Replies

1. 
   gra | Jul 02, 2007 09:30pm | #1

   ML Campbell is a product we use in N. Va. It goes on great and feelsbetter. Easy touch-up! Sugar bear

1. 
   BernieB | Jul 03, 2007 06:02pm | #4

   gra,

    

   Which MLC product are you using?  Are you aware that MLC has a new water-based clear?  It's called Agualente.  I am VERY impressed with the results I have gotten from spraying it out.

2. 
   SteveSchoene | Jul 03, 2007 12:31am | #2

   Target USL has a good reputation among those who have used it.  I'm expecting to give it a try in a week or so, but can't comment directly. 

   A source for the Target, is http://www.homesteadfinishing.com, which is Jeff Jewitt's company.  He answered the phone when I called to place an order a few days ago. 

   I hope Kevin will drop around to specifiy which ML Campbell product is the one referred to by the other poster. 

1. 
   Kevin | Jul 04, 2007 06:51pm | #6

   It's hard to say which MLC product he was referring to... there are several water-borne sprayable finishes from MLC.

   For now I would suggest directing any more specific product questions to BernieB. I'd asked him to take a look at this specific thread here and he ended up joining. He is a friend and former co-worker from back in the 90's, but more to the point, he is the official MLC wood finishes specialist for our region here in the NW and is training me in my new job. If you're anything like me then you're probably thinking, "great... another salesman who took a few finishing classes," but that's not the case with Bernie. He used to run his own cabinet shop, that was after we were co-workers and before he started selling MLC products. In fact I helped him out with one job back then, so I know that he was an MLC user and fan long before he started selling it.

3. 
   Ronaway | Jul 03, 2007 04:48am | #3

   The Target USL is a much improved version of an older Target product called PSL, it sprays easily and at lower pressure than the former product. I think it looks a lot like oil based varnish when used over a seal coat of garnet or dark garnet shellac, and rubbed out to a satin sheen. It is now my top coat of choice. If you are looking for a right off the gun finish I would recommend you only use two coats. I have found that if you apply 2 coats one day and then wait until the next day to apply additional coats, it does not seem to dry with a consistent sheen, however it rubs out quite well if given adequate drying time so that has not been an issue with me.

   I have used it for the top coat on a contract finishing job of 265 courthouse seats to a seal coat for painted and then wiped and splattered with stain antiqued finishes. This last year while making the cabinetry for my house, I decided to make bathroom cabinets that were in the style of Shaker washstands, wooden tops and all, I used the same dark garnet shellac and USL top coat finish for the tops and the they still look great after 7 months of daily use, even in the areas around the sinks.

   In other words, I like it.

   Ron Brese

   If you're too open minded your brains will fall out.
4. 
   Joe | Jul 03, 2007 10:34pm | #5

   Here is something I did a few years back on ML and Fuhr 355. I like both finishes, but the Fuhr had better durability. I haven't used ML in a few years so the product could have improved.

   http://www.josephfusco.org/Tips/ML_vs_Fuhr_01.html

   http://joes-stuff1960.blogspot.com/
1. 
   Kevin | Jul 04, 2007 07:27pm | #7

   Very interesting tests. MLC does have a newer water-borne finish called Agualente which comes two different ways - as a pre-cat based on Acrylic resins (akin to Ultra Star) and as a post-cat based on a poly/acrylic blend. I'm guessing that with the addition of the catalyst that the pre-cat versin which is most similar to Ultra Star ought to perform better versus Acetone. Certainly the post-cat version ought to. Interestingly enough, they recommend using the Ultra Star sealer under both forms of Agualente in order to gain maximum chemical resistance. But of course chemical resistance and solvent resistance are two different things...

   Your adhesion testing was the most interesting to me. Everything you did was familiar except the way that you scored the finish. Typically with formal adhesion testing a cross-hatch pattern is scored in... kinda like getting ready for a game of Tic, Tac, Toe with the parallel score lines being about 1/8" apart and then the pass/fail is determined by whether any of the tiny squares fail, whether partially or completely. The difference between that and what you did is, I *think*, that the larger unscored area in your test was more able to hold on. That said... your testing was very informative and still tells us something relevant about how well the Fuhr adhered to the wood - which is clearly quite well.

   Edited 7/4/2007 12:28 pm by Kevin

1. 
   Joe | Jul 04, 2007 07:37pm | #8

   Kevin,Thanks for the update info on MLC. I'm going to stop by my supplier and give the new stuff a try. I've always liked their product.As for the "tests" they were as you noted simple and somewhat scientific ;-)I was just trying to get a feel for the product at the time I did them. All and all I think the test came off well and were and still are useful. Joe.http://joes-stuff1960.blogspot.com/