Epifanes and dew

[oilybilge]

This year I switched from International Original to Epifanes High Gloss Varnish and three times so far the dew has got to it in the evening and turned it frosty and streaked with raindrops. This never happened with the International: I always reckoned if I got it on half an hour before the rain came I'd be fine.

I'm wondering if epifanes is formulated for people who have temperature-and-humidity-controlled varnishing tents, and those of us who do our varnishing in windy old boatyards, sometimes in the afternoon (gasp, shock) need something more rugged? Anyone else had this problem?

 

[Sumara of Weymouth]

Yes, I know that problem. I think this year with very warm days has tricked us into varnishing too late in the day. I try to finish around 14:00 in the shade or 15:00 in the sun and that seems to work. I very much doubt International would be much different. Epifanes works for me.

 

[oilybilge]

Oh my that's a nice-looking boat. What is it?

I've been reading that epifanes has a slow drying time and maybe that makes a difference.

 

[Sumara of Weymouth]

The boat is a Vertue built from one log of iroko. I have been varnishing her for 34 years! Those early finishing times that I suggested are only really for springtime when the temperature really drops off in the evening. You should be able to push it another hour or so in the summer. I normally add some Owatrol paint conditioner to retard the drying if it is sunny or windy.

 

[johnalison]

Oh my that's a nice-looking boat. What is it?

I've been reading that epifanes has a slow drying time and maybe that makes a difference.

I believe, though I don't know, that some varnishes such as Epiphanes require humidity to cure rather than just evaporating solvent. I certainly found that bringing small items varnished with Epiphanes into the house to dry meant that they took for ever to dry and leaving them out in the garage was much better. Dew may be excessive though.

 

[Egret]

Remember someone researching moisture curing polyurethane varnish in the 1960's, for one on the big manufacturers- at Hoo - different formulation on each part of the boat, lots of different tins came with the boat

 

[Egret]

It used to be said that you shouldn't varnish after the sun has risen over the yard arm - so about 11.00 am - when you then go to the club bar.

Epiphanes is a traditional Tung Oil/Alkyd varnish and does seem to take quite a while to dry.

I tend to leave it until June and only apply it on a nice sunny day, giving a good 6-8 hours before the dew starts to settle - so one hour before rain is taking a chance - but usually only the surface is spoiled so just a case of rubbing down an revarnishing on a better day.