Fini from SPC in Canada is an acrylic water-based fast dry glaze. Fini is appreciated by decorative painters due to exceptional results and time saving advantages. Fini is used in place of water as it combines properties of an extender, blending medium, control medium, stroke medium, and faux glazing medium all in one application.
Fini is mainly used as a paint thinner and for ”side loading” the brush permitting the artist to achieve superior ”floats”, finer linework and more consistent strokes without brush marks. Fini was developed for faux-finish professionals doing color washing and marbleizing over large surfaces such as walls ceilings and floors. However craft painters picked up on Fini’s versatility and have adopted the all-in-one glaze as a teaching staple.
Fini is considered ”non-toxic” but, and however, the user is cautioned to wear latex gloves, work with ventilation, avoid skin contact and keep out of the reach of children and pets. Fini’s ability to adhere to all substrates without priming also raises questions concerning chemical composition.
A major art and craft materials company sent us a preliminary sample of’ ”Bolero”, a comparable version of SPC’s Fini. Bolero can be called a generic orphan because its from the same family but different as Bolero will be certified and branded as non-toxic by a reputable third-party testing agency. Bolero is 35% better priced at the wholesale level.
Fini may release toxic ingredients when tinted on interpretation of SPC’s product literature: ”Contains no lead or toxic ingredients when not tinted. Liability is limited to product replacement only.” No ingredients are listed on the label. Our faux ”fini” was trickier to mix paint with and lacked translucense. Drying was quicker and more patchy with Bolero. The sealing and floating comparisons were acceptable and there was less color separation in tests with Bolero.
Earth Safe Finishes of Los Angeles is the only CHA member that offers products with no VOC’s. Volatile organic componds or VOC’s accelerate the drying time of paints and finishes. The VOC evaporation process emits gasses which may continue for months after the product has cured. Known effects of VOC’s are nausea, headaches, liver damage and asthma and many more according to Nancy Burkhart of Earth Safe.
Generation Green from Earth Safe is priced as gourmet granola which has limited distribution despite a quality beyond reproach. Products like Fini occupy a grey zone concerning toxic health risks as research on VOC’s carcinogenic properties are not presently conclusive enough to force adjustments to Federal regulation.
”Keep your love of nature, for that is the true way to understand art…” (Vincent Van Gogh).
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