Varnish question

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oldvarnish

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I see there are already a couple of threads on varnishing - the weather must be getting better!
I'm struggling to remember the name of a varnish substitute - I think it's an oil, applied by brush, and possibly Scandinavian. Anyone recognise it, and recommend it as a cockpit varnish?
 
Probably Deks Olje which is 2 part. No1 is a thin oil which is claimed to soak into the wood and No2 which is a solid varnish gloss coat.

Marmite product - some people swear by it, but others (perhaps those who have poured the stuff into their wood and watched it disappear) think it is overrated.

For cockpits, if teak, best left bare and washed regularly. bright finish for coamings etc suggest International Woodskin. Porous woodstain that is easy to apply, durable and UV resistant. Gives a reasonable gloss finish for far less effort than traditional varnish, lasts longer and easier to refresh or touch in.
 
My experience is that it depends whether the wood was treated previously or not. I did my toerails and hand rails with it, a major task as the product has such low viscosity. Both had been varnished previously. Deks Olje was a severe disappointment, flaking off during the same season that I applied it. At the same time I did my outboard bracket, a new piece of teak that I had been given. 15 years later it is still there and the teak looks good.

Recently I have treated a wooden mast and spars with International Woodskin after reading good reports of it in PBO and seeing some on a friend's boat in Greece, three seasons old and still perfect. It was remarkably easy to apply, just slosh it on with a big brush, no wet edge difficulties at all. Looks superb and will hopefully last well.
 
I'm liking the sound of this Woodskin. I don't think my cockpit trim is teak - too pale. The boat is fitted out in cherry and I imagine the cockpit trim is too. There's not much of it otherwise I wouldn't be varnishing - I've worked hard over the years to remove annual varnishing from my life.
 
oldvarnish said:
I see there are already a couple of threads on varnishing - the weather must be getting better!
I'm struggling to remember the name of a varnish substitute - I think it's an oil, applied by brush, and possibly Scandinavian. Anyone recognise it, and recommend it as a cockpit varnish?
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Deks Olje I tried on what little external woodwork I had. Like Vyv very disappointed.

Moved on to an International oil varnish .. "Swedish Wood Oil" ??? Better but still disappointing. No longer available anyway

Then moved on to Sikkens "Cetol Marine". Much much better. Sadly also nla but replaced by "Woodskin". Not tried it ( in fact my can of Cetol will probably see me out). Vyv's comments are encouraging though
 
Another disappointed Deks user here! Disappointed is in fact quite mild, I thought it was a rip off!

Ended up using a good quality wood preserver from Leroy Merlin (like B&Q).
 
I think these oils probably work best on softwood but not on hardwood (unless it's rotten!). To be effective they need to soak into the wood.

I tried Varnol and Deks Olje on my mahogany coachroof sides and the rsulting coating was extremely thin and easily rubbed off. It does penetrate well into any cracks and joints though so helps prevent rot starting there.
 
Have just spent, on & off, the better part of three months removing Deks Olje from all the woodwork on my upper scupper. There is a lot of it.
It was fine in the UK but last summer the increased Uv made it brittle and it started chipping off and flakeing. So off it all had to come.
Now giving International Protection Plus a try. Damned expensive but boy o boy does it look good.
Hoping it does what it says on the tin :D
 
parsifal said:
Do you mean Varnol. perhaps? Sold by a firm called Black Dog Stores, if I remember correctly.
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ITYWF that Varnol is no longer available, or at least no longer made. I guess once its gone its gone
 
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Yes, I tried Deks Olje and it really didn't work on teak. I have used what the French call "lasure" which is similar to Sikkens Cetol.

I have just re-done the peeling washboards (previously varnished) with a product I found with an outdoor guarantee of 12 years! I did my garden furniture in southern France with similar stuff about 12 years ago and it's just about in need of another coat. I did the coach rails last spring and they're fine even though the product only has a 6 year warranty.
 
I have used Deks Olje part 1 on SR's teak. Part 1 is the teak oil coat & is very thin so easy to apply. If you scrape the wood off first to bring back its natural colour then the oil makes it look superb, but it is not that long lasting.

If you apply it straight over "grey" weathered teak it perks it up nicely but does need doing every year (if not twice a year). I have never bothered with the part 2 varnish over coat which the others are complaining about.

BTW congrats on your recent transat passage.
 
Whats happened to this uroxsys stuff, CB tested it, but its only available in New Zealand as far as I know, but it is wonderful stuff. Sounds a bit like Coelan, but different finish, also Awlspar HS has now gone and it was also excellent stuf, they said it would be replaced with a uroxsys type product, but I'm still waiting. Hva tried many different varnishes and still keep going back to epifanes. But would give this uroxsys a go for sure.
Wont use decks again ****, varnol, as has been siad good for softwood, but now gone, all thes swedish oil saturator type products are useless on somethinmg like teak, even high pressure preservative wont soak in.
 
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I have used cetol and its lasted 4 seasons now and still looks good easy to apply and not to fussy preparation easy to touch up to,sadly it has been replaced by international woodskin,,,dont know if it is the same stuff just rebadged hope so
 
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