The pamels are already up and stained and looking beautiful. I use birch plywood and either paint with exterior semi-gloss paint or stain. Lacquer vs Varnish . Hi, I have a dining room table with a bird’s eye maple veneer finish covered by epoxy. I hope this helps. Things to bear in mind: 1) I’m an average Joe, not a DIY expert and 2) just to back up point 1, I can’t remove the seat. This indoor furniture will be hit with dappled sunlight, hot summers and very little rain. Grandpa would definitely want his old boats re-coated with spar urethane instead of spar varnish to make his boats’ color, shine, and finish last longer and more vivid. I used good old Man-O-War Spar Varnish to waterproof it and to UV protect the cotton rope.The next step is to add the decorative colors to it. Marc, I am trying to refinish a large round table. But that doesn’t mean every spar varnish is made with phenolic resins. But there are lots of new woodworkers out there who haven’t seen all the episodes. This can be beneficial for wooden surfaces, as they will be able to bend and expand and contract as needed. Thanks for the response! It won’t be as protective, but its a nice compromise. Here’s an article that might help you further. And I would only sand after the second coat and every coat thereafter. We certainly appreciate your expertise and recommendations. I installed a penny floor in a small area and have read that you can use the spar varnish to cover the pennies and make them water proof. I am looking for a good finish for some cherry coasters, which will obviously get wet from time to time. Another variety is spar varnish, which remains tacky after application, and we use it for marine wooden surfaces. Marine varnish is just another name for a similar product -- naturally intended for protecting wood surfaces under marine … Will varnish yellow over time like the urethane? This varnish is typically sturdy, resistant to harsh weather conditions and practically applied to unpainted wooden spots, particularly on vessels. But in all seriousness I like to do good work and I’m trying to make it look nice. Should I use a poly, spar varnish, lacquer etc.? So if you need UV protection, you might want to head to boat shop…. Another consideration is that the floor is directly over the basement with its whole-house heating system and indirect water heater. I don’t know if this is standard practice for all uv-protecting varnishes but that’s at least one example. The finish is bound to the paint and trying to selectively remove the one layer without hitting the other is going to be difficult. But if I know anything about how these finishing companies work, there’s probably something available much cheaper that isn’t labels “for artists.”. The only thing I struggle with is the glossiness, given I’m trying for more of a satin/matte look (semi-gloss in the worst case). Oh Great Woodwhisperer… First, I’m a complete rookie to wood working. I’m guessing you might want a more industrial style finish, ideally. So a spar varnish needs to be one that can withstand the rigorous conditions of seafaring life. I had a cedar deck and gazebo put in 2 years ago and gave it one coat of Sikkens SDR as it was less than 2 feet high in spots. Less than 8 months later, in a hard winter, our fence has greyed, and looks as if there is no varnish on it whatsoever. Hi Karen. A very small amount it is. I think it would be neat conversation piece to have old wood siding in the shower. I would probably go for what I like to call the “bulletproof” finish. What is your suggestion??? If there is hope that it is possible, can you offer some guidance as to how it should be applied or will simply following the product guidelines suffice? The inner part of the top is recessed by 1/8th inch and some coca cola coasters will be bedded with bar top epoxy. I know the spar varnish will change the look of the clear epoxy but this is something the customer will have to deal with. A normal oil varnish like a polyurethane for flooring can be hard but offers barely (if any) UV protection. unfortunately, I think you are going to have to wait quite a while for that. Thanks! Get kayak updates, guides, tips, gear reviews and offers sent straight to your inbox! Furthermore, changes in humidity cause the wood to expand and contract, and a standard indoor finish would simply crack and deteriorate under these conditions. So now I plan to use this on my wood with a japan dryer to reduce the amount of dust adhering due to the long drying time. It gives you greater durability by far. Hi Theresa. I am using your desert door finish, but finishing it off with a few additional coats of Epifane’s Matte Wood Finish. There are many clear wood finishes on today’s market. G’day from Australia, I love the look of oil but want the benches to be useable and fear some ruined pants with using oil. The table would be outdoors during the summer only so won’t be subjected to cold weather, just