Wood Coatings 101

Coatings 101 - Overview

• Understanding Valspar and the Valspar Wood Division

• Basic Composition of Wood Coatings

• Types of Professional Wood Coatings

• Appropriate use of Finishes

• Stains and Sealers

• Troubleshooting/Tips

• Selecting the Correct Finish

Who is Valspar?

• Founded in 1806, headquartered in Minneapolis

• Worlds 6th largest paint company

• Partners with the world’s leading brands

• 80 worldwide locations

• 10,000 + employees

• Corporate sales $3.6 billion in 2010

• Listed on NYSE (VAL)

• Service the Industrial, Architectural, Wood, and

Packaging segments

Valspar Wood – Our Mission

To enhance and protect our customer’s brand to help them

succeed, for when it matters most by:

•Providing superior products and dependable results

•Partnering with our customer from start to finish

•Developing the most innovative solutions

•Providing market-leading color and style expertise

Valspar Wood - A Few of Our Customers…

Solvent BasedWoodCoatings

Definition of Lacquer

A broad generic term referring to blend of

solvents and synthetic resins, which when

applied to a substrate form a solid film that

enhances the beauty, changes the color or

appearance, and provides durability.

Wood Coating Families

• Nitrocellulose Lacquer

• Pre-Catalyzed Lacquer

• Post-Catalyzed Lacquer

• Conversion Varnish

• Water-based Finishes

• Two Component Urethane*

• Polyester*

• UV Curable*

*Outside the scope of Coatings 101

Typical Composition of Coatings

• Resins/Binders – The primary film producing agent

• Modifying Resins – Enhance performance,

durability, flexibility, etc

• Solvents – Carrier for the resin system

• Pigments – Color particles that might be dispersed

in the finish

• Additives – Components to improve flow,

sandability, alter sheen, improve mar resistance,

provide anti-yellowing, or any number of other

variables.

How Do Coatings Dry?

Evaporative finishes

• Solvent evaporates, leaving resins that pack together to form film

• Film will re-dissolve if solvent is reintroduced

• One coat will “burn in” to another coat

• Examples: NC Lacquer

Reactive finishes

• Solvent evaporates and chemical cross-linking occurs

• Finishes adhere by mechanical adhesion (sanding)

• Examples: Pre-Catalyzed Lacquers, Conversion Varnishes

Nitrocellulose Lacquer

• Nitrocellulose resin

• Dries by solvent evaporation

• Dissolves previous coat

• Fast dry

• Easy touch-up

• Polishes easily to a high gloss

• Yellows easily

• Lower in solids

• Limited impact or abrasion resistance

• Commonly furniture finish

• Not recommended for cabinetry where

moisture is an issue

Luster Lac Professional

• Basic chemistry-28% solids nitrocellulose/maleic

• Amber lacquer - slightly yellow in the can. No UV screen agent added.

• Ideal for interior wood fixtures such as molding, door frames & millwork

• Typically used by painting contractors where low cost finish is desired

• For areas where moisture/chemical/scratch/UV resistance not required. Not Intended for kitchen or bath

• Should not be used over light colored stains/finishes because of natural amber color

• Available in white, clear & black

Luster Lac Premium

• BasicChemistry-25% solids Nitrocellulose/Alkyd

• “Water White” lacquer - water clear in the can. UV screen agent added to aid in slowing the yellowing of the coating

• Furniture grade lacquer. More durable than Luster Lac Professional

• Not intended for kitchen or bath cabinets

• Should not be used over light colored stains/finishes where yellowing will be an issue

• Available in clear and white

Pre-Catalyzed Lacquer

• Cross linking resin (typically urea)

• Alkyd, nitrocellulose, plasticizer

• Solvent evaporation & chemical

reaction

• Catalyst added at point of

manufacture

• Shelf life considerations (6 – 12

months)

• Attains full chemical resistance

properties in 1-2 weeks

• Improved scratch, mar, abrasion, and

moisture resistance

•Common finish used by custom

furniture and kitchen cabinets makers

Valtec Pre-Catalyzed Lacquer

• 27% solids self-sealing pre-catalyzed lacquer

• Recommended for most interior wood finishing applications including kitchen and bathroom cabinets

• Passes all KCMA durability testing

• Contains UV absorbers, resists yellowing

• Easy touch-up

• Available in clear

• Widely used coating for many applications

Post-Catalyzed Lacquer

• Combine properties of pre-cats and

conversion varnish

• Less NC more alkyd / urea

• Catalyst added by Distributor or end user

• Pot life of 6 months once catalyzed

• Coating cures by solvent release, then by

chemical reaction

• Cross-linking contributes to harder, more

durable coating

• Typically higher solids than Pre-Cat

Valtec Ultra Conversion Lacquer

• 30% solids self-sealing catalyzed lacquer

• Approaches the durability of a conversion varnish in a “pre-catalyzed” form

• Catalyzed at the Distributor-6 month shelf life once catalyzed

• For any application where higher performance properties are required (i.e. chemical & abrasion resistance), but customer does not want to add catalyst

