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UV Wood Finishing

A New Player On Our Sales Team

Feb 1, 2013

Evan Skopp

Evan Skopp


SPDI
and cureUV are excited to introduce a new player on our Sales Team.  He’s Evan Skopp and his California-based firm, Inside Track, is facilitating worldwide sales of our UV finish products to the guitar industry.  If you’re already in the guitar world, you may know Evan either personally or by reputation.  For the last 20 years Evan was Vice President of Seymour Duncan, the world’s leading manufacturer and distributor of electric guitar pickups. (A pickup is essentially the ‘microphone’ of an electric guitar). Evan is Past-President of the Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association and a regular attendee of musical instrument trade shows around the globe.  He’s also a guitarist who has toured the world with the Seymour Duncan Band and has written numerous articles for guitar magazines in the USA and UK.

During Evan’s tenure at Seymour Duncan, he oversaw several departments. But it was OEM Sales—Sales to guitar manufacturers who install Seymour Duncan pickups as original equipment on their guitars—where Evan really excelled.  “As a guitar geek myself, I always loved interacting with the designers and builders.  They’re my rock stars.”  While heading up Seymour Duncan’s OEM Sales efforts, Evan and his team increased OEM sales more than 20-fold.  His philosophy is simple.  “It doesn’t matter if the customer is a one-man shop or one of the biggest guitar factories in the world, they all want quality products at the right price with great customer service that will ultimately help them sell more guitars.”

In 2012, Evan transitioned from an employee of Seymour Duncan to an independent sales rep.  Inside Track continues to handle Seymour Duncan’s OEM sales and also reps other, compatible products to luthiers and guitar factories.  As a result of Evan’s many years interacting with guitar builders and factories, we’re confident Inside Track is the perfect rep firm to handle sales of SPDI’s guitar products.

Total-Cure UV Guitar Finishing Cabinet

Total-Cure UV Guitar Finishing Cabinet

Joining Evan at Inside Track is Doreen Daley Skopp, who oversees sales order fulfillment.  Doreen’s career has been a combination of numbers and music.  A self-employed accountant, she has served as financial controller for a variety of corporate for-profit and music-based non-profit organizations.

Inside Track will focus on SPDI’s guitar products.  Whether it’s the Power-Shot 1100 for repair shops and touch-ups, the Power-Shot 2400 for ‘boutique’ guitar builders, the Guitar Finishing Cabinet for serious guitar factories, or any of our UV curable finish products.  SPDI has what guitar builders need to speed up the guitar finishing process, increase output, and be better stewards for our environment.

Evan and Doreen just returned from the 2013 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.  It’s the largest gathering of musical instrument makers and rock stars and is where the big deals get made.  To celebrate Inside Track’s association with SPDI, we’re extending the NAMM Special Discounts an extra 10 days to February 10, 2013.  Act now and you can save up to $1,500 on SPDI UV curable guitar finish products.

From Left to Right: Evan and Doreen Skopp at NAMM 2013; Evan Skopp visits a Guitar factory in Japan; The Seymour Duncan Band performs

From Left to Right: Evan and Doreen Skopp at NAMM 2013; Evan Skopp visits a Guitar factory in Japan; The Seymour Duncan Band performs

“Doreen and I are really excited to work with SPDI’s customers in the musical instruments community.”  If you’re a guitar repairman, a luthier, or if you run Operations for a guitar factory and you want to learn more about how SPDI can help your business; or if you’re an existing SPDI customer and you want to take advantage of the NAMM Specials, please don’t hesitate to contact Inside Track by e-mail or phone: (805) 341-4726 (Pacific Time).

Inside Track

Inside Track

Stain Dries Instantly with UV Wood Floor Refinishing

Jan 18, 2012

Use the same UV curable stains & coatings used in high production manufacturing facilities with the use of SPDI’s UV Floor Curing System.  This UV system allows for the curing of 100% solids that have a sheen additive.  Until now the use of these coatings was unheard of because older UV technology causes “lap lines” or “zipper lines”.   This specialty irradiator has a Proprietary Array Delivery of UV energy causing the perfect balance of intensity right where you want it.  Yes, SPDI has pushable machines, but this advanced & versitile system allows access around small columns, stairs, closets, tight corners and even under kitchen cabinets. 

No waiting 24 hours for stain to dry when it can be easily added to a UV curable coating!

Your customers CAN have furniture & rugs back in place the same day on their newly refinished hardwood floor!

Provides longer life, more scratch resistant & chemical resistant.

Gets your project done in Hours, not Days!

Contact a UV Technology & Coating Specialist Today!

