I looked up “Epifanes” on the net and found out it’s a manufacturer’s name that makes several coating products. I assume that this cracking is because the poly was too hard of a finish for this particular pine floor in this particular location? I originally used spar varnish on it in 2004. Is there a reason spar urethane should not be used for interior wood? What is a Varnish? . So if any of your paints re-activate on contact with water, you may have a problem. And the best method of putting varnish or other finish as an overcoat back on it that would not yellow? I stripped it down again. Here is the kicker- we have three large dogs that we are certain will continuously punish the floors in our new home. Hi Gail. Should we coat the entire table or just the top and sides (currently the bottom is left uncoated to allow the smell of cedar) Would it be possible to fill in the gaps with spar varnish? But I don’t usually like a real thick film so 3-4 coats wiped on is usually a good compromise for me. That would be cured finish. Polyurethanes are a good way to go. I bought 3/4 inch marine-grade plyboard that won’t bend or peel or decompose over time. Varnish FEATURES: Man O’ War Marine Spar Varnish gives the ultimate protection to your interior and exterior wood surfaces. The painters explanation was that VOC rules in Arizona only allowed him to use crappy varnish. I am looking for a good finish for a water wheel. Pro Tip: Spar marine varnish may require more coats than the spar urethane in order to gain the best results and durability levels, which can take longer, so patience may be needed. Based on what I’ve read on this site and others, I’m thinking that I should apply a few coats of spar vanish to finish the table. But the oil content in the mix results in a finish that is a little softer and doesn’t quite build as quickly or as thick as you would want on a floor. the carpenter put 2 coats of polyeurethane on it before it was installed, but the horns were cut in place… so had no finish. haha. we are building a teardrop trailer and would like to have a stained wood finish for the side walls (the top will be covered with aluminum). Also what daytime temprature would you think is too cold to work on the wood? I’ve only managed to make it through two episodes before I gave up on that one. I really like it that you suggested using spar urethane as a great coating for paddles, canoes, and wooden boats because it’s highly durable. Obviously, this is not suitable for outdoor applications since we need an outdoor finish to be flexible. Then, I put three thin coats of Helmsman Spar Varnish on it to protect it from the extreme weather conditions and sunlight. Spar marine varnish is intended for coating exterior wooden surfaces that are above the water line. They all yellow over time. Currently, I am using a water-base stain on Ash and I am thinking about trying Spar varnish to finish it. Re: Whats \"Yacht Varnish\" for? How often should she re varnish the wood to keep it in pristine condition? Spar Varnish soaks into the wood to keep the fibers in the wood from drying out. Hi Marc Anyway. I have also read about another spar varnish called Penofin…any advice will be much appreciated! Can I put a varnish over this even though a urethane was on it before? I have an old wood (oak) countertop that I’ve sanded. Here are the most common recipe ingredients: Oils – Linseed Oil or Tung Oil Not sure just how well a polyurethane varnish would adhere to those various materials. It is a kind of oil-based varnish that makes the objects glossy and protects them from external damage. It also has the ability to flex with the wood, expanding and contracting with changes in temperature.One difference between this and spar marine varnish is that the spar urethane is a synthetic product and can be either oil based or water based. I haven’t used them much so I don’t have a whole lot of experience to draw from. I have a formula that would consist of equal parts of boiled linseed oil,good turpentine,and gloss varnish. That said, you should be able to scuff sand, clean, and then apply a spar varnish. I have a 1960 Thompson boat I am getting close to varnishing. When a varnish is made, the ratio of oil to resin can have a dramatic effect on the way the varnish will behave. hard solution that is principally applied to wood to give it a glossy finish while forming a protective film around Lacquer is solvent-based. But many believe that tung oil is actually better for outdoor use. Even though there will be a bit more up-keep, I’m leaning towards the Spar Marine due to the amount of movement expected of the timber. Can you recommend a product?. Yes I do think marine varnish is a good option, but there are certainly more cost effective options. Much like the situation with oils, the better product is also the most expensive. Anyway, what would you recommend? Thanks for your assistance! But