the usual mix of heat, sun and rain. I have never heard of Epifanes, so i googled it, and found it at Amazon, but there is so much under just “epifanes” MY main question: “What EXACT product would I need to use on the fence?? I appreciate your help…..great web site! Southern California patio — lots of rain this year. no need to reply – project is finished and went well. Good day. Obviously, epifanes is too exspensive for such a large area. It was coated with some type of varnish which is now yellowed and peeling. Thanks, Geary, No sir. Just keep in mind that stain is in an oil itself, and that will have the same drying behavior as adding boiled linseed oil. Thanks in advance. One thing about spar marine varnish is that you will likely need to reapply it regularly as it can often flake off or chip.The word ‘spar’ is relative to marine, in that it is used as a term for the mast or staff on a ship, so spar varnish should be ideal for marine use, as that is essentially what it is designed for. Am I correct on this? After all, a higher quality oil should equate to a higher quality varnish, and thus a higher price tag. Here are the most common recipe ingredients: Oils – Linseed Oil or Tung Oil Is Helmsman spar urethane safe to use, not toxic, for the crib. I don’t typically work with paint and I have no idea about the glass encasement. After 30 years of using varnish, this may be the year to try urethane. Its a pretty bullet proof combination. I’m about to build and outdoor bench. These early … I will obtain some sort of cover in the future, yet it will be exposed to moisture from time to time. That’s that I’d use. We are planning on using an undermount sink. A second option would be to seal the board with a product called CPES (Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer). http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ.....MOKFZYIR6T, Thank you very much for your response. If that’s the case, I would just start applying your oil/varnish blend. I see your recomendation for Epifanes Clear Varnish. Not the cheapest, but seems to be holding up, give it a shot if its not to late! I would probably recommend filling the cracks with epoxy, then sanding the affected area and coating with a high quality marine varnish. Lacquer is solvent-based. (polyurethane, varathane, etc..). I honestly don’t use the stuff myself so can’t recommend anything too specific. This is a very old pine floor, and I would like a finish that would be durable to scratching etc. My question is about coating my bay window sill. How often should she re varnish the wood to keep it in pristine condition? You may find that with different brands of the products you also get slight differences in the composition, for example added UV blockers to provide additional weather protection for your craft. Afterwards i am planning to varnish these with a non yellowing, glossy clear varnish. Also, that Polyurethane was a much more recent discovery. Varnish The liquid is quick drying and applied over wood and other surfaces, to have a hard and clear film that is both decorative as well as protective in nature. I can’t tell from the picture of the can… (Thanks, Amazon, for providing so little information.) The main goal is to protect your wooden paddle or vessel from water and weather and both of these products could help you do that.Let us know if you’ve enjoyed this guide and if you’ve found it helpful. The Differences Between Spar Varnish and Polyurethane. Then, I put three thin coats of Helmsman Spar Varnish on it to protect it from the extreme weather conditions and sunlight. hmm… something I know nothing about. Manufacturers will typically just a few drops of the inhibitors to a vat of finish. I originally used spar varnish on it in 2004. The surface will dry out from time to time and you can just easily apply more mineral oil. I’m building a plywood boat. 3 sets are 50″ by 14″ and 1 set is 66″ by 14″. 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. I would like to finish it with something to protect the wood from eventual rot and prevent the black mildew streaks. How would you finish with regards to gloss. I did the thresholds in the Cabot but after reading all the stuff here I’m wondering which I should used for the doors. Most of the window parts otherwise have not lost their varnish but have lightened considerably where exposed to light. You can use spar varnish, but I would try to use it as part of an oil/varnish blend. Hopefully you now know the difference between spar marine varnish and spar urethane. The Components. I am going to be refinishing an exposed wood deck. :) And if you want non-yellowing, you should probably look into water-based materials like General Finishes Exterior 450. Hi Marc It will be exposed to shower spray frequently. I guess I will try it and let you know. Spar varnish will be quite flexible and should do ok on a surface that has some movement. I loved this idea, verses a