How much is too much????

[sailsmanship]

I have read different posts and websites that say a minimum of 6 coats of varnish when finishing exterior wood. Everbody refers to minimum amounts of coats,but no one says the maximum. On teak wood that has been sealed, how many coats max?. And what is the danger of going too many?

 

[Bondo]

Re: How much is too much????

You Could apply 100 coats if you Wish,......<br /><br />But,.... With the Base Wood being Teak,....<br /><br />That's All the More you'll need to Remove later,...... Teak Doesn't hold Varnish very well........<br /><br />Teak is usually Oiled............

 

[sailsmanship]

Re: How much is too much????

I agree, but I can only get about a week in the sun with oiling it before it looks like s*@#%t. And I'm tired of it.

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: How much is too much????

I'm no expert, but I would think that at some point the layer of varnish would get so thick that it will become brittle and chip from the surface easily. I think it's a question of how many layers is just right.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: How much is too much????

Try Bristol Finish or Honey Teak. These are 2, nearly identical, great products. They are 2 part urethanes. You clean the wood to remove oils on the surface and then apply 4 coats of the product. The next coat can be applied as soon as the previous coat gets tacky. This is usually about 1 hour. It last a very long time and doesn't need to be removed for refinishing.

 

[2manyboats]

Re: How much is too much????

Sounds like interesting products-guess urethanes have come a long way in the last few years. Having tried to keep up with a sailboat full of varnished teak, I have to agree w/Bondo about teaks oilyness and varnish not sticking to it. You think evaporated teak oil looks bad? Flaky varnish is downright embarrassing...

 

[Reasons]

Re: How much is too much????

Strip the old varnish and oil , use a heat gun after a chemical stripper. This will remove any old product left in the grain of the wood.Wipe completly down with laquer thinner, then begin to seal. I would recomend a sealer coat cut by about 25%, this will alow the varnish to fill the grain of the wood and give you a proper bond. Sand with 220, wipe with spirits and apply the second coat thinned about 5% to 10%, sand again. You shoud begin to see the grain beeing filled. Now begin the application of straight varnish (depending on temp) Remember when applying varnish always pull your brush stroke back towards the product that you have already applied, this will eliminate alot of headachs, brush strokes will disapear as the varnish levels. A minimum of 4 coats after the 2 sealer coats. Always sand with 220 between coats and wipe with spirits. If the temp is good you may be able to do 2 coats in a day .DO NOT RUSH! This will last you a good while if you take care of it , if you see any dings or scratches , place a coat over the damage and seal , this will keep moisture from getting under the varnish and lifting it. This is the generally accepted practice for the entire yachting world , boats from 50 to 400 feet all use a procedure very close to this. This is what I have done on yachts during my 15 years in yachting as both mate and captain on boats such as the USS Sequoia www.sequoiayacht.us ( all varnish), Blue Guitar, Seafari , Bella Dawn.As for product choices dont buy the cheap stuff, use a quality marine varnish , Epifanes is by far my choice and what I recomend, followed by Schooner

 

[sailsmanship]

Re: How much is too much????

What do you mean pull your brush stroke back? do you mean always stroke back or last stroke back?

 

[Reasons]

Re: How much is too much????

Both will work but I always work back toward what I had just laid, always keeping your brush wet.