Wooden Boat People

By McKenzieDriftBoat.com

Buffing out varinsh

Does anyone have any experience buffing or rubbing out varnish. I sprayed my drift boat and can't seem to avoid orange peal in the finish. I have tried brushing but I get runs. I get a run free job with the spray system but can't avoid the orange peal. I know Festool has a system for sanding and buffing oil and varnish. The problem with that is, if you could find it you need to take out a second mortgage to buy it.

Any advice?

thanks Al

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Permalink Reply by Jayson Hayes on November 2, 2015 at 6:08am

Don't wax!!!! You don't want that contaminating the surface of you're varnish and creating "fish eyes" if you ever need to do any repairs or finish maintenance. Patience and a good brush on your last coat is the key and don't forget to use Japan dryer, it will help the finish kick a little quicker and prevent those sags in your final coat. Also i have had pretty good luck with using a cheese cloth and mineral spirits to rub out and buff light sags and other imperfections in the finish but never use anything but mineral spirits, other solevants are way to "hot" and can compromise your finish, ........just my 2 cents

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Permalink Reply by Al Strom on November 2, 2015 at 8:28am

Thanks Jayson

That is what I was told, wax could be a problem if I need to do repairs. I have a good brush it's patience that may be a problem. What is Japan dryer and where do I get it.

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Permalink Reply by Jayson Hayes on November 2, 2015 at 9:32am

Al, Japan Drier is just an additive you can use for oil-based finishes that will help your finish coat dry a little quicker and harder on the surface

you can get it at your local hardware store in the finishes section, usually by the solevants

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Permalink Reply by tungsten on November 13, 2015 at 6:57am

Wondering how it turned out?Where you able to figure out why the orange peel from spraying?

I have an upcoming project and was going to spray.What kind of gun and what size tip did you use thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Al Strom on November 23, 2015 at 10:28am

Tungsten, sorry it has taken so long to reply, I've been laid up. It looks like it will be next spring before I get back to the project. I used an Earlex HV 5500 sprayer and I get orange peel every time I used it. I restored a another boat a year ago and had the same problem. I think I'm going to go back to the brush.