Every now and then we are asked if we can
offer a more economical price on polishing by using a single pack clear lacquer
instead of a two-pack clear lacquer.
The thought in the mind of the client is that
single pack lacquer is cheaper to purchase and easier to apply so cost savings
can be made in both purchasing materials and in the application process.
In essence this is true, and it is a fair
assumption to make by the joiner who is looking to reduce the cost of their
project.
The problem lies in what the joiner is
expecting to see when his joinery returns with a single pack finish instead of
a two-pack finish.
Two pack lacquer became a main stream finish
in the joinery industry around twenty-five years ago. Whilst being a little
harder to apply and more expensive to purchase, when applied, it gave a
superior finish to single pack in both durability and film build.
Gone were the old single pack finishes that
could dry out over time and start to fail or could become affected by excess
moisture and start to delaminate or turn white. Gone were the finishes that
looked dull and lifeless replaced by two pack with its high film build and far
glossier levels of sheen.
Over the past twenty-five years and especially
over the last ten years, two pack has become the norm and most if not, all
joiners have become accustomed to what two pack looks like on their joinery.
Over time everyone has forgotten what single pack lacquer looked like.
And that’s is where the problems lie:
When joiners ask us to apply single pack as a
cheaper alternative to two pack they often expect the two finishes to look the
same. They want the economy of single pack but still want the finish to look to
be the same as two pack. Believe it or not it actually takes more manpower to bring
a single pack finish up to the same look as two pack than it does to just
polish in two pack from the start.
Two pack lacquer is far more viscous than
single pack, so we would need to apply up to three times as many coats of
single pack lacquer to achieve the same build as two pack. This then blows the
labour component out of the water. We cannot achieve the higher gloss level
with single pack either so anything over a satin finish is generally difficult
to achieve. Lastly with the increase in use of two pack and the decrease in the
use of single pack over the last twenty or so years two pack lacquer is now
only marginally dearer to purchase than single pack so there are little cost
savings available there either.
Single pack polishing, whilst becoming less
popular, is still a legitimate finish and there are still many situations where
a single pack finish is acceptable. There just needs to be an understanding on
the part of the joiner that single pack lacquer when applied as a simple 3-4
coat system will always look thinner and less shiny than the same number of
coats using two pack.
Want to find out more about single pack and
our other ranges of lacquers, waxes, and oils? Just give Craig a call and he
will be able to discuss your needs in detail