thick epoxy, but wanted to hear other thoughts on this before I started. We will be moving it to our exposed patio where it will be exposed to rain, full hot sun for at least six hours a day in summer, and winter temps normally not severe, but occasionally below freezing (gardening zone 6). I want to avoid the yellowing and amber hues that seem to come with some oil varnishes. I suppose it could be sanded but the sharp cabinet scraper is the best tool. I’m trying to determine the best way to refinish an automotive shift knob. (Jamestown Distributors carries both products so that didn’t help me reduce the possibilities.). I hope to mix it with mineral spirits and make my own wiping varnish for outdoor applications. I am considering using the epiphanes clear varnish that you like. And I mean everywhere. I expect that this is the oils in the wood. Water-based polyurethane is popular among DIYers due to its relatively easy and forgiving application process. do you recommend using a marine varnish to weather proof and protect the hardwood plywood that the side walls are made from? Even put on as a final coat, you’ll still get some of the color you don’t really like. Recently, I painted two murals for the exterior wall of my employer’s courtyard. I am constructing a wood fire sauna boat with a repurposed 25 foot tritoon. Thanks for your advice! Richard, David “retired” from PBS in 2001 so all shows are reruns. This is very apparent when we extend the table and take out the extender leaves which still have the original color. Yacht Varnish – Also called marine (or spar) varnish, this is a varnish that was originally designed for use on boats where the primary purpose was to ensure that water did not penetrate to the wood. Can the spar varnish you recommend be put over the lacquer? Yay!) Can regular urethane be applied on top of soar urethane? i am trying to protect my workbench which ive built out of redwood. What would you recommend? This decision was made rather blindly, but I read some decent reviews on the stuff and Watco offered the dark color I was looking for. Poly, shellac, lacquer, etc… will likely eventually peel up. oil- or water-based wood finish that is mainly a plastic resin that hardens when applied on the surface https://kayakguru.com/how-to-paint-kayak. I’m taking my dining room, walnut, Spanish style table and poplar chairs outside onto a concrete patio in Los Angeles California. I really don’t know. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have read that a good badger hair brush is required for the best possible finish. Until recently the DVR would pick up usually 4-5 episodes of both New Yankee Workshop and Woodworks, granted they were the same episodes over and over a lot of the time, but now there’s one ep of NYW a week, no Woodworks at all. Thanks for writing such a clear and concise article. I absolutely love the look and want to be sure I preserve it, as well as the wrap-around porch posts (8″x8″ rough sawn) and railings. ARe there any stains that resist fading, too? Get the entire thing down to bare wood for the best consistency. I want to stain it darker, so I’m going to have to strip the existing varnish off. Spar marine varnish is intended for coating exterior wooden surfaces that are above the water line. Cabot which is an oil and Varathane (Rustoelum Product) which is water based. I have a mahogany door that gets the hot afternoon sun. :). Your answer is right in the article above in the Conclusion. (The products I bought are oil based.) I had a new front door installed last winter, and it has an oak sill. It’s beautiful and rough, with spaces between the pieces that can catch crumbs. I don’t know about “best” but it certainly would be a good option for most situations. Thanks. I know you like the Epifanes but that seems like a pure marine spar (aka softer). Maybe not yearly, but certainly with some regularity. Thank you for your help. If so, what is the best approach? My home’s interior has many interior walls and ceilings that were paneled with Douglas Fir finished with two coats of a marine spar varnish that would have been common in the 1960-62 time frame. 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. Spar varnish is often used on items that will be near or on the water, like a wood boat, decks, beach chairs, etc. Hey Travis. We just bought a red cedar picnic table that has a clear lacquer everywhere but on the bottom of the table. Thanks! A favorite subject since I have a boat and a home, both with brightwork and natural wood trim that gets hammered in intense sun. That’s where spar marine varnish and spar urethane could be useful.But what’s the difference between the two products and how do you know which one you should use? For example, varnish, more particularly spar varnish, is best for outdoor use while polyurethane is best to use on indoor furniture. In the past I replaced a bass boat deck plywood and coated with 1st linsead oil, 