Water-based coatings have been subject to much research and development over the past 25 years. The automotive finishing industry moved to water-based around 15 years ago and has not looked back!
So what is the best water-based wood coating system for furniture?
Due to the extensive range of water-based coatings available, it is not easy to give a definitive answer to this - it is dependent upon the criteria you are trying to meet.
One of the most widely used substrates in the furniture industry is moisture-resistant MDF.
There are a number of variations of this material but they all have the same challenge when it comes to using water-based coatings – the raising of the fibres giving it a ‘wood chip’ type appearance.
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Two coats of primer are essential to provide a complete seal of the fibrous MDF substrate to give a good base for a smooth topcoat finish.
Traditionally the first coat is sanded smooth prior to applying the second coat, but higher solid content primers can enable both coats to be applied within 30-45 minutes and then sanded before top coating.
The latter option must be left overnight to fully settle/cure but has the advantage of removing a sanding process, increasing the efficiency of the system.
Even less fibrous timber substrates such as Tulip Wood, Maple or Beech will give a far superior finish if two coats of primer are applied.
To achieve a smooth finish on primed fibrous materials the general requirement is to apply two topcoats to hide any minor imperfections not necessarily visible in the primer.
Lower gloss levels and/or lighter colours often give an acceptable finish with only one coat if the primer has been well-cured and thoroughly sanded.
Often the solid surfaces will only require one coat to provide a high-quality finish but the darker, less forgiving colours benefit from two coats. One option to balance quality with efficiency is to apply two topcoats to the front face and just one to the inside face.
Many doors and panels, particularly in kitchen manufacturing, are already coated with a UV-cured or polyester primer or are faced with melamine or PVC foil.
Due to their non-absorbent surfaces, no primer wood coating is required but the smooth /hard substrates can create adhesion challenges.
In some scenarios, we recommend the use of a special adhesion promoter wipe, which can simply be applied by hand using a lint-free rag. This removes any surface waxes/grease and slightly etches the panel to eliminate any reactions and give optimum adhesion.
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When it comes to clear lacquer, again there are a number of variables to consider. For an open grain finish, 2 coats is an effective system, whether onto veneer, solid timber, or pre-stained substrate.
If a filled grain finish is required, then a third coat may be necessary. To prepare certain coarse-grain timbers such as oak, sanding across the grain can help achieve a much smoother finish, compared to simply sanding with the grain.
Whilst most water-based lacquers are single-pack products, additional durability can be achieved with two-pack polyurethane options but these do have pot life and health and safety challenges.
The above overview should provide you with some insights into the different water-based wood coatings systems available, as well as the key factors to consider when selecting your preferred system.
Here at Kortec, we focus on each client’s specific criteria meaning we don’t have a “one product fits all” approach.
Even though there is not an easy answer to cover 'the best' water-based coatings for every system within the industry, be assured that Kortec is able to work closely with you to create the most efficient water-based coating system to suit your business.