• Contains UV absorbers, resists yellowing

• Available in clear and white

Conversion Varnish

• Urea, alkyd, melamine & plasticizer

• Contains no nitrocellulose

• More durable than lacquers

• Requires catalyzation

• Pot-life considerations

• Requires more skilled application

• Ideal for cabinetry and commercial

millwork

•Higher Solids/Higher Film Build

Valguard Conversion Varnish

• 41% solids clear, 63% solids white conversion varnishes

• Premium coating for interior fine woodworking

• For surfaces where superior chemical/abrasion resistance is required

• Passes all KCMA durability testing

• Best product for kitchen and bathroom cabinetry

• High solids white provides excellent finish for MDF (especially cabinet doors)

• Resists yellowing

• Available in clear & white

Summary of Common Finishes

Conventional

Lacquer

Pre-Catalyzed

Lacquer

Post-Catalyzed

Lacquer

Conversion

Varnish

Valspar

Product

Luster Lac

Professional, Luster

Lac Premium

Valpro Precat,

Valtec Precatalyzed

Lacquer

Valtec Ultra Conversion

Lacquer

Valpro Conversion

Varnish, Valguard

Conversion Varnish

Target

Customer

Painting contractors,

furniture makers,

refinishers

Small to medium size

furniture shops

Small to medium size

high-end industrial

shops

Small to larger size

high-end industrial shops

Typical

Application

Interior molding and

door packages,

furniture.

Kitchen Cabinets,

Furniture, Architectural

Millwork

Kitchen Cabinets,

Furniture, Architectural

Millwork

Kitchen Cabinets,

Furniture, Architectural

Millwork

Typical

Solid

Content

20 - 28% by weight 24 - 28% by weight 30 % by weight 36 - 40% by weight

Durability Fair durability. Will not

Pass KCMA

Good durability,

Typically passes

KCMA testing

Very good durability.

Coating performance

approaches that of a

conversion varnish.

Superior durability with

excellent moisture,

abrasion, and chemical

resistance

Valspar/Competitor Cross Reference

Conventional

Lacquer

Pre-Catalyzed

Lacquer

Post-Catalyzed

Lacquer

Conversion

Varnish

Valspar Luster Lac

Professional, Luster

Lac Premium

Valpro Precat,

Valtec Precatalyzed

Lacquer

Valtec Ultra

Conversion Lacquer

Valpro Conversion

Varnish, Valguard

Conversion Varnish

Chemcraft Chemlak ES Lacquer,

Opticlear

Danspeed E-Var, Plastofix

Gemini Coatings High Build, High

Solids, CL series

PC- 00XX Series,

S59xx Series

UL-Series CV-Series

PCV-Series

M.L.Campbell’s High Build,

Royalac

Magnalac Magnamax

Water White HP

Lacquer

Krystal,

Klear Var

Sherwin Williams Sherwood High

Build, Sherwood

Finish Lacquer

Sherwood Precat, T77 High Solids Water

White Precat

V84F60 Series

Conversion Varnish,

V84F80 Series WW

Conversion Varnish

Water BasedWoodCoatings

• Latex emulsion, acrylic hardener,

plasticizer

• Coalescing solvents & water

• Emulsified resins create “milky”

appearance in can

• More durable than conventional NC

lacquers

• More susceptible to environment

during application/cure

• Available as conventional/non-catalyzed,

pre-catalyzed, or post-catalyzed

Water Borne Finish

Water versus Solvent Based FinishesConventional Wisdom

Pros

• More environmentally friendly - lower

VOC and HAPS

• Isocyanate and formaldehyde free

• Reduce hazardous material disposal

• Greatly reduced fire risk – reduced

insurance cost

• Typically offer good scratch resistance

• Tend to be higher in Volume Solids –

good film build, higher coverage per

gallon

• Resists Yellowing

• Lower odor

Cons

• Usually slower drying times

• More grain raise

• Coating may have a cloudy

appearance

• More affected by environmental

conditions – Humidity, Temperature

• Equipment considerations – Works

better with conventional or HVLP than

air-assisted airless

• Prices may run 10% to 20% higher

Zenith Waterborne Finishing System

• Latest generation of waterborne

technology

• Lacquer, Pre-catalyzed lacquer

and Conversion Varnish

• Coating performance that equals

or surpasses equivalent solvent

based coatings

• Exceptional clarity and leveling

properties

• Passes stringent Greenguard

certification for Indoor Air Quality

• Full “system”. Stains, glazes, solid

color paints and clear topcoats

Summary of Zenith Waterborne Finishes

Zenith

Waterborne

Lacquer

Zenith

Pre-Catalyzed

Lacquer

Zenith

Conversion

Varnish

Target

Customer

Finishing and painting

contractors, furniture

makers, refinishers

Finishing and painting

contractors, furniture

makers, refinishers,

cabinet/millwork shops

Small to larger size

high-end industrial shops

Typical

Application

Interior molding and

door packages,

household furniture,

children’s furniture

Kitchen cabinets, fine

furniture, architectural

millwork

Kitchen cabinets,

architectural millwork,

restaurant/institutional

furniture

Solid Content 30% by weight 35% by weight 38% by weight

Durability Good durability, but not

intended for use in high

moisture/high wear

areas

Excellent durability,

exceeds KCMA standards

Superior durability with

excellent moisture,

abrasion, and chemical

resistance; exceeds KCMA