Official Luthiers Forum!

Well, I'm having some bothersome issues with some water-based Stew-Mac Color Tone water-based lacquer that I bought a little over a year ago (14 mos). I had heard that this stuff has a limited shelf life, but I tried to spray it yesterday, and after getting strange splotching, leveled back to ground zero, and tried to brush on some today to see if it's the product, or my spray equipment. Both methods produced a splotchy finish. The spray left thousands of tiny round indentations (lack of adherance?). Brushing today did pretty much the same. I'm concuding that it's NOT oil or contaminants in my spray equipment, but that the product has reached it's shelf life.

Strangely enough, I had no problem using the seal coat that was purchased at the same time (if I recall correctly), and I got a good 12-coat base established with it. But I'm working backwards on the finish coat, and am going to have to sand back through this material a second time - double bummer

Does it sound like my diagnosis of spoiled milk (what the stuff looks like, actually) is indeed correct?

Thanks for any advice, suggestions, support, empathy...

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Ken Mitchell
Durham, NC

I don't know the answer but am curious to whether the container had ever been opened. I've got about a 12 to 14 month old can of EM6000 sitting in my basement too.

If you hear back from somewhere else, please post back here with your results.

I do sort of remember hearing that if it's never been opened, you should be ok (or it's just wishful thinking on my part)

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Andy,

Yes, the can (1 gal) HAD been opened, but so had the sealer, which was fine. Maybe the sealer remained good b/c it was stored in a Ball/Mason jar, with a very good seal? IF so, maybe once opened, we should transfer to smaller containers (?), or other very air-tight containers(?).

I'm sure others will chime in and offer other info or suggestions.

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Ken Mitchell
Durham, NC

Some posts from the Target Coatings forum...
http://www.targetcoatings.com/forum/vie ... shelf+life
http://www.targetcoatings.com/forum/vie ... shelf+life
So, official word is 12-18 months on average. But, I have some EM6000 that's 2.5 years old and it still seems fine for both color and curing.

Maybe post the symptoms you're finding on their forum?

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David Malicky

Ken, one of the first things to go with em6000 is its adhesion properties. I find if the stuff has been around longer than six months, it is much more prone to fisheyes and burn in issues.

Ken

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