http://www.anzlf.com/viewtopic.php?t=8746

[peter.coombe]

I use Target Coatings EM2000 on mandolins and also on guitars. Have been using it or it's previous equivalent hybrid varnish on mandolins for around 25 years. On guitars I started using nitro, but switched to EM2000. I changed to EM2000 on guitars after I exhibited at the NFF and got so many positive comments on a guitar finished with EM2000. The guitar was finished with EM2000 only because I ran out of nitro and did not have enough time to order in more nitro. It sat between two guitars finished with nitro yet all the positive comments about the finish was for the EM2000. So, now no more stinky nitro. EM2000 has very little odour, you don't need to worry about high humidity, just make sure the temperature is more than 10deg and less than 30deg. I brush it, so none of the spray worries, but it can be sprayed if that is what you want to do. Note, however that it is not as hard as nitro, but is more flexible. I think it gives a slightly warmer and "looser" sound than nitro, but the difference is small. It is not a water white finish, it will develop a light amber tint with age that gives the instrument a lovely warm vintage glow that I really like. Only real disadvantage is that it is not available locally and the manufacturer won't ship international. I get it through shipito.com and the shipping is expensive, but I would not use anything else so the cost is worth it. Brushing it on and a quart lasts me about 12 months. StewMac used to stock it, but not now.

I have documented my method and it was published in the journal of AAMIM that is now sadly defunct, but it is available on my web site. Note that the product formulation has been changed since I wrote the article so do read the notes at the end. It is now harder, longer shelf life, and dries quicker, so arguably is better. You can re-coat in 1/2 - 3/4hr depending on weather conditions.

See - https://petercoombe.com/publications/jaamim11.htm