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Newsletter winter 1997 |
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Working with Vendors to Change Wood
Finishes
- by Paul Pagel
The relationship between the wood finisher
and the coating supplier is critical to successfully change
finishes or finishing processes. This is especially true when
converting conventional nitrocellulose (NC) sealers and topcoats
to low-VOC (volatile organic compound) or water-borne finishes.
Set and Communicate
Criteria
Finishers need to know the criteria for their finishes and
which characteristics and processes are variable. When looking
for new coatings, finishers must communicate criteria and
variables to vendors. Also, the success or failure of products
being tested needs to be measurable.
| Appearance, costs, durability
and manufacturing constraints may all factor into selecting
a suitable coating. Examples include: |
| • |
Stain, gloss and color. Is the
finish available in a gloss acceptable to your customers? |
| • |
Costs. Are raw materials, labor,
waste and equipment all accounted for? |
| • |
Durability. What degree of marring
or scratching and contact with various elements (including:
solvents, coffee, heat and water) must coatings be able
to withstand? |
| • |
Drying time. How dependent are
assembly and shipping schedules on dry times? |
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Climate. How will conditions
like temperature and humidity affect coatings in storage
or in application areas? |
| • |
Sanding. Courser sanding results
in greater absorbed moisture and increased grain raise.
Can a finer grit be used to make alternative coatings
more workable? |
Comparing Finishing
Costs
Many companies neglect to evaluate the cost of finishes
beyond their prices per gallon. The total cost of finishes
needs to be compared.
The solids content of low VOC and water-borne
coatings is usually higher than that of NC lacquers. Low solids
means less material is needed to obtain the same dry film
thickness on the items being finished. Because coverage increases
you should compare the total cost of the coating per part
or per square foot. Labor costs should also be factored in,
such as time saved from applying two coats instead of three.
Industry Example
Northshore Wood Products in Duluth, Minnesota, successfully
switched to a waterbased finishing system after two years
of testing coatings. Several vendors worked with Northshore,
but one supplier worked closely with them on-site and at the
vendor's coatings lab
This vendor was able to formulate stains,
sealers and lacquers as water-borne coatings to provide Northshore
with high quality, environmentally sound coatings that meet
their needs.
More Information
For more information on evaluating alternative coatings,
call Paul Pagel, MnTAP,
at 612.624.4638 or 800.247.0015. For
regulatory compliance assistance, call MPCA Small Business
Compliance Assistance Program, at 651/282-6143 or 800/657-3938.
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