Target Waterbase Brushing Varnish

Target seems to have finally "cracked the code" of WB coatings as a replacement for nitro. I'd advise anyone exploring a brush application method to note the following: 1. EM2000 is not specifically formulated for a brush flowout per se. I don't see the words "brushing varnish" anywhere on the can. It's suited for brushing as well as any other product in the Target line; that is, if you have the right brush and techniques, you can get great results, but you don't have to use EM2000 specifically. You can brush any Target product. 2. EM2000 cures to a significant and manifest amber - enough to impart a vintage aged look on acoustic tops, violins, etc. It's definitely too dark for clear topcoats unless you specifically want a big amber color shift. It's nothing like the subtle, nitro-like color shift you get with EM6000, so forget Fender type colors or modern guitar looks with EM2000. You'll need 6000 or 7000 for that. 3. Use an artist's type ultra fine taklon brush for water colors. If you've never used artists' supplies, you'll be surprised by how much finer these bristles are than a brush from the hardware store. Less fine brushes will create thousands of microbubbles on your surface with any WB product, and the more you try to "tip" them off with the brush, the more bubbles you create. Artist brushes are minimal on the foaming, and you can generally tip off what few bubbles you do get without creating more. Whatever you do, do NOT use a traditional badger hair type varnish brush - these are solvent based finishes, the natural hair absorbs water, and they are the worst for bubbling. Overall, great product - simple to use (not easy to master, but simple to get started), easy cleanup with water, great flexibility. But as I am primarily interested in solid Fender type colors, I switched to EM6000 Target Waterbase Spraying Lacquer. May try 7000 next but EM6000 is great.

I had read many articles about the difficulty of getting a good finish for an amateur. With no spray facilities, this brush finish worked beautifully the first time I tried it. Not sure I'd try anything else for the small scale finish I do.

I just replaced the tops on 2 Ovations for a friend of mine and used this for the first time. It brushes on great and flows out nice, builds quickly, and also sprays on beautifully right out of the can. Let it dry for about 7 days before buffing and the shine is awesome!!

Finishing has been my most frustrating process. I do not spay and since I have started using EM2000wvx my customers have noticed a positive improvement in my guitar finish.

This stuff is awesome! I am using it as clearcoat for aluminum effects pedal enclosures. I painted, applied decoupage and then the Target Varnish. Coats build up quick and are easy to level sand.

I finished a guitar with 6 coats of this brush applied varnish as I do not yet have spray booth facilities in my workshop. Sanding was needed between every coat but I achieved a finish that was very similar to that I achieved on a guitar I made when I had access to a spray booth. Being waterbased there is no solvent smell to contend with and there is no workshop fire hazard, unlike solvent based finishes. As the finish was brush applied I only used about a quarter of a quart can for the whole guitar.