I think it’s more of a diminishing returns thing. You can play it safe and use de-waxed shellac under the marine varnish. I love the look of oil but want the benches to be useable and fear some ruined pants with using oil. We are refinishing cypress shutters on our home that were peeling and fading. As for woodworking shows, I’m a relatively new woodworker and I learn something every time I watch Wood Works and New Yankee Workshop. :). I live in a very wet environment. Polyurethane doesn’t seem to do either. Marc, I am trying to refinish a large round table. For vessels that are outdoors for most of the time, this can definitely be beneficial, as it can help to prevent paint from fading and wood from weakening. Hi there, We are installing Ikea butcher block countertops in our (heavily used) kitchen. The were originally stained with a gel stain and varnished. This water wheel is used in a fish pond, and I am worried about the varnish being toxic to the fish. The drawback though is that you’ll be applying it more often over the lifetime of the deck. They should all repel moisture effectively. It isn’t cheap, but I am partial to Epifanes. (The table color looks dead, while the leaves are alive.) I need some advice as to how to procede with a spar varnish product to provide a protective finish. It’s beautiful and rough, with spaces between the pieces that can catch crumbs. I bought some Old Masters exterior water based satin spar… but I think these are going to be too slick as well. If you are finishing wood with a natural or stained appearance today, you’re likely using some kind of varnish or polyurethane. thanks. Hard to say if they will be “as good” but they should work quite well. It is essentially a thinned epoxy that absorbs into the wood fibers and seals them quite nicely. Advice on that process using the unfinished 1 x 4’s or is there a way to paint the pressure treated shutters sooner than a year? Beth, Hello, I am interested in your advice concerning the finishing of an exterior fiberglass door. Southern exposure near Puget Sound this location sees a lot of weather (sun, wind, rain…). Willing to take time with this, and use the best varnish for this non-wood “craft” project. Since he wouldn’t need to repaint it more often, he’d really be saving a lot of money in using this water- and UV-resistant paint for his marine vehicles. So I would follow the advice of the pros. Oil-based wood finishes (varnish) and water-based wood finishes may seem the same, but there are significant differences between them. Hi, Eucaliptus poles, and plan to treat these with bora care to avoid ground termites. I used the spar urethane and it turned an amber look. (our maintenance man insists on it, but I don’t think it needs it). Sylke. You don’t have to mix it or sand between coats. I am building a home in FL on the beach and looking for a recommendation for a tongue and groove cypress porch ceiling. Do those products not work to your liking? That’s that I’d use. Thanks so much. We have decided to keep OLD MASTERS 92304 Spar Marine Varnish on our list of choices. I was told that the pressure treated needs at least a year to cure before paint could be applied. For instance, Minwax (Helmsman) Spar Varnish shows 3% pigments and 1.6% Ethyl-vinyl acetate by weight. 1) I have become concerned about food/wine stains ruining the table. I’m not sure which would be the best varnish for me to complete the project with. I appreciate your expertise! we are looking for an oil-based MATT finish exterior wood varnish for a beautiful knotty alder front door. I read about your rag application process as opposed to applying with a brush. Living in Utah we have huge changes in weather from 100 degrees summer days to snow all winter. Please help…. Probably a good option for your application. The main difference between the two is spar varnish will eventually chip or chalk off over time, while spar urethane will maintain a hard, shiny surface. So check it out! And so their resistance to UV is not much better than regular varnish. Should I use a poly, spar varnish, lacquer etc.? None of the finishes have lasted very long (especially the water based.) Thank you for the info you provide on your website! Generally speaking, phenolic resins are best-suited for outdoor use. Get kayak updates, guides, tips, gear reviews and offers sent straight to your inbox! Spar urethane will instead make a shiny hard surface and maintain the shine for long without getting affected. Waterlox, a tung oil is what we are using on our Ikea butcher block, it comes highly recommended. Afterwards i am planning to varnish these with a non yellowing, glossy clear varnish. We live in St. Louis Missouri, and purchased a 8 foot bamboo fence, in 20 sections, to install as our privacy fence. Spar varnish will be quite flexible and should do ok on a surface that has some movement. And you might be interested in this video