Varnishing Tips
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1332
Printed Date: 26 Jun 25 at 6:56am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Varnishing Tips
Posted By: Olly4088
Subject: Varnishing Tips
Date Posted: 30 Dec 05 at 8:07am
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All has anyone got any tips on varnishing???
------------- Phantom 1298 |
Replies:
Posted By: Phat Bouy
Date Posted: 30 Dec 05 at 10:18am
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What do want to varnish? There are different techniques depending on what you are trying to achieve, not to mention different varnishes.
------------- Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 30 Dec 05 at 10:43am
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Well the current varnish is not that bad but I just want to give it a couple more coats to make it look better.
------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: HannahJ
Date Posted: 30 Dec 05 at 2:13pm
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ooh can i join this, what's the best way of gettnig old varnish off?
And what concentration of paint thinner to varnish do you need if it's
on bare wood?
------------- MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 30 Dec 05 at 2:33pm
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It all depends on the varnish that you already have on there I know that much.
------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: Phat Bouy
Date Posted: 03 Jan 06 at 9:47am
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Generally speaking, you would probably be better off using a simple polyurethane. You will need to rub down past any nasties like crackling and get rid of those "black" areas. Use your finger tips to feel for uneveness or roughness. You should use a block such as a rubber one from DIY/Car stores, bare hands will cause uneven pressure on the glasspaper and will lead to a grotty looking finish. Use your finger tips to *see* the surface. Gradually, build up the varnish layers over the areas that received the most attention with the glasspaper. Use *thin* layers and let each one dry thoroughly before applying the next. Rub each surface down gently with progressively finer grades of glasspaper for each layer and look with your hands. When applying varnish to bare/new wood, use a mix of 50% varnish, 50% white spirit. This will soak into the wood and cause a lot of fibre ends to stand up. It looks very rough but when you sand it down gently with a block and paper you will get a much smoother finish for the subsequent layers of varnish. Apply up to 3 further thin layers, only gently brushing in the direction of the grain. For a professional finish on the topcoat, you must use a paintbrush that a) won't loose it's bristles and b) has very long bristles of about 5"/125mm. This means that the brush is going to be expensive but it will be worth it. Only gently brush along the lines of the grain and use as few a number of brush strokes as possible. Finally you need to "lay-off" the varnish. Hold the brush at a shallow an angle as possible and very, very gently stroke the brush along the grain. Have a practice on a spare piece or wood and see what result you can achieve, you will be amazed how easy it really is. It only takes patience and very gentle brushwork - Go luck! ------------- Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 04 Jan 06 at 12:53pm
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What about bare wood?? Does it have to be primed ------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: Isis
Date Posted: 04 Jan 06 at 3:34pm
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Posted By: Garry
Date Posted: 04 Jan 06 at 7:18pm
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Just one additional tip - if its an oily wood (teak, mahoganny) then wipe it with thinners first to remove any surface grease before the first coat, if you leave it more than about 20 minutes before starting degrease it again.
Oh and a roller gives you a better and more even finish than a brush. ------------- Garry Lark 2252, Contender 298 www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk |
Posted By: Phat Bouy
Date Posted: 06 Jan 06 at 2:36am
The best time to varnish is on a cool but windy day. If it is too hot then the varnish top surface set too quickly and the lower levels sometimes do not cure properly. You need the wind to keep the dust and flys down. So the best time of the year is early Autumn. Also remember to use a slightly tacky, not damp, wipe after each sanding. It's like everything else in life - the more effort you put in, the better the results!  The downside to all of this is that I can not pass a wooden boat without caressing it and I can get seriously appreciative of a good varnish job. Glassfibre does not come even close!  ------------- Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 10:21pm
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Rite I did the first coat looked good. Left it longer than the suggested time on the back of the tin to be on the safe side, put the second coat on this evening and I have just been out to check it and there are some ripples in it. The coat that I put on this evening was a thin coat so it can of happened because I put it on to thick. Has anyone got any idea why this has happened and what can I do to rectify it??????????????? ------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 10:28pm
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Did you sand it all after you put on the first coat? ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 10:30pm
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yeah. light sanding. what am I doing wrong???? ------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 10:31pm
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Did you sand it till it was completely flat? Normally takes fookin ages! ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 10:33pm
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yep completly flat on raises or bumps, to say i'm a little peeved is an understatement. I'm trying to get it ready so that I can have a bash at the tiger trophy. And it still has all of the adjustable rigging to do. not sure if I will make it. ------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: Phat Bouy
Date Posted: 09 Jan 06 at 10:19pm
Does it look a bit like the texture of an orange? If so, it has probably dried too quickly. Another cause could be if the surface is on an angle and the varnish has slid down as it was setting. If it is the latter, you need to work from the lower edges and brush upwards checking for runs as you go. If you are using a roller make sure that it is not dragging or if you are using a brush keep it loaded and don't try to brush it out too much. Use a block and a rougher sandpaper to remove the the ripples, say about 400 grit. ------------- Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 10 Jan 06 at 11:39am
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If I did the varnishing on sunday when should I sand it down and apply the other coat??????
------------- Phantom 1298 |
