Varnish over stained wood

Is it okay to use varnish over stained wood?  I am in the process of building 4 seats (in the Montana Boatbuilders fashion) and have used a walnut stain on one of them.  I love the way it turned out and it is going to look great with a gloss finish.  But upon reading some info on Jamestown's website, most Interlux products have no application procedure for wood that has had stain applied.  It does however discuss "bare" wood and that it should be cleaned with their 333 product.  I am afraid what that may do to the stain that is already applied.

 

Are there other products that can be used to attain the high gloss finish that are also UV resistant, that can be applied over stain?  Thank you for your input!

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Permalink Reply by Dave Z on March 9, 2011 at 6:07pm

oil based stain?  alcohol based stain?

 

I like the solar lux pigment stains by Behlen.  Used them on the first 16ft drift boat I built over fir.  then epoxy, then varnish.  no adhesion issues.  This was a powdered wood alcohol based stain.  Basically, the alcohol evaporates and leaves the color behind.

 

Permalink Reply by Eric Loudenslager on March 9, 2011 at 6:54pm

If you used an oil (or solvent) based stain you should be fine.  The varnish is a solvent based product.  Don't clean it with 333 - the interlux brushing liquid - without testing it on a scrap.  333 is a mixture of kerosene and naphtha, it might be fine, it might not be.  Testing on a piece of scrap would be a good idea under any circumstance.  You will want to tack the stained wood to get rid of dust nibs before varnish.  Another solvent to use to wipe down the stained seats would be good old mineral spirits.  Again, test on a scrap.

 

There is actually more challenges using a solvent or oil based stain under epoxy.  Epoxy does not adhere well to oil treated wood.  Dave Z. used an alcohol based stain.  Alcohol seems to be compatible with some of the epoxies.  I have used pure ethanol to dilute epoxy when coating plywood (10 - 25%) and it set up just fine.

Permalink Reply by Eric Loudenslager on March 10, 2011 at 8:43pm

Jordan,

 

Seems I provided a few suggestions for the first part of your post and ignored the last sentence and question.  Yes, there are a number of products that could be used.  Check Bristol Finish and see what they say about applying over stain.  Also take a look at General Finishes various varnishes, urethanes, and lacquers.  A number of General Finish clear coats identify that they can be applied over both solvent (oil) and water based stains.  Some of these products are water based and others are traditional oil based.

 

I have no idea how any of those would hold up on a drift boat.  Some are specifically tagged as being applied to exterior building trim and the like.  

 

Good luck

 

 

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