Anybody tried water based shellac or lacquer?
Quickstep
| Posted in General Discussion on
I’m interested in trying the latest generation of water based shellac and lacquer, but like most people, my experience with the previous generation was less than ideal. The folks that sell KTM and Target coatings speak well of them, but the folks on some of the other forums I visit say that the technology hasn’t advanced enough. Their complaints seem to revolve around how the stuff “behaves” talking about burn in and rubbing out. Anybody here have any experiences to share?
Replies
1. Don't try to carry over your knowledge of solvent based varnishes. There's a new learning curve.
2. "Glossy" isn't really - best you'll get is satin.
3. You won't get a colour change. The WB lacquers will not impart a richness to the wood. OTOH sometimes this is what you may want.
4. The white-when-wet appearance is disconcerting, you have to get used to it.
5. Brush selection is important. Use synthetic bristles or foam. The wrong brush will create a lot of bubbles.
6. Apply very slowly, even slower than solvent based lacquer on an heirloom piece.
7. The stuff dries fast but don't rush the next coat.
My personal view is that WB are not suitable for everything but I use them where possible. They are less messy, faster drying, not so sensitive to humidity and much more pleasant to use.
Expect a barrage of contrary opinions :-)
Limited experience here, but impressed
I have not tried water based shellac, because solvent based shellac is almost perfect and see no need to change.
On the other hand solvent based lacquer has several drawbacks from my standpoint; flammability when sprayed, some what difficult to brush and a noxious odor.
I have only used Target's Ultima Spray Lacquer (USL) which now goes by the name EM6000 . I'm very impressed with it. I'm not what you'd call a competent sprayer, but the USL makes me look like I am. There is almost no odor, and what there is, is not bothersome, and of course it is not flammable. It has excellent clarity, and is not "cold" like other water based finishes I have seen. What I really like is its ability to produce almost any sheen from a deep wet gloss, to a satin sheen. It is the rubbing out that stands out. After a few days drying time, the lacquer can be rubbed out with unsurpassed ease.
On the downside, I don't think it burns in like a solvent based lacquer, but since the lacquer levels so well, this isn't much of an issue. The sanding slurry has to be cleaned up while wet because if allowed to dry, it will adhere with a surprising tenacity.
Rob Millard
http://www.americanfederalperiod.com
http://www.rlmillard.typepad.com
on target
My experience with Target's products is similar to that of Rob. I like the lacquer very much and find that the gloss is truly a gloss. In addition I've used the water based shellac and find it also to be a good product. It tends to raise grain a bit but sands so easily after one coat then leaves such a smooth surface that I simply think of it as an asset.
All that said, one's like or dislike of a finish is really subjective. The products deserve a trial by all serious finishers. It's a good feeling to have another layer of knowledge under one's belt.
Both Target and General Finishes make excellent products. They do not "burn in" like nitrocellulose but NC has faults of its own. Some WB products are "water white" so they do not impart an amber tone, some do. There is a wide variety of products with differing characteristics and best application methods. Some brush well, some may wipe well, some spray well, . . . Some are more durable than others, but I've found many spray pretty well and sand easily between coats. Avoiding orange peel and such requires attention to spray gun setup and spray techniques, probably just like many of the solvent finishes. I've found Jeff Jewitt at Homestead Finishing Products to be an excellent resource and very trustworthy supplier.
Best advice is to buy a couple quarts of different products and experiment.
One note, while Target's WB shellac sprays well and looks great, it has no water resistance even after several weeks of curing. A drop of water will melt the dried WB shellac, so don't use where it might be exposed to water. It does make a great sealer if sprayed thinly - Target can recommend max mils per coat and max coats.
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