Wood Finish Products Have Secret Ingredient

Wood Finish Products Have Secret Ingredient FARM HOME Furniture Water-based finishes tend to appear milky when first applied In the case of Vermont Natural Coatings there’s a perfect explanation The “secret” ingredient in the company’s formula is whey Andrew Meyer owner of the company says it’s high protein whey that’s left from making quality cheese The resulting PolyWhey® is a renewable resource with 25 percent less VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds “The advantage is that it has a very strong bond without the chemicals ” Meyer says “One of our missions is to eliminate solvent-based products on the market With concerns about individual health and environmental issues there’s no need for those any more ” The owner of a Vermont dairy farm started the business after consulting on agriculture policy with a U S senator With an emphasis on diversification and added value his research led him to scientist Dr Mingruo Guo and his team They had figured out how to use the strong proteins in whey as a bonding agent in coatings Meyer incorporated Vermont Natural Coatings in Hardwick Vt and started manufacturing a furniture finish in 2008 The company now has several products including furniture and floor finishes and exterior or interior stains in eight colors Products come in satin semi-gloss gloss and matte “The immediate advantage is they don’t have a strong solvent smell that gives headaches and irritates eyes ” Meyer says There is no lingering odor when it is applied so homeowners don’t have to move out for two weeks when they finish floors for example “Another advantage is that when you put down the finish it flows nicely without brush marks or streaks Finally its durability is a long-term benefit ” Meyer says Costs run about $77 for the furniture finish which Meyer says is comparable to other quality products About 300 retailers sell Vermont Natural Coatings mostly on the West and East coasts More dealers are being added and the company also sells direct through its website “There’s a lot of change in the industry and quality and safety is important ” Meyer says His company continues to work with dairy producers and cheese makers to keep a steady supply of protein-rich whey for all its products Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Vermont Natural Coatings Inc 190 Junction Rd P O Box 512 Hardwick Vt 05843 ph 802 472-8700; www vermontnaturalcoatings com; info@vermontnaturalcoatings com

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