Varnish application

Varnish application.

This door was varnished with a satin finish

Today!  Let’s talk about varnish application, well to be able to achieve a good varnished finish, it is important to start with a well-prepared surface.

I have covered how to sandpaper wood, this can be found under the heading (Wood finishing stages a brief guide on this Blog).

Equipment what type of brush should I use?  I find the best brushes to use are those made from pure bristle as the hairs are very soft and therefore when applying varnish using even strokes and not over-brushing will give the best results.

What type of varnish to use?  Well, again it depends on what your project is and what you expect from your varnish.

Should you be varnishing wood on a boat then you would need a varnish designed for marine use that will stand up to the elements of the sea, such as salt and the harsh weather conditions.  So take time and do the research to find a suitable product for the job.

For exterior doors again a good quality exterior varnish should last for years if sufficient coats are applied and subject to proper preparation has taken place.

It is no good trying to expect to get a good finish unless you have put in the hard work during preparation.

For exterior doors and woodwork, I would suggest four coats of varnish with a very light smoothing down in between coats. 

Your surface must be dust-free, if it is not you may find that you will encounter problems like cratering and blistering on the surface.

I prefer to dilute the first coat with white spirits as this will help the varnish to sink into the grain and in turn, will create a good foundation for the subsequent coats to bond.

As with all wood finishing products take care whilst using, keep off your skin and protect your eyes.

Varnishes referred to are white spirit based and not to be confused with cellulose lacquers and other types of wood treatments.

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