(800) 977-7292

 

9 Tips for Healthy Hardwood Floor Refinishing for a Home with Allergies, Kids and Pets?

Jan 18, 2012

No moving out + No VOC's = Best Wood Floor Finish

No moving out + No VOC's = Best Wood Floor Finish

Q.  Can you recommend a healthy hardwood flooring option for someone with allergies, kids and pets?  I love my hardwood floor and am looking for green flooring options.  I would rather just have it refinished, but I do not want the lingering smell of chemicals or have it scratch easily.  What would you recommend I look for?

9 Tips for Healthy Wood Flooring

  1. VOC’s cause headaches, nose & eye irritation, damage to liver, kidney & central nervous system
  2. EPA – Steps To Reduce Exposure
  3. Healthier Homes Inside & Out – EPA Webinar
  4. Some wood building materials are better than others
  5. NWFA – Wood Floor Contractors provide good quality & tend to keep up to date on high tech / green friendly options
  6. US Green Building Council – Guide to Green Floor Materials
  7. Some finishing products are better than others – will not change color with age, more scratch / chemical resistant & ultmately last longer
  8. UV Curable Wood Floor Finish
  9. UV Curable Cement & Stone Finish

To find a Green Contractor near you, please call

800-977-7292 

Do you need to replace your cabinet and flooring UV Curing lamps and reflectors regularly? Of course you Wood!

Dec 21, 2011

What a beautiful way to finish a floor with UV !

What a beautiful way to finish a floor with UV !

How many times do you wait until your lamp and/or reflector has been in the press for a few months time before even thinking about replacing them?  Most lamp manufacturer’s will offer a 1000 hour warranty on the bulb but realistically once a lamp has been running for about 700+ hours the mercury inside is starting to degrade and its about time to consider replacing it.  With a substrate like wood, such as cabinetry, flooring, wood stringed instruments, etc the Ultraviolet Curable finish is so extraordinary that you want to make sure that the item being produced is at its utmost in quality when presenting to your Customer.  I cannot stress this enough, but just as important as replacing the UV light is replacing the shield that goes along with it.  The UV liner plays a very important role as far as bulb longevity.  Your best bet is to get both the lamp and reflector together, as you have more important things to think about like completing the job for your end Customer.  Even the small Handheld UV Curing Systems need to have the UV lamps and reflectors changed out every so often depending on how frequently you use the unit.  So don’t be stuck in the dark - keep stock of your lamps and reflectors  before the lights go out.

FAQ for UV Cure Hardwood Floor Refinishing

Dec 13, 2011

 

No Waiting - Stain, Sealer & Topcoat in 1 Product

No Waiting - Stain, Sealer & Topcoat in 1 Product

Q: What is the difference between UV cured coatings & conventional coatings?

A: UV cured material requires the use of ultraviolet energy to instantly dry / cure the material.  As the UV light hits the coating, the photo-initiators react and cause each molecule to connect.  This results in no solvents flashing off and the Wet Mil Thickness (WMT) will be the same as the Dry Mil Thickness (DMT).  100% Solid UV Coating: 1600sqft/gal @ 1 mil WMT/DMT

Conventional material requires an extended period of time to flash off solvents for a complete cure.  Majority of the finishing products used are between 28%-30% solid content which causes a HUGE decrease in Dry Mil Thickness and overall coverage per gallon.  30% Solid Conventional Coating: requires 3.3 WMT to achieve 1 DMT 

Advantages over solvent based or dual cure coating finishes:

- No mixing and ready to use right out of the container
- Less Shrinkage and 3 times More Coverage per gallon
- UV Coating Dries instantly with no wait time
- Buffing in 1/3 of the time for a lustrous shine and less heat build up
- Superior Scratch Resistance and Chemical Resistance
- No solvent smells and can ship cheaper than flammable type finishes
- 100% Solids – NO VOC’s, Green Technology

It is the perfect balance of Performance and Environmental Sustainability. These products conform to the requirements of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), Greenseal and LEED.

 

Q: Do UV Coatings have better scratch resistance than non UV dried materials?

A: Yes! One of the primary advantages of UV cured coatings is that the scratch resistance and overall durability is much greater than conventional/solvent based materials. As the UV light hits the coating, the photo-initiators react and cause each molecule to connect. Thus, making the product more scratch resistant (4H), chemically resistant, retain flexibility and maintains a more stable product life span.

 

Q: What are the benefits of UV Curable Hardwood Floor Refinishing & Prefinishing?

A:  The successful use of ultraviolet (UV) light is used to cure the exceptionally durable finishes on wood products quickly; all the while increasing production and reducing floor space. Our customers say that they increased production by more than 75%.

