Target Coatings Water based Premium Spray Lacquer Review

by David C. Lykins

In the past two years or so I started using a water-based lacquer developed and manufactured by Target Coatings. It's my understanding that Target Coatings has really been know for their commercial grade finishes for wood floors, outdoor decks and the like. As most of us know, there has been a lot of "negative" talk when it comes to water based lacquers, such as they don't hold up, or don't spray well. I'm by no means an expert on lacquering but I really feel Target has done a great job, with a needed product.

Since I'm a amateur luthier (builder of stringed instruments) and wood worker, and do my spraying in my basement of my home, I wanted something a little more environmentally safe than a nitrocellulose based lacquer, plus I was getting real tired of the cleanup process. Shortly after being frustrated with the Nitro cleanup and smell I went on a quest for a good water based lacquer. One day I came upon an article on the MIMF (Musical Instrument Makers Forum) by a gentleman that made beautiful mandolins (at $2800+) on how he'd finally discovered a really great, easy to use, and tough water based lacquer. This was Target Coatings, "Premium Spray Lacquer. Please keep in mind that this is a commercial grade lacquer and NOT just for musical instruments.

To make a long story short, I'm currently on my second gallon of "Target Coatings, Premium Spray Lacquer". I've even been blessed with the verbal approval from Michael Dresdner that it was really good stuff. In a 45 or so minute telephone conversation, Michael told me more about how to spray and equipment needed than I had learned in two years of spraying.

Here are a few tips and pointers I learned from re-watching video:

I recently re-watched a video on spray finishing by Dan Earlewine's, including spraying water based lacquer. The two main techniques I had sort of overlooked, was maintaining proper temperature in my paint booth and using the recommended "retarded" in the lacquer. Since I'm spraying a water-based lacquer, heating my paint booth was as easy as sticking a cube heater in it for about 15 minutes before I spray, thus I could elevate the temperature to a desired level. And I can even leave the heater running while I'm spraying if need be. The second was to start using the retarded "mainly" because it also has "flowout" chemicals in it to prevent orangepeal and fisheye.

The conclusion: I was blown away, I sprayed my newest guitar body I just completed and low and behold, I was able to spray more coats in one shooting with no runs, no orange peal and no fisheye. Now I like Target's Premium Spray Lacquer even more. I can't wait to spray a couple more coats so I can start buffing out the finish. Cleanup of your spray gun or air brush is a just a trip to the sink, rinse everything with hot water, then spray a little alcohol through the gun and I'm ready for the next shoot.

Here's the link to Target Coatings Inc. web site: www.targetcoatings.com