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EMTECH EM8000cv WB Conversion Varnish

EMTECH® EM8000cv, or Conversion Varnish is a warm, clear, water based, pre-catalyzed varnish formulated for high-end furniture, tabletops, and cabinetry applications that require exceptional surface hardness and water resistance. Our conversion varnish is designed for use in residential/commercial applications like store and restaurant furniture and fixtures, coffee tables, dining tables, countertops, highly utilized bathroom vanities and kitchen cabinets. EM8000 Conversion Varnish has everything you want in a hardwearing, durable 1K wood finish that is also in a non-flammable, ultra-low VOC formula making it safe for your health and the environment.

(10 customer reviews)

$33.00$426.00

SKU: EM8000 Category: Tag:

EM8000cv: A Pre-Catalyzed WB Conversion Varnish for Exceptional Results

100% Conversion Varnish in a Water Based Formula

EM8000 Conversion Varnish is a cutting edge formulation that utilizes exclusive hybrid emulsion technologies which incorporates oil-modified resins and acrylic copolymers into a pre-catalyzed 1K water based varnish. Our conversion varnish matches the rich color tones and high durability associated with solvent and oil based coatings while remaining an ultra-low VOC and HAPS-Free wood finish. EM8000 Conversion Varnish will absorb UV light and amber slightly with age. Unlike oil-based varnishes, EM8000cv is fast drying, non-flammable, cleans up with soap and water, and makes storage and disposal safe and simple.

The Beauty of Solvent in a Hard and Durable Water Based Wood Finish

EM8000 Conversion Varnish is formulated as a ready to spray, self-sealing wood finish system, or can be used with our EM1000 Universal Sanding Sealer to generate excellent clarity and color definition in your woodworking projects. This conversion varnish can be used in a wide range of residential and commercial applications where a hardwearing, durable finish is desired.  Examples include highly utilized bathroom vanities, kitchen cabinets, high-end furniture, trim, and tabletops. When you need exceptional surface hardness and water resistance, coupled with a warm color tone in a water based wood finish, you can expect EM8000cv to rise to the challenge.

Instructions for Use

View Instructions for EM8000cv Conversion Varnish TDS

Weight N/A
Dimensions N/A
Unit Size

32 Ounces, 1 Gallon, 5 Gallon

Sheen Options

Gloss: 85°+, Semi-Gloss: 65°, Satin: 30°, Flat: 10°

Additional Information

Excellent Adhesion Capabilities

EM8000 Conversion Varnish features a unique adhesion characteristic that allows it to bond to a wide variety of properly prepared substrates such as wood, plywood, engineered wood substrates, exotic woods, non-ferrous metals, plastics, PVC, stone, masonry, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. 

Using our Conversion Varnish over Oil Based Stains 

EM8000 Conversion Varnish can be applied over your favorite oil based stain or gel stain. Proper surface preparation for application of our water based conversion varnish over oil based stains or gel stains is as follows: 

  • Oil based stains and gel stains need to be thoroughly dried and cured. This varies by manufacturer but is usually 18-24 hours after application of the stain. Please consult with the stain manufacturer for drying times of the product you are using.
  • Lightly wipe the surface of the oil based stain with a mixture of 1:1 water and denatured alcohol.  No scrubbing necessary, just a light wipe to remove any oily residue from the surface. Allow the water/alcohol mixture to fully flash off and dry from the surface. 
  • For the best results, your first coat of EM8000 Conversion Varnish should be a light “tack” coat to allow for the best adhesion to the stain and to confirm compatibility.  From there you can proceed as normal with your build coats of our water based topcoat.  

Because there are many variations in formulas for products on the market today, we recommend as a standard finishing practice that a sample is made and tested for product compatibility, proper adhesion and bond of topcoat to base substrate.

Using our Conversion Varnish over an Oil Based Polyurethane or a previously applied solvent based finish

EM8000 Conversion Varnish can be applied over oil based polyurethane and most previously applied solvent based coatings. Proper surface preparation for application of our water based conversion varnish over previously applied oil based or solvent based finishes and topcoats is as follows:   

  • Newly applied solvent based finishes will need to be thoroughly dry and cured before application of EM8000cv.  Dry times will vary by type of coating and solvent base.  Please consult the manufacturer of the solvent based coating for dry times.
  • Old solvent based finishes will need to be thoroughly cleaned of any contaminants. 
  • Scuff sand both new and old finishes with fine, 220G – 320G, sandpaper. 
  • Wipe down both new and old finishes with a mixture of 1:1 water and denatured alcohol. Allow the water/alcohol mixture to fully flash off and dry from the surface. 
  • Application of our EM8000 Conversion Varnish can proceed as normal.

