Acrylic Finish

[jackellis]

I've taken a page from Kirby's bag of tricks and use clear acrylic finish on my shop jigs. Learning how to apply it properly has been challenging because the stuff seems to like to form pools and drips.

Other than ease of cleanup (water instead of petroleum solvents), what are the pros and cons of water-based vs. oil-based finishes? Also, is there any limit to the number of coats of clear acrylic one would want to apply? I'm thinking it might be worth using for projects other than shop stuff.

[cabinetman]

I've done quite a bit of furniture items with waterbase polyurethane and it provides a nice finish. Dries faster than oil base, and isn't toxic like lacquer. Both brushing and spraying works well. Multiple coats increases its durability. Mixed with a cross-link, can be used for floor finishes. Other pluses, it doesn't get affected by humidity, and cleans up with water.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[MilDoc]

.. Mixed with a cross-link, can be used for floor finishes.

Hate to say you lost me there. What is a cross-link and what does it do? How much to mix in?

Thanks.

[cabinetman]

When I first heard about crosslinking I had the same bewilderment as you. The way it was described to me was that the chemistry involved in the waterbased polyurethanes had certain "properties" based on the polymers and the proportions of reactants in the formula. Crosslinking was a procedure to add to the existing formula certain "catalysts" that changed the proportions of the polymers.

As far as the mixtures go, different brands use a formula that is pertinent to their formula. The ones I've added came with instructions as to mixing. BTW - I only got a "C" in college chemistry.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[drumpriest]

I've used Polyacrylic on several projects. When brushing I've found that a soft bristle brush helps a lot, think thin coats. The nice thing is that it dries so quickly that you don't have to wait very long for it, so multiple coats isn't as painful as with Arm-R-Seal, for instance.

[atgcpaul]

I'm a messy brusher so I use either a foam paint pad for Polycrylic or my
preferred method is HVLP if I have enough things to spray. I love that
water based polys odors don't waft out of the garage into the house for days
on end.

Paul