Scratches in Waterborne Finishes.....
In the early days of waterborne finishes, only the 1980's, we would say "If you don't put the scratches in then you don't need to take them out". Come to think of it, I have said that about sanding also.
Because waterborne products are lighter in color than solvent products and considerably thinner than most solvent products they don't hide scratches as easily. With all this talk of 180, 220 grit paper and screens of 16 and 20 mesh, not to forget abrasive pads, the only thing not mentioned are 320 grit 20 mesh screens. But.. let's not go there.
Between coat abrasion has always been an issue but abrasive manufacturers, furniture finishers and folks who don't understand the coating process miss the point. Sharp scratches from any grade of abrasive show up in waterborne finish coats especially in direct light and under can lights. Also, the finer and smoother we make a finish, the more problems we can have with our final coats.
History lesson.
In 1986 and 87 BonaKemi and Basic Coatings were breaking new ground in the floor finishing industry. I mention these two companies because every finish manufacturer to come after them just copied whatever they said, labels and all and hoped no one asked why it worked that way. Waterborne coatings were new in North America and we were all learning "the hard way". Those of you involved back then as finsihers remember feeling like Guinea Pigs every week with every new attempt to make these products work the way we were comfortable. I was fortunate, I think, to be Product Manager and Marketing Manager at Basic during some of these early years. Since scratchs, you called them swirl marks, were quite evident we found it necessary to use procedure rather than just dull, worn screens as a fix. In those days waterborne technology was not as easy to adjust as it is today.
Two different approaches were used because of the two different product types available. Basic had two products AroKote and Hydroline, both high urethane content products (@ 26% solids). These went on at 700-900 ft/gallon. Bona had D-503 Pacific and Pacific Plus both high acrylic content products (@32% solids). These went on at 500 ft/gallon. Basic had Hydroline Sealer which would screen and Bona had HighBuild Sealer which would NOT screen.
How to hide scratches in Waterborne.
Basic recommended putting on sealer, let it dry overnight. Day two, screen and then apply TWO coats of Hydroline at 7-800 f/g back to back without screening, no screen marks. Bona recommended one coat of High Build Sealer followed in one hour by one coat of Pac Plus at 500 ft/gal. Next day, screen with worn screen and a final coat at 500 f/g, no screen marks. Each of the procedures would work only when using the appropriate product types. When finishers would try to substitute the opposite products or any other products, as we have a habit of doing, it would not work. We, of course, would never say we did it wrong. We would say that, this or that product didn't work.
We need to think about our procedures and do the necessary testing to find out what works for us, the way WE work. Just reading what someone here on ShopTalk does is not the answer. This is a lesson, not the final exam. We must try what we learn and perfect it before we go out and charge for this new found information. Knowledge is a tool just as much as a sander or the scraper in your tool box. Additional tools in your arsenal can only help you if you know why you bought it and what it can accomplish for you. Buying that new, special machine or getting a finer grade of sandpaper or abrasive pad is not the answer. If it were that easy there would be alot more people finishing floors than there are today. To be a successfull wood floor professional takes the skill of a cabinet maker and the abilities of a master painter. We are unique and talented.
Learn, practice, understand why it works, perfect the procedure, do it, get paid.
Its as simple as that.
Good luck,
Bill
In the early days of waterborne finishes, only the 1980's, we would say "If you don't put the scratches in then you don't need to take them out". Come to think of it, I have said that about sanding also.
Because waterborne products are lighter in color than solvent products and considerably thinner than most solvent products they don't hide scratches as easily. With all this talk of 180, 220 grit paper and screens of 16 and 20 mesh, not to forget abrasive pads, the only thing not mentioned are 320 grit 20 mesh screens. But.. let's not go there.
Between coat abrasion has always been an issue but abrasive manufacturers, furniture finishers and folks who don't understand the coating process miss the point. Sharp scratches from any grade of abrasive show up in waterborne finish coats especially in direct light and under can lights. Also, the finer and smoother we make a finish, the more problems we can have with our final coats.
History lesson.
In 1986 and 87 BonaKemi and Basic Coatings were breaking new ground in the floor finishing industry. I mention these two companies because every finish manufacturer to come after them just copied whatever they said, labels and all and hoped no one asked why it worked that way. Waterborne coatings were new in North America and we were all learning "the hard way". Those of you involved back then as finsihers remember feeling like Guinea Pigs every week with every new attempt to make these products work the way we were comfortable. I was fortunate, I think, to be Product Manager and Marketing Manager at Basic during some of these early years. Since scratchs, you called them swirl marks, were quite evident we found it necessary to use procedure rather than just dull, worn screens as a fix. In those days waterborne technology was not as easy to adjust as it is today.
Two different approaches were used because of the two different product types available. Basic had two products AroKote and Hydroline, both high urethane content products (@ 26% solids). These went on at 700-900 ft/gallon. Bona had D-503 Pacific and Pacific Plus both high acrylic content products (@32% solids). These went on at 500 ft/gallon. Basic had Hydroline Sealer which would screen and Bona had HighBuild Sealer which would NOT screen.
How to hide scratches in Waterborne.
Basic recommended putting on sealer, let it dry overnight. Day two, screen and then apply TWO coats of Hydroline at 7-800 f/g back to back without screening, no screen marks. Bona recommended one coat of High Build Sealer followed in one hour by one coat of Pac Plus at 500 ft/gal. Next day, screen with worn screen and a final coat at 500 f/g, no screen marks. Each of the procedures would work only when using the appropriate product types. When finishers would try to substitute the opposite products or any other products, as we have a habit of doing, it would not work. We, of course, would never say we did it wrong. We would say that, this or that product didn't work.
We need to think about our procedures and do the necessary testing to find out what works for us, the way WE work. Just reading what someone here on ShopTalk does is not the answer. This is a lesson, not the final exam. We must try what we learn and perfect it before we go out and charge for this new found information. Knowledge is a tool just as much as a sander or the scraper in your tool box. Additional tools in your arsenal can only help you if you know why you bought it and what it can accomplish for you. Buying that new, special machine or getting a finer grade of sandpaper or abrasive pad is not the answer. If it were that easy there would be alot more people finishing floors than there are today. To be a successfull wood floor professional takes the skill of a cabinet maker and the abilities of a master painter. We are unique and talented.
Learn, practice, understand why it works, perfect the procedure, do it, get paid.
Its as simple as that.
Good luck,
Bill
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