Aqua Coat

10/08/2026

"I have been experimenting with Water based finishes for more than 20 years now. I went through a water-based phase at one point in my career but gave up on it. Back then, the water-based finishes left a lot to be desired. However, they have come a long way in recent years and to the untrained eye, they rival traditional solvent based finishes. So, if you are tired of the solvent based finishes and want to try something a bit more ecofriendly, then take a look at the Aqua Coat products."

Luthier and instructor Robert O’Brien O'Brien Guitars recently completed an in‑depth evaluation of Aqua Coat High Performance Clear Grain Filler and Aqua Coat Instrument Lacquer. In his demonstration, he walks through the full workflow — from product application to final finish — showing how each step contributes to a smooth, fully filled grain surface and a high‑gloss, professional instrument finish. Using real instrument wood, he highlights the clarity, leveling, and build these water‑based products deliver. O’Brien also authored a detailed article on water‑based finishing, offering valuable insight for luthiers and woodworkers looking to modernize their finishing process.

https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=d9b29c10fbe822264bf71afb3&id=48d7cf401f

I have been experimenting with Waterbased finishes for more than 20 years now. I went through a waterbased phase at one point in my career but gave up on it. Back then, the waterbased finishes left a lot to be desired. However, they have come a long ways in recent years and to the untrained eye, t...

09/24/2026

“This box has been stained with Aqua Coat Red Mahogany Aqua Tone Stain and finished with 2 coats of Aqua Coat Instrument Lacquer Gloss. This is the first time I’ve used Aqua Coat stain and it is just stunning! Frankly, there is no doubt in my mind that the combination of Aqua Coat Stain and Instrument Lacquer is the absolute best there is! I’ve fabricated and sent over 500 boxes all around the world and Aqua Coat has been and will always be my “Go To” finish. The customer service is also second to none!”

Thank you, Rich, for sharing your photos. We love seeing the incredible work our customers create, and we’d love to see yours as well. Feel free to send your project results to [email protected].

The NEW Aqua Coat Instrument Lacquer is a premium water‑based acrylic/urethane blend engineered to deliver a flawless finish and superior protection across a wide range of interior surfaces. Its self‑sealing formula provides exceptional toughness, flexibility, durability, and hardness—offering long‑lasting resistance to marring, heat, scratches, and moisture.

Bring your wood projects to life with Aqua Coat’s water‑based Aqua Tone Stains. Made from the highest‑quality aniline dyes and pigments, these stains deliver rich depth, vibrant color, and professional‑grade clarity for any interior application.

👉 Shop Now at www.aquacoat.com

09/14/2026

Aqua Coat’s new Water-Based Instrument Lacquer delivers the clarity, resonance, and protection your instrument deserves—without the harsh chemicals. This premium acrylic/urethane blend crafted to elevate both the sound quality and durability of musical instruments.

Key Features:
-Enhanced Protection: Guards against mar, heat, scratches, wear, and moisture.
-Sound Preservation: Specially formulated to maintain the natural resonance of wood, ensuring clarity and richness in tone.
-Versatile Application: Ideal for wooden instruments, but also suitable for all wood, metal and plastic surfaces.
-Finish Options: Choose between High Gloss or Satin
-Sizes Available: Quarts, gallons, and 5-gallon buckets

Whether you're a luthier, a DIY enthusiast, or a professional musician, Aqua Coat’s Instrument Lacquer is crafted to protect your instrument while letting its true voice resonate. Ready to give your instrument the finish it deserves?

👉 Shop Now at Aquacoat.com
👉 Shop Now On Amazon

06/04/2026

In this video, luthier and instructor Robert O’Brien tests two Aqua Coat finishing products:
-Aqua Coat Water-Based High Performance Clear Wood Grain Filler
-Aqua Coat Water-Based Instrument Lacquer

He demonstrates how each product is applied, explains the workflow, and shows the results on instrument wood. The focus is on achieving a smooth, filled grain surface and a high‑gloss finish suitable for guitars and other fine instruments.

In this demonstration, O’Brien walks viewers through every stage of the finishing process using Aqua Coat’s water‑based High Performance Grain Filler and water-based Instrument Lacquer. He shows:
-How the pore filler behaves during application — how it spreads, levels, and begins to tighten as it dries.
-Drying characteristics — what to expect between coats and how to recognize when the surface is ready for sanding.
-Sanding between coats — the light leveling passes that ensure a flat, uniform surface without cutting through.
-How the lacquer layers build and level — each coat stacking cleanly, forming a smooth, optically clear film.
-The final appearance after proper finishing steps — a fully leveled, polished finish with exceptional clarity.

The completed finish showcases what these products are capable of: an ultra‑high‑gloss, mirror‑grade surface. The grain is completely filled, the film is crystal clear, and the final buff produces a deep, reflective shine with no witness lines, texture, or haze.

This video is designed to help woodworkers and luthiers understand exactly what to expect from Aqua Coat’s water‑based system — from pore filling to final polish — and how to achieve a flawless, professional‑grade finish on instruments and fine furniture.

In this video, luthier and instructor Robert O’Brien tests two Aqua...

05/21/2026

If you’ve ever painted oak cabinets, you know how stubborn that heavy grain can be. No matter how many coats you apply, it still shows through and keeps your finish from looking truly professional.

