Technically, this is really Part 4 of our Wall-Hanging Tool Chest build, but because I focused so strongly on waterborne finishes and HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure spraying), it received its own stand-alone title.

When I made this project in the Guild, I asked our members what type of finish they would like to see me use. The votes came in and the majority of folks wanted to see a waterborne finish applied via HVLP. So my finish of choice was General Finishes High Performance. I used the Earlex HV6900 to do the spraying and I was thrilled with the results. Even after a couple of year of use in the shop, the finish is still holding up very nicely!

This video serves as a nice introduction to the chemistry behind waterborne finishes, HVLP techniques and spray gun maintenance.

Topics Covered:

• Waterborne finish chemistry
• Glycol ethers
• HVLP
• HVLP Gun assembly/anatomy
• Basic spraying technique
• HVLP gun maintenance
• Bringing more “life” to waterborne finishes

What is the difference between “water-based” and “waterborne” finishes, is it the same? If not, can any finish be either water-based or waterborne? Thanks for the clarification !!

Hey Yoann. Great question! This is just another example of labels not doing us any favors! As most people use it, the term “water-based” is pretty much a misnomer. To call something water-based suggests that you can redissolve it in water, which is not the case with these finishes. These water-containing finishes are actually still solvent based. And if memory serves me, I believe the reason folks started calling them “water-based” was to distinguish them from traditional solvent-based finishes.

So how do these finishes work? The most common mixtures generally contain three main components: the polyurethane or acrylic, a solvent (usually glycol ether), and water. After the finish is applied to a surface, the water begins to evaporate. Soon after, the solvent evaporates and the finish particles fuse together to become a single layer. So even though these finishes are solvent-based, water is the carrier, hence the term, “water-borne”.

I get quite a few questions about water-based finishes and how to make them look more like oil-based. Its a common problem since water-based finishes are “water-white”, which means they don’t impart any color to the wood. This can be great in certain situations, but not so great when you want your project to have that warm glow to it. In this episode, I use dye, shellac, and boiled linseed oil to try to spice up our water-based finish. I also packed in a bunch of related tips and tricks as I went through each process.

Related Links:
Hock Shellac Flakes
Charles Neil’s Shellac Video

As requested, here is a hi-res photo of the test boards: