Water based top coats, so many to choose...

[mreza Salav]

As a beginner into spraying (but long time woodworker) I am going to order some WB topcoats to start trying them.
As in Canada (and in Alberta in particular) there aren't many dealers/sources I found an online dealer of Target coatings and General finishes.
I have narrowed down my list into the following 6:

Target coating:
- EM2000 Alkyd Varnish (http://www.woodessence.com/EM2000-Alkyd-Varnish-P56C22.aspx)
- EM6000 Production Lacquer (http://www.woodessence.com/EM6000-Production-Lacquer-P55C22.aspx)
- EM9000 SuperClear PolyUrethane (http://www.woodessence.com/EM9000-SuperClear-PolyUrethane-P57C22.aspx)

General finishes:
- Enduro Clear Poly (http://www.woodessence.com/Enduro-Clear-Poly-P213C61.aspx)
- Enduro Pre-Cat Urethane (http://www.woodessence.com/Enduro-Pre-Cat-Urethane-P190C61.aspx)
- EnduroVar Urethane Varnish (http://www.woodessence.com/EnduroVar-Urethane-Varnish-P193C61.aspx)

I have heard only some generic statements such as:
EM2000 and EM9000 are more durable than EM6000,
Enduro Clear Poly and EM6000 are "water clear" whereas Em2000 and Enduro Pre-Cat have an amber tone.
EnduroVar is the toughest of all and has the strongest amber tone

But beyond these I don't know anything. Since these are not cheap to order to try, is there anything else you can add that I could use to help my selection?

What I am going to use them on are:
- furniture, right now a bed out of cherry.
- Later on for kitchen cabinets (probably out of cherry again).

thanks

[Joel Wesseling]

I've been experimenting with finishing and tried a quart of the Target Superclear poly Satin and was not pleased with the optics but it did spray on fine..

The projects I did with dissolved shellac are much nicer..



As a beginner into spraying (but long time woodworker) I am going to order some WB topcoats to start trying them.
As in Canada (and in Alberta in particular) there aren't many dealers/sources I found an online dealer of Target coatings and General finishes.
I have narrowed down my list into the following 6:

Target coating:
- EM2000 Alkyd Varnish (http://www.woodessence.com/EM2000-Alkyd-Varnish-P56C22.aspx)
- EM6000 Production Lacquer (http://www.woodessence.com/EM6000-Production-Lacquer-P55C22.aspx)
- EM9000 SuperClear PolyUrethane (http://www.woodessence.com/EM9000-SuperClear-PolyUrethane-P57C22.aspx)

General finishes:
- Enduro Clear Poly (http://www.woodessence.com/Enduro-Clear-Poly-P213C61.aspx)
- Enduro Pre-Cat Urethane (http://www.woodessence.com/Enduro-Pre-Cat-Urethane-P190C61.aspx)
- EnduroVar Urethane Varnish (http://www.woodessence.com/EnduroVar-Urethane-Varnish-P193C61.aspx)

I have heard only some generic statements such as:
EM2000 and EM9000 are more durable than EM6000,
Enduro Clear Poly and EM6000 are "water clear" whereas Em2000 and Enduro Pre-Cat have an amber tone.
EnduroVar is the toughest of all and has the strongest amber tone

But beyond these I don't know anything. Since these are not cheap to order to try, is there anything else you can add that I could use to help my selection?

What I am going to use them on are:
- furniture, right now a bed out of cherry.
- Later on for kitchen cabinets (probably out of cherry again).

thanks

[Jim Becker]

I more or less "standardized" on EM6000 for my projects. I have also used EM2000 (actually the predecessor) and it was a nice finish, too. I have no experience with the General Finishes products, but they are a reputable brand.

I don't use poly-anything on my projects...except floors.

[Joel Wesseling]

"I don't use poly-anything on my projects...except floors."

I learned poly is for floors on this from this Forum but to late..

I'm suprised the poly was recommended to me by Canadian dealer with a reputation...

Joel

[David Hawxhurst]

i've only used the target stuff em6000 and em2000. i have not tried the general stuff as of yet. i do prefer the 6000 over the 2000. if you can get smaller than gallon quantities you may try several from each to determine which you like.

[Phil Thien]

I don't think any of the WB stuff is true poly anyhow. Nor is it true lacquer, or true shellac, etc.

I wouldn't get hung up on what they call the stuff, just how it performs.

[mreza Salav]

thanks folks. Just got a quart of each of em2000 and em6000. Have got a new HVLP system as well to try spraying and see the outcome.

In general, with these WB topcoats, is it safe to assume that one can still use some form of oil (BLO, tung, etc) as a base to bring out the
beauty of the wood and then use (dewaxed) shellac as a barrier between that and the WB topcoat?
How is using shellac as a base (say on Cherry, or Walnut) followed by one of these WB topcoats? I guess I can try them all but if there is a
serious issue there's no point in experimenting a failed procedure.

[David Hawxhurst]

you can still do blo the de-waxed shellac and top coat with wb.