In a new video from Woodworking with Wes Woodworking With Wes , you’ll learn:
-Why oak grain shows through paint
-How to properly use Aqua Coat White Cabinet Grain Filler
-The most common mistakes people make when painting cabinets
-How to achieve a smooth, glass‑like finish with fewer coats

Aqua Coat White Cabinet Grain Filler is a fast‑drying, easy‑to‑apply gel designed to fill deep pores and create a paint‑ready surface. Its small particle size, excellent adhesion, and high solids content help minimize paint absorption and deliver a flawless finish. It sands easily, cleans up with water, and is the go‑to choice for painted cabinet projects.

When painting, the white filler offers better visibility, stronger adhesion, and superior filling power compared to clear—making it the ideal option for a smooth, consistent painted surface.

Ready to transform your cabinets? Shop Aqua Coat to learn more and get started.

91 likes, 12 comments. "Don't Paint Oak Cabinets Until You Watch This"

04/15/2026

This video demonstrates the full water-based finishing process using Aqua Coat High Performance Clear Grain Filler followed by Aqua Coat Instrument Lacquer on a ukulele. See how the grain filler is applied to open‑pored woods to level and seal the surface, helping create a smooth foundation for the final finish. This video walks through proper application techniques, drying time, and sanding between coats to achieve a flawless base.

After the grain is filled, the demonstration transitions to applying Aqua Coat’s Instrument Lacquer, showing how it builds clarity, depth, and protection, ensuring richness in the tone of musical instruments. The video highlights spray technique, coat layering, and the lacquer’s fast‑drying, water‑based performance. By the end, the piece showcases a smooth, professional, high‑gloss finish ideal for guitars, violins, and other fine instruments. Along with wood stock, interior cabinets, trim, doors and furniture.

AQUA COAT IS THE LEADER IN GRAIN FILLING TECHNOLOGY

Visit Aqua Coat at www.aquacoat.com.

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03/17/2026

Everyone wants to paint their golden oak cabinets. Paul Mayer from ToolMetrix shows how he used Aqua Coat White Cabinet Grain Filler in his own kitchen to help him get a super smooth finish before he primed and painted.

Aqua Coat White Cabinet Grain Filler is an easy to apply gel that you use to fill the pores and grains on hard to fill woods when painting. This small particle size grain filler penetrates and seals the pores minimizing the absorption of your primer and paint, helping to achieve a glass smooth finish. It is easy to apply, dries fast, sands easily, and is water clean up.

03/17/2026

Take a look at this episode of The Luthier's Workbench demonstrating and talking about Aqua Coat Clear Grain Filler.

Luthier, Chris Monck, discusses Aqua Coat Clear Grain Filler and why he considers it an excellent option for filling pores in wood, especially on guitars.

Chris highlights key advantages:
-Easy to apply gel
-Eco-Friendly, low odor, low VOC
-Fast, Clear‑drying, non-yellowing
-Water‑based, easy cleanup formula

Demonstration Focus
-The video shows how to apply Aqua Coat Clear Grain Filler to a guitar body.
-Emphasis on using it after staining to maintain color clarity, but stain can also be applied over the grain filler.

The process includes:
-Application
-Drying times
-2-3 Coats necessary
-Showing the final look of a guitar using Aqua Coat Clear Grain Filler to attain an extreme clarity, glass smooth finish

You can watch this episode on Aqua Coat Clear Grain Fillers on YouTube. Chris's advice and hands-on demo make it a valuable resource for anyone looking to elevate their finishing game.

AQUA COAT IS THE LEADER IN GRAIN FILLING TECHNOLOGY

In this episode of From The Luthier's Workbench, I talk about Aqua Coat Grain Filler, how awesome it is and how to apply it on a guitar body to get a smooth ...

03/11/2026

Aqua Coat White Cabinet Grain Filler is an easy to apply gel that you use to fill the pores and grains on hard to fill woods when painting. This small particle size grain filler penetrates and seals the pores minimizing the absorption of your primer and paint, helping to achieve a glass smooth finish. It is easy to apply, dries fast, sands easily, and is water clean-up. Aqua Coat is the leader in grain filling technology.

When painting, Aqua Coat White Cabinet Grain Filler is the way to go because it has more visibility than the clear, better adhesion and higher solids performing better in less coats!

Through March 22, 2026, receive 10% off and free shipping on Pint, Quart and Gallon size Aqua Coat White Cabinet Grain Filler, by using discount code white10 at www.aquacoat.com.

02/25/2026

Take a look at this video of Luthier Robert O’Brien O'Brien Guitars answering a viewer’s question about alternatives to traditional pore fillers and demonstrates how to use Aqua Coat Clear Grain Filler on an instrument body.

Key Points Covered
• Why Aqua Coat: Robert introduces Aqua Coat as a water‑based, easy‑to‑use pore filler that avoids the fumes and mess of solvent-based fillers - while helping you achieve a full, professional finish in fewer coats.
• Application Process: O’Brien shows how to apply the filler directly to the wood, working it across the grain to push it into the pores.
• Drying & Sanding: After the first coat dries, he lightly sands the surface and applies a second coat to fully fill the pores.
• Compatibility: He notes that Aqua Coat works well under a variety of finishes, including waterborne and solvent-based topcoats.
• Results: The demonstration shows that multiple thin coats build up a smooth, pore-free surface suitable for high-quality instrument finishing.
• Final Thoughts: He recommends Aqua Coat as a clean, effective option for luthiers looking for a simple pore-filling solution.

You can watch Robert O'Brien's video on Aqua Coat Clear Grain Fillers on YouTube. His practical advice and hands-on demo make it a valuable resource for anyone looking to elevate their finishing game.

Luthier and Instructor, Robert O'Brien, answers a viewer's question about pore fillers. He then demonstrates how to use Aqua Coat brand pore filler on a guit...