the safe alternative is here water based takes on solvent based for the trade market

Amongst the wood joinery, cabinetmaking, furniture and kitchen manufacturing fraternity the last couple of years has seen a steady shift away from solvent based to water based finishes. The reasons are varied but logical: ultimately it is a better (and safer) product for everyone be it the manufacturer or the end customer. JOINERS Magazine has run many stories about water based finishes in recent times as interest has mounted and the manufacturers of these paints have bought their product to market. The process is an ongoing one as research and development leads to ongoing improvements and market acceptance grows. By way of an update Bob Nordgren put a couple of questions to some of the leading suppliers of water based finishes to find out how they see things are going with particular emphasis on why water based paints are growing in popularity, what do their products offer and where is R & D leading.

In the main the suppliers we approached who responded saw the safety aspects of water based vis a vis solvent based as the leading reason for the change to water based. As Mark Pycroft from

Linkup Paints comments “It is safer for workers to use especially as it has lower VOC emissions compared to solvent based which in turn means insurance for businesses moving to water based is more favourable.”

This is added to by Aaron Irving from Wood Finishing Supplies who comments “The only thing holding back wider use of water based is people simply giving it a go. 2021 maybe the year what with Worksafe tightening the noose around use and storage of products considered dangerous goods such as solvent based paints encouraging further interest in water based.”

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