The cabinetmaker”s standard. A ready-to-use aliphatic resin adhesive with outstanding strength. We also have Titebond Dark Wood glue for dark woods.
Titebond II Dark Wood Glue 8 Ounce
September 20, 2009 By
Titebond II Dark Wood Glue Pint
August 25, 2009 By
How Tough is Waterborne Finish
February 6, 2009 By
Waterborne finishes are much more complicated chemically than most traditional wood finishes, and getting them right in the manufacturing process has taken some time. But in the relatively short period since their introduction, the appearance and durability of waterborne finishes have improved dramatically. Many waterborne finishes on the market today rival their long-trusted oil and lacquer based counterparts in both appearance and durability. Currently, there are waterborne finishes available that are suitable for nearly every wood finishing application.
But what really matters is how well a finish stands up to daily life, and that varies widely, depending on the quality of the finish and conditions it is required to face. Generally, any waterborne finish will fair well in light household use. Most have fairly good scratch resistance, and once cured, are (for practical purposes) impervious to water. But that doesn’t hold true for exposure to solvents and heat. Certain solvents can loosen the bond between the resin droplets and damage the finish or cause it to become sticky. Heat can also loosen up and damage a waterborne finish. In tests, not all waterborne finishes stand up equally well to these extremes, and the difference from one brand to the next can be considerable.
Waterborne Wood Finish Basics
February 5, 2009 By
With the ever-more strict regulation of wood finishes containing VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and a general increase in consciousness of health and environmental issues, more and more woodworkers are doing something they never thought they’d do: making the switch to waterborne wood finishes. In this article, we’ll take a look at how far waterborne finishes have come in recent years, and what makes them a viable choice for just about any woodworking project. We’ll also offer a couple of tips on applying waterbornes, and point out a couple of top picks.
Waterborne Finish Basics
Finishes that clean up with water are often referred to as “water-based”, which is a little misleading. From a technical standpoint, “waterborne” is a much more fitting term. In fact, the term “water-based” itself has been a hindrance to the reputation of many finishing products over the years. And understandably so: If a finish were truly water-based it would wash off with a wet rag no matter how long you let it dry, and wouldn’t be much good for anything. But in reality, water plays only a supporting role in the process that turns waterborne finish from a liquid into a durable protective film.
Understanding how a finish that cleans up in water can can adequately protect a wood surface is easier when you know a little about how the chemical process works. A waterborne finish is composed of minute spheres of resin (most commonly acrylic and polyurethane) suspended in water along with a slow evaporating solvent, such as glycol ether. When you spread a waterborne finish out in the open air, the water begins to evaporate. The solvent, which evaporates slower, stays behind and softens the protective coating on the tiny resin latexes, causing them to bond into one continuous film. Since the solvent is the active ingredient the curing process, and not the water, the protective coating that results is not affected by moisture, and often has considerable resistance to a variety of other substances.
Article – Copyright ©2009, Rockler Companies, Inc.
