masts again!

[ray275]

All the advice is excellent and a big help. The main mast has laid on top of the deck for about five years maybe less the weather has caused one side to go grey,rather like oak in the garden if not treated the other side has one coat of varnish and this I have peeled off. Do I sand with an orbital sander to original wood grain? The old salt said to rub it with wire wool to remove but I am not getting any younger nor is my poor old girl (the boat) and this I have tried and would think about five years to complete! When back to wood will seal and coat with about two coats of Le Tonk and then cover with protection whilst it is here at home and until I eventually finish Prescila. I have found the old owners daughter who was so pleased somebody was attempting to restore her dads boat, he has passed away, but wonders of wonders! she has the sails!!!

 

[sinna42]

I have just got my boat in the water after a very long refurbishment.
Boom and especially the mast were badly blackened by being left in the elements. I sanded down the entire mast and managed to remove all the blackened areas successfully - ok probably had to remove a mm from the surface to acheive this !
Any renewals were done using Oregon pine which has a very similar appearance to Spruce.
Varnished with 6 coats Epifanes - lovely and shiny now !!

Good luck - it can be a long haul !!

 

[nrorke]

I sanded mine down with an orbital sander - the new oscilating ones are excellent - and gave the bared wood a good coat of linsed oil. I left this to soak in for a while before varnishing it with International. It's important not to varnish too soon as the oil will stop the varnish soaking in and adhering properly. I did this to mine fifteen years ago, and apart from a light sand and re-varnish each season, it has required no other maintainance, and still looks as good as it did then.

 

[dur]

The "random orbit" sanders are v. good but still draw little circles if the paper is too coarse. Previous owner had done this to my mast and it took a great deal to remove the circles which I did by stripping with a very sharp scraper (get a diamond file to keep it sharp) then sanding with the grain.