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I’ve noticed some of the answers on this board are given by published finishing authors. There are a lot of good books on applying finishes by hand, spray finishing techniques, selecting and applying finishes, etc. but I’m interested in a source of information that desribes how to increase productivity.
I’m finishing many different types of furniture, made of varying woods, in a variety of colors and am looking for stain and topcoat combinations that require the least amont of preparation and follow-up work.
For example, I am currently using an oil based wiping stain and water based topcoats. I have to sand thoroughly to get the wood to take the stain evenly, wait 1 or 2 days for the stain to cure, apply a coat of dewaxed shellac (reduces the raised grain), apply a coat of water based finish, buff out the rough spots/raised grain, spray another coat, buff, spray another coat. Occassionally I add colored topcoats at this point.
What stain & topcoat combinations eliminate some of these steps? I’d like to sand, spray on the stain, wait as short a time as possible and spray on the topcoats without all the buffing. Or be able to spray the topcoats on bare wood if needed.
I also want to use HAPs compliant products.
Thank you!
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Finish supply companies such as M L Campbell out of Canada produce a whole range of finishing products that are compatible. For example, you can wipe, brush or spray their NGR stains which can be mixed with various dilutants. This can be followed by a large range of their pre-catalysed lacquer, post catalysed lacquer, nitro cellulose and conversion varnishes, all spray application. Tinting and toning can be achieved by mixing their stain concentrates into the top coats of polish. The products do eliminate quite a few of the stages that are bothering you, but of course you may not like the look, and that is a personal choice. I only do this type of finishing for specific jobs.
I'm not saying that you want to move over to catalysed lacquers, but they also do a range of water based finishing products. Contact your local finishing supplier and see who they deal with that offers this sort of complete range. Alternatively, I have several numbers for M L Campbell, and they are a Pratt & Lambert Co. Central USA region no. is 708 834 5988, in Illinois. If you contact that office, they'll know the numbers for your region. Maybe you could try one of these ideas and see if the 'one company' approach works for you. Most of them have locally based technical reps that can talk you through their range of products.
Hope this helps.
*I second the recommendation for M L Campbell. I've used their products for close to 30 years, both in factory and custom environments. They are pretty much state of the art for the small operation, and their products are mostly HAPS compliant. Their waterborne finishes are good -- I use them largely for on-site work, and I've recently started using DuraVar catalyzed varnish for high wear situations.The reps that I have met are pretty good, and the direct support line is very good. Additionally, you can be sure about compatibility when you stay within one family of finishes.I really like Pratt and Lambert's Microton NGR stains. They make good dye stains, and mix into just about any clear coat as a toner, and are as light fast as anything I've ever heard of.You're going to have to select your finishing system based on your shop condditions, requirements for durability, and appearance. You need to define those before you will make much headway with your selection.Email me direct if I can be of specific help.Michael [email protected]
*I've always found that when you hook up with a professional distributor, they will make training available to you through seminars, manuals or one on one stuff in your shop. If you have a specific situation, they can supply a solution. I have used several brands, all Swedish technology licensed to North American distributors, including Campbell, Sadolin, and I'm currently with Becker-Acroma. All are excellent products. My distributor can do things like mix a laquer based paint to match any plastic laminate on the market, custom stains and toners, you just have to ask. My experience has been that good service and timely shipping are the standard in that part of the industry (my dist. is in another province, and I can count on getting whatever I need next day). Couldn't do without my guys.
*Anthony,Establishing a good relationship with a techinical service representative is the only way to go. Equipment upgrades may be required to take you where you want to go. I run a finishing crew that finishes about 3500-4200 parts a day (8-10 hours). Our finishing process takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes and is made up of stain application, wipe, two seperate coats of sealer and a waterbase topcoat. To achieve this we need high velocity gas fired convection ovens to flash and cure materials. Maintaining a consitent room temperature is also important (75-80 degrees), for this we employ air makeup units to heat and humidify incoming air to desired conditions. This equipment gives us the opportunity to use materials that achieve the throughput time we desire.I have used Becker Acroma and was not pleased with the service they gave me, now I use coatings from AKZO NOBEL which is the largest coatings company in the world. They have branch offices that custom cater to business needs. They also have an excellent knowledgable technical service staff that can give you valuable information and help develop the disciplined and timely process you desire.If you would like more information you can reach me at [email protected] or at [email protected], I would be glad answer additional questions or refer you to a rep.
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