Javelin
Well-Known Member
We've been running tests for numerous years on various varnishing techniques and products.
In the yard we don't usually get much time to get a great finish as the customer wants his boat NOW.
So we needed a way of getting the look of 10 coats of varnish fast.
However we also need the finish to be durable as most of our customers come back and boy we'd hear about it if the varnish peeled off or discoloured after a season or two.
I thought I'd let you know what is currently in vogue.
For individual pieces or sections that won't endure much expansion/contraction.
Sand smooth, clear dust and then wipe with acetone.
Then we use three or four coats of Bonda Wood Hardener.
This soaks into the wood so usually you'll need 3 or 4 coats on bare wood or 2 or 3 on old sanded varnish.
Different woods soak more than others.
It's not actually designed for doing what we're doing. We kind of found out by accident.
It goes off using the moisture in the wood and the air and not with heat.
So we coat in the morning and then at the end of the day.
Use disposable brush as acetone, white spirit, turps doesn't seem to clean the brushes.
Once we've got a nice depth we use 1000 or 1500 grit wet n dry and then two coats of tipped off International UV varnish.
For us that gives us a 10 day finish in less than a week.
In the yard we don't usually get much time to get a great finish as the customer wants his boat NOW.
So we needed a way of getting the look of 10 coats of varnish fast.
However we also need the finish to be durable as most of our customers come back and boy we'd hear about it if the varnish peeled off or discoloured after a season or two.
I thought I'd let you know what is currently in vogue.
For individual pieces or sections that won't endure much expansion/contraction.
Sand smooth, clear dust and then wipe with acetone.
Then we use three or four coats of Bonda Wood Hardener.
This soaks into the wood so usually you'll need 3 or 4 coats on bare wood or 2 or 3 on old sanded varnish.
Different woods soak more than others.
It's not actually designed for doing what we're doing. We kind of found out by accident.
It goes off using the moisture in the wood and the air and not with heat.
So we coat in the morning and then at the end of the day.
Use disposable brush as acetone, white spirit, turps doesn't seem to clean the brushes.
Once we've got a nice depth we use 1000 or 1500 grit wet n dry and then two coats of tipped off International UV varnish.
For us that gives us a 10 day finish in less than a week.
