Varnish removal???

[Guest]

What do you guys reckon is the best method of removing varnish from a 1930's clinker classic dayboat? she is about 14ft

Lots of Nitromoores and sandpaper?

Thanks in advance.

Stephen

www.ransbyoceanchallenges.com

 

[ccscott49]

Dont use nitromors, it has a habit of staining the wood. I use and swear by, a heat gun and very good quality triangular scrapers, the hard metal ones. Be careful not to burn the wood, as this will be awful to get out, if you ever do. Practice on some unobtrusive part of the boat. An orbital sander with very good discs(3M) will do the sanding for you. Any stained wood, try oxalic acid. I have a 57' wodden boat with all varnished cabins and wheelhouse, bulwarks etc. and this is how I've developed over the years. Best of luck. Colin.

 

[Guest]

It depends upon the varnish. I've removed a lot of old "brittle" varnish with a good quality scraper. I don't like the triangular ones - I prefer a the flat type where you can use the other hand on top of it for a bit of extra grip, and you can change the blades too. Practice is the key - you'll make some marks in the beginning.

Some types of varnish are more elastic and can be hard to remove - I've never used a heat gun but it's an option.

Lost in Denmark - a yachtsmans paradise!

 

[Mel]

I have used a Heat Gun followed by a mini detail orbital sander and hand sanding for a few years now with
excellent results

 

[AndrewB]

I use Nitromors - but always the 'Craftsman' type which is cleaned with white spirit. Compared with the water-washable version (a) it is cleaner and more manageable, avoiding spills on surrounding areas, (b) you don't end up soaking the newly bared wood.

Paint on the Nitromors, leave for a few minutes, scrape off with a skarsten (hooked blade) scraper, wipe down a couple of times with a rag well soaked in white spirit, allow to dry, sand.

Don't press too hard with the scraper as it will leave a really nasty gash if it skids. A skarsten scraper will remove varnish unaided, but the risk of gashing is too great.