easy varnish

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bluevelvet

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I have just varnished my instrument cowl using burgess U/V woodsealer 2 coats and have applied 5 coats of their topgloss all done in 3 hours looks great. has anyone used this stuff and how did it last John
 
I think Classic Boat mag included this stuff in a long term test they are doing on varnishes- end of last year?? Cant find my copy of the mag. Is it the water-based stuff? If so I think it needed frequent redoing to maintain finish, but this is (comparativly) easy to do.
Doesnt anyone with a wooden boat dream of the perfect varnish - easy to apply, nice glossy resillient finish, easy to maintain.... or is it just me that doesnt like sanding, painting, sanding, painting, sanding, painting....
 
I know exactly what you mean, although in the meddy at least it's a pleasant pastime, I put 3-4 coats on a year, on a base of 10-12. That seems to hold up OK. Masts, covering boards, kingplanks etc and bulwarks are in coelans. The masts have been up 4-5 years and are still perfect.
 
I used Burgess just as you stated 2 years ago on parts of my brightwork and yacht varnish on the rest.
I have now removed all the varnish before it fell off and have replaced it with Burgess and topgloss, I also did the floor in the cabin and all the woodwork inside and as far as I'm concerned I will never use a varnish again.
A wash with soap and water a quick rub with a scotch pad and a couple of coats with 30mins drying time is by far the best way forward for me.
As CCScott49 says 3-4 coats of varnish a year on top of 10-12 coats will stand the med sun, but come on, where do you get 10 days of varnishing weather in the UK
It will never look as good as many coats of varnish but is much easier to apply and is very weather forgiving.
Here is the inside cabin after bugess application

[image=link]www.gbwoodies.com/woodie_pictures/32s/32-390.jpg[/image]

Tom
 
I was at desperation point trying to keep up with the boat in UK, I even considered paint!!! (sorry) But now I can sail and varnish! Phew!
 
Stick with good varnish in the meddy, used burgess once on my teak laid cabin roof, looked wonderful for about three months!! Took me ages to get the stuff off, when it went a sort of mucky yuek colour. That was in my learning curve days, used Deks olye aswell, never again, all mine is either coalans, epifanes or the decks, nowt. Learnt the hard way, 20 years of trying short cuts, never found anything better than epifanes.........Yet!!!

Although I do use the "coat on dry" hardhout olie, version of epifanes now, to get a fast build up, about 8 coats, a good flatting, 4 more coats, flat again, smooooooth, then a coat of epifanes straight gloss. It works for me.
 
Re: Coelan, Epifanes or nowt.

I've tried most of the over the years except Coelan, but have always found the best to be Epifanes, cut down with Turpetine (not Tups substitute/white spirit).

If only it would stop raining......
IanC
 
Re: Coelan, Epifanes or nowt.

That's the way, real tree turps!! Keeps your brushes really well, doesnt evaporate as much as subs.
Trouble is the smell tends to attract other classic boatie types over, for a blether, never get any work done!
 
"used burgess once on my teak laid cabin roof, looked wonderful for about three months"

Never, Never, Never, use Burgess without putting Topgloss on, I think that both products used together are much better (than varnish) in this country due to the ease of useand application, but I would never use Burgess stain on its own or for that matter Topgloss.
When I do escape this working life I'll let you show me how it should be done:-))

Tom
 
This wasnt burgess stain, it was burgess special sealer stuff for teak, bloody useless, still may be different now. I put it on exactly as per instructions.

Demonstrations are available, book in for a course!
 
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