Popular Woodworking 2000-01 № 112, страница 11
Flexner on Finishing Why Water-Based Finishes Aren't Catching On Many woodworkers are frustrated by water-based finishes. Learn to use them properly and you'll reach for them more often. Water-based finishing products get a lot of attention in magazines and at trade shows, but these products still don't sell all that well. Most woodworkers seem reluctant to give up their familiar oil, varnish, shellac and lacquer finishes. I think the reason for the poor sales, especially to amateur woodworkers, is the excessive hype that has raised expectations beyond what water-based products can produce. When you've been led to believe that a stain or finish "doesn't raise the grain," is "equivalent to lacquer," or is "as durable as oil-based polyurethane," and then discover otherwise when you use it, you become skeptical of the product and retreat to what you feel comfortable with. Water-based finishing products have plenty going for them, especially for amateur woodworkers, so they should sell quite well without all the hype. Two qualities are critical: water-based products don't stink and make you feel bad; and water-based products are easy to clean from brushes (not so easy from spray guns, however). The proof of the significance of these two qualities is demonstrated by the overwhelming popularity of latex paint, which is a water-based finish with pigment added, vs. oil paint. It's likely that almost every reader of this magazine uses latex paint on interior trim, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and outdoor furniture when there is no question that oil paint would perform better. Reduced smell and easy cleanup rule with people working at home! Other advantages you might find attractive are a reduced level of polluting solvents, reduced fire hazard and absolutely no yellowing. For the amount of finishing material you probably use, the first two are minor issues. But the non-yellowing quality can be a real benefit when you're finishing light or pickled woods. Water-based finishes are the only finishes that are totally non-yellowing. For all their good qualities, however, water-based stains and finishes are still a relatively new technology. In contrast to other stains and finishes, improvements are still being made in the raw materials used, and some manufacturers are faster at picking up on them than others. So, if you're unhappy with the results you get from one brand, try another before giving up on the entire class of products. Disadvantages The rarely mentioned disadvantages are the problem, of course, because you have to know what they are or you can't overcome them. The first problem is in the naming of the products. Manufacturers often give water-based finishes the same names as totally different products that have been around for years — polyurethane, lacquer and varnish. The intent is to make you feel comfortable with the product, but the effect is the opposite. The misleading naming sets expectations that can't be fulfilled and causes confusion because you are led to believe there are sig-Continued on page 24 22 Popular Woodworking January 2000 |
