Has anyone used CrystaLac finishing products?
I came across them online(McFeely’s), and from what I can tell, it is a water based finish that can be applied w/ an HVLP gun. I didn’t know such a product existed.
I have some cabinet doors and a bar front to finish, looking for any advice or experience with the product.
Thanks
Replies
Never used it but have seen it mentioned here. Lots of other good stuff, too.
http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/forums/finishing.pl
Edited to add - I've sprayed (HVLP) water base from Compliant Spray Systems...now part of General Finishes. Water base is coming of age, although I've got limited experience with it. I still like the way nitro or pre-cat lacquer handles...and who can resist that smell ;)
PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
Edited 2/12/2007 10:13 am ET by PeterJ
Peter,
thanks for the reply and the link. I will spend some time on their site.
I like lacquer too, but I'm trying to find a less odorous product for use in an occupied home. (The bar has to be built on site).
I like General Finishes (though never sprayed) so I may check them also.
Have used Oxford's Ultima Spray Lacquer via HVLP with outstanding results.
Got it from http://www.targetcoatings.com
Even used over existing nitro that needed touching up. Burned right in like new.
Be aware of the product and your conditions. Note their finishing forum link at the top of the page. I used a bare utility knife blade as a scraper between coats rather than sandpaper. It feels soooo smooth.
Pete,
Thanks for another good site. I have some more research to do, but it seems like there are water based products that I can use and get good results.
No smell. Completely clear. Drys within 10 minutes.
Understand that water based clear finishes don't yellow as much as oiled ones. And they don't give that depth or lusture that a shellac or poly will. Accordingly, when using this product, if doing stain grade work, their primer/sealer becomes necessary.
Or, in my case, I started with a danish oil on cherry, followed by shellac and then this lacquer. I'll put it up against any showroom finish.
That's awesome. Necessity is the mother, so to speak. Thats almost exactly what I came up with. I converted to waterbornes a good chunk of the time because of odor, client concerns, durability . . . and while I got bulletproof for durability, the first basement was a bit cold on looks.
On furniture, I've oiled, sealed with shellac . . . exactly what you're saying.
On trim, I usually spray a xylene based stain, and that dries fast. Oiling trim, in addition to not being practical, as you probably know, once you oil it, you kind of have to wait. Finishing trim usually won't wait. I've used a little transtint in the lacquer. Kind of use the stain itself to gauge what to add, but a little honey amber, a little medium or reddish brown, usually goes a long way towards creating the illusion of warmth that people expect. Real trucks dont have sparkplugs
I was in a woodworking store today and after a discussion with one of the guys, he gave me a quart of Oxford's Shellac and Poly (both wb) to try/sample. They are considering picking up the line and wanted to get some feedback on the product. So here goes:
Finishing Cherry doors and bar- the plan will be to dilute the shellac and use that as a stain conditioner, then stain, then two coats of the Poly. All sprayed, sand w/ 320 in between finish coats.