Varnish

When I started my build I used Epifanes varnish.  It went on smooth. After a few coats on bare fir it gave it a nice, deep honey color.  But it seemed to take 36 hours to dry and seemed a little soft. After I ran out of that I switched back to Pettit Captains varnish.  That went on very smooth and gave a nice hard finish in less than 24 hours.  My only complaint is that each time I open the can after the first use I have the "pudding" film on top of the varnish that I have to filter out.  With Epifanes I don't have to do that.

 

So what do you guys use?  Pro's Con's? 

 

Thanks,

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Permalink Reply by Dobie Swift on February 27, 2015 at 5:52pm

Cap your varnish tight and then store it inverted with the lid down. The pudding will form on the bottom and not on the top. Learned that trick from a floor finisher.

Permalink Reply by Kurt Selisch on February 27, 2015 at 6:31pm

Gregg, I have had the same experience with my varnish. Dobie's comment sounds like a great and easy way to solve the problem and worth a try. The only other thing I have found is on Jamestown Distributers site they sell a Bloxygen varnish/paint saver. Looks like you just squirt a little in the varnish/paint container and it displaces the oxygen so the pudding does not form. I have not tried it, but was thinking about adding it to my next order to see how it works. 

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on February 27, 2015 at 9:41pm

Bloxygen is argon gas. I have used it and although I haven't opened the cans since I painted my boat. The shelf life once they were opened and reclosed was only a week or so and I did open the cans during that time and the paint was okay. So any non-explosive gas like argon or nitrogen will be heavier than oxygen and protect the paint from oxidation. The $15.00 I paid for the Bloxygen saved all more than $15.00 worth of paint and I have a lot left.

Rick N

Permalink Reply by Lawrence E. Long on February 28, 2015 at 6:06am

Gregg: Being a cheap old SOB I give it a shot of propane to displace the air. Now I know the EPA,OSHA,FBI, etc will be after me.  Just down't light up a Camel when you open the can

Good Luck

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