Replies

1. 
   Ron_Teti | Jul 14, 2001 12:11am | #1

   *
   I really like the diamond finish water based varathane it dries almost as fast as reg. laquer. its pretty tough stuff too.

1. 
   Tim_Kulin | Jul 16, 2001 09:34pm | #2

   *I have tried only a few, but I found them all to be more difficult to use than nitrocellulose laquer. I think the key to making it work is to do some experimentation to get your process down. I use a hygrometer (humidity meter) to try to get some idea if I'm going to have problems on any given day. Performance wise, I think some of the cured films are very good. If I remember correctly, FWW did a review of a number of products a year or two ago.Tim

1. 
   tom_lockwood | Jul 17, 2001 06:36pm | #3

   *What about Oxford brand of finishes? The most concern for me is the flamibility of any product.

1. 
   Don_Stephan | Jul 24, 2001 03:38am | #4

   *The Oxford and other Target lines have been excellent for me. I get them at http://www.homesteadfinishing.com

1. 
   Ron_Brese | Jul 24, 2001 04:30am | #5

   *b From the Workshop of Ron BreseTom, I tried waterbased lacquers a couple of years ago but did not like the cool appearance of the coatings. However I am about the try the Oxford Premium Spray Lacquer. From what I have read and been told, there have been great improvements made in the formulation of these finishes.

2. 
   tom_lockwood | Jul 24, 2001 12:48pm | #6

   *I live near the Michigan and Indiana border. I know that I have seen Oxford finishes in the local stores! Has anyone bought This finish locally (in your location)? If so, would it be an national chain store? Or should I just buy it from Home Stead Finishing like Don S. suggested?

3. 
   Ron_Brese | Jul 24, 2001 04:22pm | #7

   *b From the Workshop of Ron BreseTom, I ordered from Homestead also.

4. 
   Don_Stephan | Jul 25, 2001 03:34am | #8

   *Ron: You might find that the water based finishes still give a very "cool" look if used directly on the wood. Jeff Jewitt has often recommended using a honey amber stain first, or mixed with the first coat of water based finish, for a better appearance. If I remember correctly the Oxford water based varnish does not yield such a cool appearance.

5. 
   tom_lockwood | Jul 25, 2001 01:00pm | #9

   *I'm kind of confused, what do you mean by "cool appearance"?

6. 
   Ron_Brese | Jul 25, 2001 01:31pm | #10

   *b From the Workshop of Ron BreseTom the best way I know to describe the cool look we speak of is to say that solvent based finishes can have an amber cast to them, this gives them a warm look. Some water based finishes have a bluish cast that makes them appear cool.

7. 
   tom_lockwood | Jul 27, 2001 12:36pm | #11

   *Thank you guys for your help! I will order from homestead and I will try some test samples with honey amber stain as well. And, thanks again

8. 
   Ron_Brese | Jul 31, 2001 03:35am | #12

   *b From the Workshop of Ron BreseI have been doing some trial runs with the Oxford Premium Spray Lacquer. I applied 2 coats of garnet shellac onto a piece of mahogany, and then top coated it with two coats of the Oxford finish.There was no grain raising with the shellac base coating, and the color had a nice warm look. However the water based finish seems to foam rather easily while stirring. While applying the finish with a turbine driven gun I notice lots of little foaming bubbles in the wet coating. Most of these bubbles did flow out as the finished dryed some did not. Some of the comments I've read on the Homestead sight have mentioned this problem with the bubbles.I was curious to know if this is a problem that is to be expected with this product, or if the turbine driven gun may have been the culprit. It seems that Don Stephan and some others have experience with this product, I would like to hear your take on what is causing the bubbles.

9. 
   Don_Stephan | Jul 31, 2001 02:52pm | #13

   *I have also noticed that Oxford seems to foam rather easily when stirred. Last winter I finally upgraded from a Wagner turbine to an Asturo HVLP conversion gun from Homestead Finishing, and the spray quality improvement was monumental. The primary gun is a 2 quart pressure pot, and I sometimes use a small gravity fed touchup gun. The foam breaks down rather quickly, and has not caused any problems, so I don't worry about it.