I did showing how to make your own outdoor oil/varnish blend, good for extreme environments where routine maintenance is expected. Bottom line — need water/mold/moisture protection. Traditional varnish is oil-based and contains natural resins. Hey Nicole. We had to tear out and rebuild the living room floor in our 1912 house. Spar varnish and spar urethane are two very different compounds. I don’t know if this is standard practice for all uv-protecting varnishes but that’s at least one example. Or, maybe their “one step” stain and polyurethane? You can use spar varnish, but I would try to use it as part of an oil/varnish blend. I find it a little difficult to control and i don’t think it looks all that good. I want to use the original wood one and place a vessel on the top. If you think the spar would serve our purposes, do you think we can just scuff sand the semi-gloss water based poly, clean, and then apply the spar? http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ.....MOKFZYIR6T, Thank you very much for your response. So if the wood absorbs moisture, the finish will expand and contract with the wood and won’t crack. We are considering using marine spar for durability and ease of maintenance. Give it a light scuff sand and reapply a light coat of finish maybe once a year to keep it looking nice. While both spar marine varnish and spar urethane can offer water protection for your wooden canoe, boat or paddle, the one that is best for you will likely come down to budget and/or maintenance.With the high level of moisture protection that comes with spar urethane, this could be a good choice for coating paddles, canoes or other wooden vessels. We have put together this guide to help explain what the products are and what their benefits might be. What is the best product to use for a bamboo fence? Hopefully you now know the difference between spar marine varnish and spar urethane. Then repair with the epoxy, sand everything smooth again, and apply the topcoat. Also, I sanded down one of the old stall doors and restained it, it looks good but came out a little darker than before, I guess since the wood is older. I want to stain it darker, so I’m going to have to strip the existing varnish off. I would probably recommend filling the cracks with epoxy, then sanding the affected area and coating with a high quality marine varnish. Any easy way to confirm if it it red oak or white? They can be water or oil-based. Perhaps consider products intended for houses or decks, as these come in larger quantities at a decent price. Would I still use Epifanes or does this have an amber color to the clear? The extra oil results in a softer, more flexible finish that will not crack when the wood expands and contracts. Ultimately, any finish at that thickness is probably going to yellow to some extent over time. Hi Theresa. Varnishes create a hard finish that protect and beautify everything from wood floors to delicate woodwork, but do you know the difference between a spar varnish and regular varnish and when to use them? i am trying to protect my workbench which ive built out of redwood. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. I would like to put something stronger that would last longer than 2 years. Spar Marine Varnish vs Spar Urethane For Paddles, Canoes And Small Boats. I’ve heard man o war spar varnish is excellent for shutters. I have read that a good badger hair brush is required for the best possible finish. Would this be something you would recommend over a polyurethane? There are many other brands of outdoor oil-based varnish, but the ingredients list is usually much more revealing than the words on the front of the can. Could we use spar varnish for cutting boards with some added tung oil and mineral spirits? The 2 options of wood are pressure treated and not. We did our ceilings with a satin varnish and there is still to much shine for our liking. A second option would be to seal the board with a product called CPES (Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer). It is called Max CLR HP and has a nice solids content. what is this sediment and is this varnish still ok to use on my park bench? One question–can you apply water based spar urethane over and oil based stain? Hi Jeanie. But if you want that type of finish, you don’t have many options. Not sure about Canadian availability, but here are two products I recommend: http://www.jamestowndistributo.....CPES+Epoxy, http://www.jamestowndistributo.....ar+Varnish. I too am so disappointed on the Spar Varnish. Do you ever use epoxy instead of spar varnish to seal wood? Varnish anymore and i have a new home wood one and place a vessel on the of!, spar varnish gives the look bit of abuse your help and very informative site hi Mrs. you! The look you prefer, one additive i have some CNCd images “ engraved ” into the wood the... 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