Varnish problem

[pugwash]

I bought some interior varnished panels home from the boat so I could tart them up in the peace and quiet of the garden shed. I sanded them down thoroughly with two different grades of wet'n'dry then dried them off. Applied Blakes Classic varnish. Next day realised there were some 'flat' patches where the shine was matt, as if the varnish had been sucked into the wood though this is unlikely since the surface was already well sealed by previous coats. I sanded and did it again, same problem but if anything more extensive. I have just sanded and done the third coat, this time 'pressing' the brush into the wood in case the varnish was not getting sufficiently into the grain. Same problem, though it's not as bad as before. When the varnish catches the light, instead of an even shine it looks blotchy.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[Tom Price]

[QUOTE What am I doing wrong?[/QUOTE]

Using the wrong varnish IMHO.

Strip it all off and start again using Sikkens Natural - a silky finish which is so easy to apply and renew you may wonder what you've been doing all these years.
(

 

[lw395]

Has the varnish filled the grain of the wood?
If not you need more coats.
Are the dodgy patches brush marks?
Try using slightly thicker coats or thinning with 5% or so white spirit.
A different brush may help.


Are the duff patches sticky? some varnish takes ages to harden over epoxy or contamination from polish etc.

Is the workshop too humid? Too hot?

Different people get good results with different varnishes, so find one you like and stick with it.
Some of the alternative finishes like sikkens are OK in some circumstances but most look like muddy brown gunge to me. OK for a garden chair, not appropriate for a dinghy foredeck. I may be generalising here!

So rub down with 240 grit finishing paper, clean with white spirit and try again!

 

[Tom Price]

[QUOTE Find one you like and stick with it. Some of the alternative finishes like Sikkens are OK in some circumstances /QUOTE]

My "circumstances" are inside and out, on teak, iroko and mahogany, with hard wear or decorative. Sikkens Natural is my best discovery since sliced bread.

 

[pugwash]

varnish

Thanks for the info. My cockpit, coachroof sides and hatch trim are all done with Blakes Classic, and much of the interior, and I've never had this problem before. I find it goes on well and looks good but the drawback is very long drying time. I've just applied a thinner coat that looks like it might be working. Cheers.

 

[snowleopard]

Are you putting like on like, i.e. not conventional on top of polyurethane or vv? Are you stirring the pot thoroughly before applying? Is the brush really clean?

 

[jay]

if i understand correctly the panels you bought were commercially varnished? if thats the case its highly likely they were done using a 2part "epoxy" type product and your conventional single part varnish is reacting with this. Strip back to the bare wood or use a modern varnish - much easier to use and quick drying anyway.

 

[xtiffer]

Normally 1 part is OK on top of 2 part.
2 part on top of 1 part is a no-no.
Cheers,
Chris

 

[stav]

In my limited varnishing experience:

Not putting enough on,
Not using a dry brush and or water/white spirit coming out of the ferrule.
Wiping down with white spirit and it not evaporating off before you are varnishing.
I suppose it could be not stiring enough before varnishing if it is an old tin.

Do not mean to teach you to suck eggs but if you are not use to varnishing more likely the first as it was my common mistake when I started as I was always worrying about runs and used cheap brushes that would not hold a lot of varnish....

Practise makes perfects!

 

[xtiffer]

In my limited varnishing experience:

Not putting enough on,
Not using a dry brush and or water/white spirit coming out of the ferrule.
Wiping down with white spirit and it not evaporating off before you are varnishing.
I suppose it could be not stiring enough before varnishing if it is an old tin.

Do not mean to teach you to suck eggs but if you are not use to varnishing more likely the first as it was my common mistake when I started as I was always worrying about runs and used cheap brushes that would not hold a lot of varnish....

Practise makes perfects!

Well said.
Buy a Badger brush and a tin of Epifanes and slap it on.
That will get you coverage and if your brushing was a bit rough
then sand with P220 and recoat carefully with 5% Epifanes Brush Thinner in it.
Cheers,
Chris