Varnishing advice

[Guest]

Well i finally got the sabalo plans transferred to the plywood and almost done cutting them out. Been crazy lately w/o much time but when I start in i will start a thread on it. I have a question on varnishing though. I have a friend at work who heard I was building a boat and wants me to varnish his old handmade boat. It is a really nice boat and while i have painted stained and used poly for quite a while I really haven't worked with varnish that much. Any advice, suggestions on what to avoid etc would really help me out. thanks alot guys.

[Bruce36549]

Poly (oil based) and varnish handle very much the same. I don't even know if natural varnish is very widely available any more. Water based poly is a different ball of wax. I personally don't like using it, but it's really a matter of personal preference. The only thing I would suggest is that you don't use Minwax. It's the most widely advertised stuff, but it is about as useful as teats on a bull. Get a decent marine grade varnish. Just make sure you start with a clean, smooth surface and wet sand between coats with 400 grit sandpaper. And definitely use a tack cloth between coats. Some people like to thin it with mineral spirits and apply it with a rag. I prefer a foam brush and undiluted. I must confess, though that I have never done a boat before although I don't expect it will be much different from a cabinet or table.

[jem]

Marine varnish is the safest bet. I'm sure there's other type of varnish that would do ok as well. But marine varnish is the one I know will work.

[Oldsparkey]

Don't believe the advertisements you see on TV or read in the papers ... Minwax is trash , Junk , absolutely useless. Unless you like varnish that peals , flakes , falls off and is not worth a hoot and love to sand. For anything outside it should be avoided like the plague.
Use a Good Marine Varnish and it will hold up and do what it was meant to do.

Chuck.

[Guest]

Thanks guys. If it handles the same I am not too worried about it then. We used alot of sherin williams stuff. Never min-wax. Glad to hear the warnings about it. I usually apply with a foam roller and brush it out. Does this sound good or have you had trouble with that approach? Appreciate the advice guys.

[Bruce36549]

... Minwax is trash , Junk , absolutely useless.

Chuck.

Thank you, Chuck!!! Glad to know I'm not the only one who hates Minwax.

Bruce

[TexasZeke]

Don't believe the advertisements you see on TV or read in the papers ... Minwax is trash , Junk , absolutely useless. Unless you like varnish that peals , flakes , falls off and is not worth a hoot and love to sand. For anything outside it should be avoided like the plague.
Use a Good Marine Varnish and it will hold up and do what it was meant to do.

Chuck.

does this warning include the minwax helmsman spar varnish, or just the other stuff

[Oldsparkey]

Don't believe the advertisements you see on TV or read in the papers ... Minwax is trash , Junk , absolutely useless. Unless you like varnish that peals , flakes , falls off and is not worth a hoot and love to sand. For anything outside it should be avoided like the plague.
Use a Good Marine Varnish and it will hold up and do what it was meant to do.

Chuck.

does this warning include the min wax helmsman spar varnish, or just the other stuff

This is my thought and no one else , not even this web sites.........

ANYTHING with the Min Wax name on it , save yourself a lot of problems , get some good marine varnish or a ton of sandpaper to remove that Min Wax in a few months down the road when it starts peeling. I use to use it , now if someone brings a can of it in my shop or on my property it is deposited in the proper place for it ....... The Garbage can.

Yes it is that bad for anything that is going to be used outside. To put it in simple language ... It stinks , sucks , is unless and creates more headaches then it should. Just my personal thoughts , no one else. I really despise the crap as you might of gathered.

Chuck.

[craiggamesh]

I used minwax spar varnish on some wood furniture that is on my back covered deck. The stuff doesn't even get wet and the minwax started to peel off. Luckily, I have never used it on any of my boats. I used Interlux Schooner Varnish on my last boat and was happy with it.