Because there are many variations in formulas for products on the market today, we recommend as a standard finishing practice that a sample is made and tested for product compatibility, proper adhesion and bond of topcoat to base substrate.

How to Enhance Topcoat Durability

EM8000 Conversion Varnish can be fortified with our CL100 CrossLinker to create a post-catalyzed type conversion varnish. The addition of up to 5% by liquid volume of CL100 will improve the physical durability of our waterborne conversion varnish by tightening the molecular structure of the cured resin. CL100 improves the resistance of the cured film against high pH cleaners, alcohols and slow evaporating household chemicals. View the CL100 CrossLinker TDS to see directions for use and more information. 

Instructions for Use and SDS

View Instructions for EM8000cv Conversion Varnish TDS

View EM8100cv Conversion Varnish Gloss SDS
View EM8200cv Conversion Varnish Semi-Gloss SDS
View EM8300cv Conversion Varnish Satin SDS
View EM8400cv Conversion Varnish Flat SDS

Watch a video on how to add CL100 to any of our finishes

Specifications

Customer Reviews

Based on 10 reviews
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zachwedekind

This is my go to product for all of our tables

Zach - Thank you for sharing your position on our EM8000cv. Yes, it is a very durable product for tabletop use when crosslinked w/CL100.

-JW-

G
GEORGE WOLF

I've built maple and cherry cabinets for my entire kitchen and pantry. I'm finishing with Pre-cat EM8000 with a Fuji Sprayer and 1.3mm nozzle. I diluted the first coat with about 30% water and used it as a sealer/grain raiser. I sanded that first coat down pretty well with 220/320 sandpaper. The 2nd and 3rd coats were only thinned about 5-10 % to get the viscosity down to 20 sec. I'll probably end up with 6-8 coats when I'm through.The EM8000 lays down beautifully with my gravity feed Fuji HVLP spray gun. My only disappointment is that the EM8000 finish has given my white hard maple a definite yellow hue. I'm wondering if this is typical of the EM8000 or if it was that I used a product that was stored in my garage for about 6 months before using. Is there a product you would recommend that has less of a yellow color?

George - Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Yes, the EM8000cv does color-shift to a soft straw/yellow tone as it ages. This is due to the alkyd resin used in the formula to create the varnish backbone. While the color-shift has a nice warming effect on exotic and dark domestic woods it can be seen on pine and some cuts of maple. A non-yellowing option in the Emtech line is the EM7000HBL Lacquer and the EM9300 Polycarbonate Urethane. The 7000 is closer to the 8000 in terms of hardness and durability.

*One note of interest to share with my readers is that with all of the raw material sourcing problems over the past 8 months I have been developing a new version of the EM8000cv that is now in limited production. The new version has a clearer resin structure offers improved early chemical/water resistance. The color-shift over light woods in slight less noticeable, but it does contain the an alkyd resin that will retain the straw color that is hallmark to the EM8000cv history.

-JW-

T
Thomas Fugate

P.S. When I've run into problems finishing, I can always count on Jeff talking me off the ledge with sound advice. Just terrific company with awesome customer support.

T
Thomas Fugate

LOVE this product. Always produces impeccable results. I spray with Fuji Spray Q5 with 1.3MM tip set, opened 2-2 1/2 turns, pressure set to ~70-75%, using a slow (6-8"/ second) 7-8 in spray pattern, 50% overlapping passes. This produces a fairly light coating JUST enough to flow out. I do three coats, sanding very lightly w/320 between coats. I've completed many project in the same day and sometimes wait overnight before the final coat during higher humidity times of the year. Final coat is a heavier, wet pass. And I always use the CL100 cross linker.

Thomas - Thank you for sharing your experience with the EM8000cv in combination with the FujiSpray Q5.
This information is practical for by the EM8000 as well as for the EM2000 and EM6000.

-JW -

M
Mike Owen

Excellent product. (CV 8000) Using it to restore some old furniture. Stripping and using the emtech stain, sanding sealer or the primer/grain filler. I have been adding 10% water and 10% retarder spraying it with a Neiko mini hvlp with a 1 mm nozzle and about 18 psi at the gun. Double coating each time (3 - semi gloss) I let the second run dry over night and light sand with 400 grit. The finish is absolutly beautiful. Since I am for sure an amature, it says a lot about how good this product really is.

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EMTECH EM8000cv WB Conversion Varnish
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