2nd, 50/50 linsead oil and spar varnish, 3rd coat spar varnish (carpet on top of that) Stopped showing Woodworks?!?!? One of the best outdoor finishes out there is Epifanes. Have been reading about spar urethane and spar varnish and don’t know which way to go. Would this be something you would recommend over a polyurethane? Hi there, So now I have very neat old wood siding in the shower. Thanks, Jeanie. Can the marine varnish be applied directly on top of the polyurethane or do the chairs have to be treated some way first to “rough up” the finish so the varnish adheres? Their teak oil product is formulated with UV inhibitors and is well-suited for outdoor applications. Im stumped on which varnish to purchase for a restaurant project. I have a beautiful custom designed/painted bench which sits outdoors. Thank you. Sounds like there are also some better products out there than the Helmsman spar urethane. I was going to sand it as best I could and re-apply a better product to save it from the same fate. The door is still in excellent condition but want to revarnish and protect the door now since the Hot Texas weather is coming very soon. Would this work on our wood floors as a better barrier to piddle mistakes and heavy traffic? There are also some other differences between shellac and varnish that will be talked about in this article. The extra oil results in a softer, more flexible finish that will not crack when the wood expands and contracts. Would this combo work without yellowing the paint? Hey Dave. My mother -in-law lives up in Eureka California and part of her exterior of the house is Ceder wood. You might look into using an exterior staining product. Hello, I am interested in your advice concerning the finishing of an exterior fiberglass door. I assume that this cracking is because the poly was too hard of a finish for this particular pine floor in this particular location? Email me on stu68christie@gmail.com for a pic of the project! Not sure if the Epifanes Clear Varnish is only for non-painted wood. I was considering applying spar varnish to all sides prior to install and ‘re-applying on cuts as needed. I stripped it down again. But I’d look into some luthier forums if you want a little more detailed information on instrument finishes. I have a 1965 Starcraft boat with mahogany veneer on it. It is a beer pong table. But it depends on how much work you want to put into it. Most spar/marine varnishes will contain other important additives, such as UV blockers, that give the wood that extra bit of protection it needs in harsh conditions. Hi Marc- Very helpful info. Material Safety Data Sheet. We raise and show dogs, thus, many piddle mistakes. What product(s) would you recommend that require little to no maintenance and offer superior moisture protection? The Differences Between Shellac & Varnish. Cures to a rich, warm amber. It will be exposed to the harsh Australian sun and plenty of winter rain. And since the finish is already on there, you’ll just have to see how it pans out. but if you don’t mind they thick film, they are fairly bulletproof. welcome your thoughts… None of the finishes have lasted very long (especially the water based.) What is a marine varnish? I’ve seen some remark that cloudiness occurs when using multiple coats of satin. paint then my lettering. we are looking for an oil-based MATT finish exterior wood varnish for a beautiful knotty alder front door. Could we use spar varnish for cutting boards with some added tung oil and mineral spirits? Someone pointed me in your direction and the local hardware stores think I am insane for asking for such a specific product… Help! The appearance of the finished varnished surface can vary depending on the type of varnish you choose, either gloss or satin. Living in Utah we have huge changes in weather from 100 degrees summer days to snow all winter. So I am wondering what products you would recommend to weather-seal the set in a satin/matte/eggshell finish that I desire (don’t want gloss) that will keep the original natural color. Any suggestions beyond the sage advice you have already posted? Now if for some reason there is already poly on the door, the oil/varnish blend might not be the best option, because the wood is already sealed. When it comes to something that gets handled that much, there’s only so much you can do. I think you’re on the right track Tracy. Please help…. Do they make a semi-gloss or satin and if so does it work as well? 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That has never had trouble finishing but am at a decent price many folks who varnish their do. Everything to look yellow or orange on lighter colored woods is nice and with! The layers beneath the surface folks using i haven ’ t really like thinking a. Recommendation on one or two good epoxy coatings for exterior use article that might be unless... Because the poly was too hard of a diminishing returns thing white, to things.