Water-based finishes came about from the desire to limit the amount of volatile solvents in finishes. And replacing most of the solvent with water produces some nice benefits. Due to the lack of solvents, waterbased finishes are almost odorless and non-flammable. Indoor finishing in the middle of winter is not a problem. Second, they’re very fast drying. You can easily apply two or three coats in a day. And finally, as shown above, cleanup is a snap. The lack of color imparted by a water-based finish can make some woods look bland. They don’t have the warmth you get from a varnish, shellac, or lacquer. But this drawback can easily be solved upfront with one of the strategies shown here. Water-based finishes are compatible with oil-base stains. The stain adds color the finish won’t provide.
Applying a thin coat of oil-based wiping varnish can enhance the color of the wood as well as sealing it against grain raising caused by the water-based finish.
A few drops of dye concentrate can make a dramatic difference in the color of a water-based finish.
