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how does a conversion varnish affect whites?

5 years ago

I know I need to get samples, and I will, but is there a *general* conversion varnish effect on whites? For example, does it pull out/diminish undertones? Make whites warmer? Cooler?

I have a cabinet sample of chantilly lace, but it's from a cabinet maker who uses some process other than conversion varnish. It actually makes the CL look a bit warm, so I was surprised to learn that CL is a cool white. I am going to get a CL conversion varnish sample from the cabinet maker I am actually using, but I would like to get one or two others, and I'm trying to narrow it down. Still hanging up my sample boards in various lighting conditions and taking notes....

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Comments (2)

dsgts
5 years ago
My cabinet maker used a conversion varnish "matched to Benjamin Moore White Dove". I purchased Benjamin Moore Advance (satin) in White Dove for the window casings and doors. It was noticeably whiter than the cabinets, so I took the sample door to the paint store for a custom match. The result is fairly close. The sheens are slightly different and that changes the way light reflects.
stillpitpat thanked dsgts
stillpitpat
Original Author
5 years ago
You know what, I should have asked for satin or eggshell when I bought my samples, and I didn't. They just gave me flat. Hmm.
What you say about your White Dove is what I'm seeing in my Chantilly Lace samples.
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Conversion Varnish is well regulated in Europe and not so much in America, even in California. In fact, I would argue that we made things worse here. In order to meet off-gassing requirements the Xylene (which is basically synthetic formaldehyde) is bound. This means there is less free formaldehyde and less off-gassing at any one point in time. However, where free formaldehyde off-gasses fairly fast, bound formaldehyde off-gasses for years. We have basically taken something that would be pretty bad for 30-60 days and made it less bad for 1 - 3 years. Still the free formaldehyde/xylene will be gone in the first 30 days so... C2 paint is an acrylic urethane that has dairy whey blended in. I have absolutely no idea about that particular product although acrylic urethane's are traditionally considered industrial coatings that dry hard but slowly. When you add an accelerator to an acrylic urethane you basically get a 2k poly.
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