International Original Varnish

[davidpbo]

Re-varnished the few bits of wood outside with International Original yacht varnish in July or August last year before we took it up to Winderemere last year were it stayed until October. I was very unhappy with the way it lasted particularly on a ply locker cupboard top. I don't recall how I prepared surfaces or how many coats I used, probably sanding then kight sanding between coats.

The rear step which may have had more coats seems to have fared better.

What are other people's experience of this product?

 

[VicS]

Re-varnished the few bits of wood outside with International Original yacht varnish in July or August last year before we took it up to Winderemere last year were it stayed until October. I was very unhappy with the way it lasted particularly on a ply locker cupboard top. I don't recall how I prepared surfaces or how many coats I used, probably sanding then kight sanding between coats.

The rear step which may have had more coats seems to have fared better.

What are other people's experience of this product?

Not used it ... for ply bits and pieces ( locker tops and washboards) and the dinghies I have always used International Yachtpaints' single pack polyurethane ..." Compass" being the current one. No complaints!


They describe "Original" as "A traditional yacht varnish with UV resistance. Features include excellent flexibility, ease of application, good gloss retention, and non-blooming qualities. A high
clarity finish especially suited to lighter colour timbers."

They recommend a minimum of three coats

http://www.yachtpaint.com/MPYACMDatasheets/Original+eng+A4+Y+20141215.pdf


I appled 6 coats to bare wood when I made new locker tops ( 3 to 5 minimum recommended for Compass)

 

[TimBennet]

I use Original a lot if I need the flexibility found with a traditional varnish and can't justify the expense of Schooner.
I've found it's pretty good - easy to keep a wet edge and good flow characteristics so you can get a great finish.
Three coats plus a thinned primer coat is the bare minimum rubbing down between each coat.
But I would think 5 is my usual number of coats.

Compass is also great for things like plywood, especially if you start with four coats of the two pack fast primer.
Both primer and Compass give a fast build up and in warm weather can be done at two coats per day, only needing to sand every other coat.
Compass is slightly harder to keep a wet edge and it more prone to go off in the tin. A little Thinners No1 helps it flow better.

Using any sort of varnish is not easy, and I've found the human variable to be the most significant when it comes to a varnish job being successful or not.

 

[davidpbo]

OK so it seems that I am not using completely the wrong product.

I am sure it was what I used before and that lasted a couple of years, although it might have been Goldspar.

 

[VicS]

OK so it seems that I am not using completely the wrong product.

I am sure it was what I used before and that lasted a couple of years, although it might have been Goldspar.

Goldspar was a single pack polyurethane . It's what I used prior to Compass. The satin finish one is still available but the gloss version was replaced by Compass.

I forget what came before Goldspar.