Varnishing Tips - Satin Finish

[wully]

I’ve only tried varnishing inside a boat once and got reasonable results. When I read up on it before I started the main consideration was to have a stable, warm, dry dust free workspace so that ruled out winter work unless you were in a heated shed..
If I was doing a saloon table I’d do it at home (when the boss was away for a few days...)

[Gardenshed]

use YouTube, then google "how to varnish" then disappear down a rabbit hole of contradictory opinions whilst emptying your stash of single malt.

I varnished a cockpit table (at home) which was many coats of epifanes gloss varnish with 250 grit sanding between coats and then in beside the boiler after each coat for curing/drying.

I year later I was informed that it was "too shiny" and could I do a satin finish

so

sanded it all off, epifanes satin finish, slapped it on, tipped it off (fine bristle brush) 3 coats with a quick rub of 250 grit sand paper and its fine.

real lesson is: if you don't like the result, sand it off and start again. its therapeutic, and only you will notice the blemishes.

more important is ti remove all fittings/hinges so that there is no overspill or reside on them

[Gardenshed]

the Epifanes satin may actually have been Deks Olje! much easier to apply and build up a coating and no sanding between coats

[wully]

That’s a thing of beauty!

I read somewhere some bloke was varnishing inside his boat in winter. He had stripped all the soft furnishings out the saloon, insulated the hatches (bubble wrap maybe) switched on the electric radiators ( no hot air heating as it could cause dust to be blow about, sealed the companionway, stripped off his clothes (in case of fluff) and varnished in the scud then sat reading a book until it was dry....

[Gardenshed]

That’s a thing of beauty!

I read somewhere some bloke was varnishing inside his boat in winter. He had stripped all the soft furnishings out the saloon, insulated the hatches (bubble wrap maybe) switched on the electric radiators ( no hot air heating as it could cause dust to be blow about, sealed the companionway, stripped off his clothes (in case of fluff) and varnished in the scud then sat reading a book until it was dry....

Aye right…..

We’ll no have that behaviour in Craobh Haven

[Gardenshed]

What goes on, on trot A, stays on trot A....

[wully]

I’m staying the fcuk away from .Craobh until the varnishing is well and truly complete..

[Bodach na mara]

If you are still looking for varnishing tips, on TOP a poster called Concerto had a thread on that subject which links to a PowerPoint presentation of his project. I was fortunate enough to watch the presentation on Zoom courtesy of the Westerly Owners Association east coast branch.

He didn't use varnish but used a lacquer from Merrels which is available in various grades of reflectivity. It is the stuff that Westerly, Moody and other British boat builders used. If I remember correctly the grade used was 60% reflectivity.

Personally I have had good results with Ronseal exterior grade satin finish applied with a soft paintbrush. And it comes in small cans. Last time I looked Merrels lacquer came in 5-litre cans

[Bodach na mara]

Lovely table by the way.