  • Green Technology – NO Solvent smells or VOC’s
  • Instant dry, reduced applications & labor
  • Finish, Stack & Ship the same day
  • Less chance for error
  • 100% Solids there is no mixing, Less Shrinkage & 3 times more coverage/gallon
  • 2-3 times more chemical & scratch resistant

Passed 48 hour Chemical Resistant Test to things like:

  1. Mustard
  2. Vinegar
  3. Red Wine
  4. Coffee
  5. Sharpie Pens
  6. Denatured Alcohol
  7. Acetone

For more information contact a UV Technology & Coating Specialist (561) 243-8442

Get your project finished in Hours not Days! 

Is UV Cured Hardwood Floor Refinishing Cost Efficient?

Nov 17, 2011

Caption Box

Return Furniture the Same Day with No VOC's

Yes, but it depends on the manufacturer and solid content.  Thanks to technology advancements of SPDI, Inc & CureUV.com the cost/sqft is very beneficial for the finisher because:

  • Reduced dry time, applications & labor
  • Less chance for error
  • Full Finish Cost: $0.08-$0.30 / sqft
  • And with 100% Solids there is No mixing, Less Shrinkage & 3 times more coverage/gallon
    • No Lap Lines / Zipper Marks

 Refinishing Over Dura Seal or Glitsa Type Coatings ($0.20/sqft):

  1. Waterborne/UV Curable Self-Sealing Topcoat 1 mil thickness
  2. Let water flash off 30-45 min
  3. Cure & DONE!

 Refinishing Over UV Cured Coatings ($0.08/sqft):

  1. Tape off section if spot repair is needed        
  2. Sand Scuff 220   
  3. 100% Solids UV Curable Sealer/Topcoat 1 mil thickness                          
  4. Cure & DONE!

Refinishing Over Oil Based Stain ($0.20-$0.30/sqft):

  1. Oil Based Stain
  2. Dry for 24 hours
  3. Adhesion Promoter
  4. 100% Solids UV Curable Sealer/Topcoat 1-2 mil thickness (repeat steps 4&5 until proper build is achieved; Prefinishers apply 5-10 total coats; most refinishers apply 2-3 total coats)
  5. Cure & Sand Scuff 220
  6. 100% Solids UV Curable Sealer/Topcoat 1 mil thickness
  7. Cure & DONE!

 100% UV Curable Process (UV stain cost varies based on tint amount + $0.20-$0.30/sqft) :

  1. Adhesion Promoter
  2. 100% Solids UV Curable Stain (1600sqft coverage)
  3. Cure & Sand Scuff 220
  4. 100% Solids UV Curable Sealer/Topcoat 1-2 mil thickness (repeat steps 4&5 until proper build is achieved; Prefinishers apply 5-10 total coats; most refinishers apply 2-3 total coats)
  5. Cure & Sand Scuff 220
  6. 100% Solids UV Curable Sealer/Topcoat 1 mil thickness
  7. Cure & DONE!

For more information contact a UV Technology & Coating Specialist (561) 243-8442

Get your project finished in Hours not Days!

Wood Finishing Coating Sales Rep – FL GA NC VA (part 2)

Oct 26, 2011

Entire Project can be complete in Hours, not Days!

Entire Project can be complete in Hours, not Days!

Frequently asked questions:

Q.  I have seen  Waterborne / UV Curable Sealer & Topcoats and 100% Solid UV Curable Topcoats.  What is the difference? 

A:  Waterborne / UV Curable Coatings contain the durability, scratch and chemical resistant properties from the UV cured part of the coating.  Each coating has their specific place for Industrial Finishing needs.  Is great if the manufacturing facility has IR to flash off the water within a few seconds or can wait approximately 15 min to flash naturally.  Then the coating is illuminated with a UV Light sourceto instantly finish the curing process.  Most of these coatings are Self-Sealing Topcoats which also increases production.  One more bonus is that cleaning of equipment is with water!  This Green Technology allows facilities to inexpensively dispose of and provides low VOCs / zero HAPs.  Some facilities do not have IR capabilities and therefore, prefer a 100% solid.

100% Solid UV Self-Sealing Topcoats allows for application then an instant cure with a UV light source.  Any coating that is not used can be reclaimed and reused to provide minimal waste.  Can be disposed of as solid waste when cured.  These coatings are 2 times more scratch and chemical resistant than conventional wood coatings.  There is no flashing of solvents with 100% Solids, so there is no shrinkage or orange peel appearance and reduced labor.  Many more millwork facilities are utilizing this finish for high end production projects like Marine, Private Aircrafts, furniture & hardwood floor finishing availble for in-house or on-site production.

