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In finishing one must first understand that there are an infinite number of variables involved to obtain a successful result. The first set of variables come with the substrate (product being finished: i.e. wood, metal, plastic or glass). When an end user mentions brushing, are they speaking of applying the coatings to the surface manually or automatically with some form of brush or stain wheel? If so, what is the product being applied and what is the brush made of? What if the customer is meaning brushing to etch or sand the surface with a denibber or fladder. As in brushing, buffing can carry different meanings. Buffing can be to burnish a surface, simply smooth a surface to a particular feel, or to bring the surface to a particular gloss. Film drying can encompass so many different forms of curing that are dictated by many variables. Conveyor hot air ovens, stack ovens, flash ovens, IR banks, UV ovens, nitrogen blankets, EB ovens. All of these forms of film cure also have their own variables and they are determined by variables such as line times, type of coatings, the weather, film thickness, the way the coatings is formulated, just to mention a few.

Finishing materials come in so many forms that the count is endless. When people speak of finishing materials they typically think of varnishes, polyurethanes, paints and stains. When addressing a finishing process, one must seek out the person that is most knowledgeable regarding the types of coatings or finishes that are being used. In most industrial finishing operations there is usually at least one person who is familiar with the correct type or category of product. If that person does not exist it may be necessary to obtain a wet sample and or an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), or if lucky one might be able to find the Coatings Representative that is honest and cares about the customer.

Film testing can be carried out in a number of ways usually dictated by what the end user is looking for and even what part of the country they are located. Film check can be for adhesion, hardness, surface or chemical resistance, print resistance, cold check, etc. The basic film checks are carried out per ASTM or KCMA standard testing methods.

Metal finishing, like wood and other substrates, is determined by the required end result the manufacturer is looking for. Metal finishes can be applied manually with conventional spray or electrostatically, dipped or powder coated, baked, air dried, forced dried (typically hot air). Many metal coatings, like some electrical enclosures, can use conventional vinyl or butyrate type coatings.

Others may require more durable finishes such as urethanes or polyester primers and topcoats that are run through a rigorous battery of test: i.e. salt spray, sun or uv resistance and severe cold not to mention abrasion. In any situation whether it be for basic coatings of metal finishing or for high quality durable requirements almost every manufacturer will need to solution clean and possibly etch the surface to be coated.

Expert has been involved with the Chemical Coatings Industry for most of his life. Finishing the first piece of furniture at the age of 17 while working in a furniture manufacturing plant in Taylorsville, N.C. Ever since then he has been involved in finishing just about everyday of his life. The finishing industry has many faces. One must learn the inner workings of the formulas that make up chemical finishing. Conversion finishes have guidelines that must be followed in order to use successfully, understanding the catalysts, their different strengths and volumes. Some conversion finishes use different catalyst depending on the time of year or the environment that they are being used or the type of application that is being used to apply them to the substrate.

Conversion finishes can be a standard conventional finish with moderate solids to the very high solids (typically found in European finishes). Normally a customer will use a conversion product to gain more resistance characteristics than found with the conventional nitrocellulose or vinyl finishes. Some formulas can be purchased with a cross-linker incorporated in the formula. Usually it is a very mild catalyst that will only react when cured by heat. Resistance is also minimal. In the case of some conversion products being used in automated finishing procedures it may be necessary to incorporate the two products at the gun or point of application. Another form of extending the life of a conversion product is to keep it chilled or cool. Some users even put catalyzed materials in freezers at the end of a production day.

Expert was a bench chemist for the Sherwin-Williams Co. focusing on water-based finishes for a variety of end users. Once a golf ball coatings using a water-based conversion urethane was so good that the customer couldn't use it because the ball traveled too far and true. Other finishes in the water-base field that were studied and formulated were the urethanes used for the approach in bowling alleys as well as a dye stain and wipe stain that gave the sharpness and clarity of the alcohol or solvent base stains that the cabinet and furniture industries had grown accustom to.

Expert has also done his time working in the "designer" type or "decorative" type of coatings for some of the smaller shops that make the one of a kind or accent furniture. There the use of crackle finishes, tortoise shell finishes, faux skin (goat skin, leather) and faux granites and marbles were the required look. Unlike the large production lines, these finishes take patience, knowledge of the coatings, and an imagination. It is possible to take a cube of MDF and turn it into a granite accent piece or an office desk and turn it's maple top into a beautiful slab of marble. If you know how!

Exterior coatings is dictated by the right formula, the right tests, the weather and the substrate. As in any coatings or finishing situation the surface preparation is important. However, in exterior finishes the possibility of a small failure can become a disaster. Therefore. It is of utmost importance to have the surface prepared correctly for the other protective coats to work. From house paint to military or bridge coatings.

Expert has spent many years of his career working with European and Domestic automated finishing lines. Typically they utilize U.V. coatings because they are for mass high speed production. Most of Expert's experience has been with flat line production: automated spray of different configuration, roll-coating of many variations, curtain coating, in-line spray (molding), vacuum coatings and a combination of all. Some of these automated finishing lines incorporated many different types of curing mechanisms such as stack ovens, different wave length U.V. ovens, infrared ovens, and staged hot air ovens. A great deal of Expert's time has been spent testing many different line schematics for a wide range of reasons. An example of some of the reasons would be: To lower production cost per square foot in finishing processes. Increase production. Decrease culls or rejects. Improve quality of finished products, just to mention a few. Expert has been in charge of a multi-faceted finishing laboratory where customers were not only allowed to see how certain processes could affect their operation, but also experience new products in the coatings industry.

Expert has not only tested new and existing coatings with many different line configurations on a wide range of items. He has carried out evaluations for coatings companies and companies that use the coatings and reported the results with fair and honest recommendations.

Expert has been responsible for the design and implementation of finishing lines to manufacturers both large and small. He has also followed these designs with the necessary training of factory personnel. He is well traveled in the U.S. and Europe discussing and experiencing other finishing operations. Heading a discussion panel regarding U.V. and water-based coatings at IWF in Anaheim,Ca. as well as attending many IWF shows in Atlanta, Georgia.