Water Based Wood Finishing

Have you ever wondered why, for example, when you order EM2000… The product that arrives is also labeled EM2382? Or why Emtech® products have different label colors? Or what the 6- to 7-digit lot number means? Even long-time Target Coatings customers are sometimes confused by our labeling system, which I’ll explain below. First, it is

Updated: May 2024 My earlier post about water based varnish generated some questions about water based lacquer, so I’ll address those today. Just so you know, anywhere from three to four times a day my phone rings and a customer asks, “Does [this product] create a lacquer type finish?” When the word “lacquer” enters the

Updated: April 2024 Before you can decide whether water based polyurethane or oil based polyurethane is best for your project, you need to define what you want the end result to look like and how you want it to perform. Let’s start with why you would use polyurethane in the first place vs. other types

By now all the reputable design magazines and websites such as Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Real Simple, and Houzz have released their design and 2024 wood finishing trends… And I read a ton of them. They have all weighed in on what they see will be the hot new color of the year, how to

We’re taking our own advice and starting the year strong! As you may have noticed, we incorporated a bunch of new ideas and improvements to Target Coatings…and we’re not done yet. Below are Parts 1 and 2 of our quick rundown of what’s already “live,” and what’s on the horizon… 2024 UPGRADES, PART 1 Website

If you’ve been a finisher long enough, I’m sure you’ve run into some absolutely horrifying situations — those times when you pause to look at your work and realize something has gone very, very wrong. With Halloween recently upon us, all the images of screaming faces reminded me of how I must have looked in

Choosing between water based polyurethane and oil based polyurethane can dramatically impact the appearance, durability, application process, and long-term maintenance of your wood finishing project. For years, oil based polyurethane dominated the market because of its durability and rich amber appearance. Today, advances in coating technology have made modern water based polyurethane a high-performance alternative

In Part 1 of this post on buffing and polishing water based finishes, we covered: Tools you’ll need … Topcoat selection… Fixing finishing errors… The right way to polish. Today, we’ll cover buffing and waxing. So, let’s jump right in. Buffing – This is Where the Magic Begins Replace your polishing pad with a new

With the right tools and a systematic approach to buffing and polishing water based finishes, you can get that gleaming finish of your dreams. Speaking of tools, here is what you’ll need: What You’ll Need As with all fine finishes, prep­aration is key. You simply cannot achieve a deep shine buffing and polishing water based