For those that just want to stick to the basics, then look for Waterborne Finishing Coatings (stains, primers, sealers & self-sealing topcoats).  They dry just as fast as a lacquer because they are resin rich with 40% solids.  They are much more scratch resistant and  water / chemical resistant than flammable solvent based coatings.  Clean up is simple with water and allows for decreased disposal costs.  

Have more questions or looking for a specific coating?  Call us (561)243-8442 to speak with a Coating Specialist in your area.

UV Floor Coatings for Prefinishing & Refinishing Hardwood

Oct 26, 2011

UV Systems & UV Coatings for Prefinishing or Refinishing

UV Systems & UV Coatings for Prefinishing or Refinishing

Q:  Can hardwood floor re-finishers get the same quality UV finish as the pre-finishing manufacturing facilities?

A:  Absolutely!  The pre-finishing production facilities use a 100% solids UV finish that offers low shrinkage, more coverage per gallon, less applications, less labor with increased production and up time.  The 100% UV coating process actually costs about the same as conventional coatings per square foot because a little goes a long way.  Some manufacturer’s only have a hybrid waterborne / UV cure formula, but with the water flashing , there would still be shrinkage.

This form of green technology is the perfect balance of Performance & Environmental Sustainability.  These products conform to the requirements of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), Green Seal and LEED.  It has no VOC’s after instant UV light curing and zero HAPs.  So, weather prefinished or refinished, there will be no chemicals flashing off in your customer’s home or office. 

Despite what most have heard, UV curable coatings can be used for On-Site projects and can be completed in Hours, not Days!  Depending on your finishing preference the best place to get the UV curing systems is SPDI, Inc.  They can manufacture handheld UV systems, large industrial UV systems and everything in between.  They are the only company that work with coating manufacturers that allow for a 100% solids coating to be used outside of a manufacturing facility.

For more information on the types of UV Curable Coatings that could work for you contact a UV Technology & Coatings Specialist (561) 243-8442

Wood Finishing Coating Sales Rep – FL GA NC VA… (part 1)

Oct 19, 2011

Coating Specialists can help increase your ROI

Coating Specialists can help increase your ROI

Why is it so important that your wood finishing vendor be a business to business company?  Rarely are 2 projects the same and there are thousands of finishing products available! 

Building a friendship with your coating vendor is crucial for success.  If your Coating Specialist knows your preferences of viscosity, sheen, high build, low build, MDF vs exotic species and your spray system, then you increase ROI with fewer hurdles.

Look for a company that offers a full line of Industrial / Professional grade wood finishing coatings that are either solvent based OR green technology; not both.  If a coating manufacturer makes solvent based & green chemistry coatings, then just realize they are totally different chemistries and one of them will be at risk for being low quality.

Green chemistry coatings are either UV Curable 100% solids or Waterborne.  There are many companies that are manufacturing Waterbased coatings now, but few have mastered the art!  Poor chemistry leads to milky appearance, ambering, low solid content (-32% solids) and slow dry times.  Superior Green Technology will have no milky appearance, no yellowing, high solid content (+38% solids) which will lead to very fast dry times; even in high humidity!

Locate your local Finishing Rep to help find you the best stain, sealer, primer & self-sealing topcoats on the market.

What is the Difference Between UV-Cured Finishing Coatings & Conventional (Solvent Based) Finish Coatings?

Jun 29, 2011

Ultraviolet Sealer and Topcoat in 1UV-Cured Finishing Coatings. Why? Because they are focused on mass production that requires them to be efficient, have a consistently perfect product and finish projects on time. Recently, smaller Handheld UV Curing Systems have become available, where-as, in the past, an owner would be expected to pay over $30k to achieve these kinds of results.

UV Sealer and Topcoat in 1

Majority of large manufacturing facilities have converted to

So, what is all the hype of these Curable Coatings?

  • 2 times more scratch resistant
  • Buffs out easily – Guitar and Marine
  • No Buffing required – Moulding, Doors, Cabinets, and Floor
  • Do not change color with age
  • Chemically resistant
  • No mixing
  • Non-flammable
  • No shelf life
  • Green Technology – NO EPA issues, No VOC’s
  • Decreased production time
    • Less shrinkage (no solvents to flash off)
    • 3 times more coverage per gallon (approximately 1600 ft^2/gallon at 1 mil thickness)
    • Less applications
    • Rapid ROI

What about Conventional Finishing Coatings?

  • scratches easily
  • can change color with age
  • is not chemically resistant (even to water)
  • has to be mixed
  • is flammable
  • has a self life
  • has VOC’s
  • has a lengthy production time (2-72 hour cure time)