Epifanes rapid clear varnish

[Lloydus123]

Hi, it’s time to re varnish my cabin top from bare . I’ve always used epifanes varnish , however this time I’m going to give epifanes rapid clear a go as I’m hearing good things , I was thinking to start and finish with epifanes normal gloss varnish , so the first few thinned coats with epifanes high gloss , build up in rapid clear and finish off with 2 high gloss . What I’d like to know is wether anyone has experience on using rapid clear on bare wood, as it says on the tin that rapid clear isn’t to be thinned ? If anyone can vouch for its un thinned capabilities on bare wood that’s wood be great

Thanks

 

[Dunx]

I did our cockpit table with it over winter (at home in the warm). I stripped to bare wood and just applied it. The finish is very good once built up. Previously I would have thinned a varnish too but from the results thus far it’s not needed.

 

[scozzy]

Haven't used epiphanes products but I can tell you as a decorator of 30+ years that the 1st coat of anything on bare timber should be thinned.Itll give it a chance to penetrate and "fill" the grain before the very porous nature of the timber itself dries it ,almost on contact,giving no bond gor further coats.
Then sand and build coatings from there.FWIW i never use varnish on boat timber just oil so it can breath

 

[Seashoreman]

Stripped all internal teak, veneer and solid, back to bare with chemical stripper. Light sanding. Three coats of Rapid Clear from the tin.
This was about 12 years ago. Still as good as new. Companionway steps are solid teak and obviously get a lot of use, these I
rubbed down and re-coated a couple of years ago.
Very little exterior wood to varnish but hope that helps a little.

 

[Lloydus123]

Stripped all internal teak, veneer and solid, back to bare with chemical stripper. Light sanding. Three coats of Rapid Clear from the tin.
This was about 12 years ago. Still as good as new. Companionway steps are solid teak and obviously get a lot of use, these I
rubbed down and re-coated a couple of years ago.
Very little exterior wood to varnish but hope that helps a little.

Thankyou good to hear , did you go with not thinning the first coat as per the tin ?

 

[Lloydus123]

Haven't used epiphanes products but I can tell you as a decorator of 30+ years that the 1st coat of anything on bare timber should be thinned.Itll give it a chance to penetrate and "fill" the grain before the very porous nature of the timber itself dries it ,almost on contact,giving no bond gor further coats.
Then sand and build coatings from there.FWIW i never use varnish on boat timber just oil so it can breath

Exactly my thinking , just epifanes rapidclear is thinner than some varnishes , and as per the tin it specifically tells you not to thin the varnish , which seems mad to me

 

[bob the ancient mariner]

I have been using rapid clear for the last few years on my exterior grab handles and gunwales, started from bare teak.No I did not thin the first coat,it is easy to apply and can build up 4 coats very rapidly. Then I normally apply 2 coats the following years, after washing and allowing to dry. The other advantage is a tin goes a long way ,and does not 'skin' in the tin, also easy to touch up any worn area. Good product

 

[Seashoreman]

Thankyou good to hear , did you go with not thinning the first coat as per the tin ?

Never thinned, straight out of the tin. Done on warm days in the spring.

 

[scozzy]

Exactly my thinking , just epifanes rapidclear is thinner than some varnishes , and as per the tin it specifically tells you not to thin the varnish , which seems mad to me

I'd be far more concerned with stirring the product thoroughly than adding a splash to help bonding/workability. No point adding a finish if all the good stuff is sitting in the bottom on the tin!

 

[saxonpirate]

I haven't used this particular product, so can't comment on it specifically, and won't. Others have said its fine, and that's ok by me..

However.. like @scozzy said in his post I've always been one to apply a thinned coat for penetration, and I've done this in a professional capacity over 40 years of yacht construction and repair.

Not knocking Epifanes here, as I said above I haven't used the product, and I'm well aware of the advances in paint technology (not all good) but I always get a little skeptical when words like rapid/fast are used for paints and varnishes. I've used enough of them over the years to warrant my skepticism. Fine for a small surface area on a still warm day.. try keeping a wet edge over a larger surface area with even a slight breeze and it becomes a different story.

 

[Lloydus123]

I have been using rapid clear for the last few years on my exterior grab handles and gunwales, started from bare teak.No I did not thin the first coat,it is easy to apply and can build up 4 coats very rapidly. Then I normally apply 2 coats the following years, after washing and allowing to dry. The other advantage is a tin goes a long way ,and does not 'skin' in the tin, also easy to touch up any worn area. Good product

Great to hear Thankyou

 

[Lloydus123]

I haven't used this particular product, so can't comment on it specifically, and won't. Others have said its fine, and that's ok by me..

However.. like @scozzy said in his post I've always been one to apply a thinned coat for penetration, and I've done this in a professional capacity over 40 years of yacht construction and repair.

Not knocking Epifanes here, as I said above I haven't used the product, and I'm well aware of the advances in paint technology (not all good) but I always get a little skeptical when words like rapid/fast are used for paints and varnishes. I've used enough of them over the years to warrant my skepticism. Fine for a small surface area on a still warm day.. try keeping a wet edge over a larger surface area with even a slight breeze and it becomes a different story.

I’ve never varnished in this fashion either , always the traditional way like you mention maybe I’ll go traditional thinned for first three and use rapid clear for quicker build up .

 

[saxonpirate]

I’ve never varnished in this fashion either , always the traditional way like you mention maybe I’ll go traditional thinned for first three and use rapid clear for quicker build up .

Sounds like a plan to me. Varnish work requires a lot of man hours and effort, so do whatever you feel comfortable doing. Even doing these things professionally.. I'll admit that at times a degree of experimentation was going on fueled by a little 'hope it'll be alright'..

New products will always have their immediate fans, and I've been part of that club like many others until the reality dawns that its just not as good as its cracked up to be. The likes of Deks Olje and Woodskin I'd put put in that category, especially the former. If you weren't a fan of Deks Olje in the 80s.. you hadn't arrived.. haha.

I settled on Blackfriars as my choice of varnish/finishes on the majority of major fit-out jobs I undertook over many years, always a success, and still use it now in retirement on my own boat. Never been disappointed. Not trendy, but it does the job, and does it well in my honest opinion..

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I use it un-thinned.

 

[Lloydus123]

View attachment 163401
I use it un-thinned.

That looks great, how are you finding the longevity?

 

[Buck Turgidson]

That looks great, how are you finding the longevity?

The boat is in Valencia with 365 days of blistering sun. I need to keep on top of it.

 

[Lloydus123]

The boat is in Valencia with 365 days of blistering sun. I need to keep on top of it.

How many coats did you go for ?

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I think that's 6 coats of rapid and 2 of gloss.

 

[steveeasy]

View attachment 163401
I use it un-thinned.

Wow. Now they look brilliant. So what did you do in the end. is this just sanding the existing cockpit seats, or did you replace the wood. whichever I bet your pleased. I used to pour varnish on mine. each time I left the boat. hard as nails.

Steveeasy

oh and new winches and matching cleats. Nice.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Wow. Now they look brilliant. So what did you do in the end. is this just sanding the existing cockpit seats, or did you replace the wood. whichever I bet your pleased. I used to pour varnish on mine. each time I left the boat. hard as nails.

Steveeasy

oh and new winches and matching cleats. Nice.

New solid seats. I paid a man to make them as it's above my skillset. They were fitted unfinished and I did the finishing. V happy but of course not the budget option!