[Public-List] Exterior wood finish?

Gordon Laco mainstay at csolve.net
Mon Nov 25 05:38:56 PST 2013 

Hello Glenn

Epoxy is a great way to seal wood; but it will complicate the inevitable stripping job you'll eventually have to face.   

I epoxied a mast once reasoning that the soft spruce would benefit from being hardened    I wanted to make my varnish job more proof against dings made by shackles etc that would let in water and make black spots in the wood.  Many years later when I was stripping that mast I wasn't happy about having to cope with the epoxy.  

The best way to seal wood from water intrusion is by means of heavily thinned varnish.    Thinned 50/50 with solvent, it will be as thin as water and really get into the wood.  It's a terrific wood sealer.   

And about the coamings... I agree, there should be no reason to cut bolts...if the heads are plugged (mine aren't) just pick out the plugs with an awl and spin them out    You will need to hold the nut on the inside of course.  

Gord #426 Surprise 

On 2013-11-25, at 8:12 AM, Glenn <brooks.glenn at comcast.net> wrote:

> Gord,  very interesting. I did not know about the no-sand weakness, so will put a couple of coats on next year when I get back to the US to protect last springs investment.  
> 
> In areas with a lot or rain, Pacific Northwest and Alaska for example, the biggest threat to varnish is water seeping around the edges of poorly fitted wooden plugs, or any little exposed edge of trim.  Like you said, once the wood gets wet along an edge, or split, it peels the varnish along the fault line and grows and grows.  
> 
> Ive heard several local people say they coat all bare sanded trim with two thin coats of epoxy, then varnish over.  any thoughts on this?
> 
> Shukra!
> 
> Glenn 
> Dolce 318
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
> On Nov 25, 2013, at 1:52 PM, Gordon Laco <mainstay at csolve.net> wrote:
> 
>> Hello friends
>> 
>> Good marine varnish applied to the specified number of coats has the best UV resistance.  Some products will offer convenience with regard, for example, to not having to be sanded between coats, but this is always at the cost of UV resistance.   
>> 
>> professional varnishers may often use a 'no sand' product for build coats, but will complete jobs with one or two coats of regular varnish to boost UV protection.  
>> 
>> When I do varnish seminars people always ask me what goes wrong with most varnish jobs; the answer is simple.   Everyone knows that when starting a job from bare wood, one needs to get the recommended thickness ... But the trouble is this... after three coats or so, the wood starts looking good, so they stop.    It's not the varnish's fault if the application is too thinly. 
>> 
>> Similarly, one needs to protect 'no-sand' finishes with regular varnish and have the combination thick enough. 
>> 
>> Six coats of 'no-sand' with two of regular varnish on top will look as good as any professional job... Yes it's a lot to do the first year... But if one applies one or two light coats every spring following that big first season, the finish should last more than ten years.  (Even on teak)
>> 
>> That's in wooden boats. 
>> 
>> But, with boats like ours that have wood as trim, it can be harder to keep varnish on because of another peril.  Thin pieces of wood, like toe rails, can trap water on their undersides.   Water will soak into bare wood, even teak, quite readily and this will quite efficiently blow any finish off your wood.   Trim pieces need to be finished all round (not so much on undersides because no sun beats there). 
>> 
>> So, nothing resists the sun like regular varnish applied to proper thickness...  But it's a lot of work the first year.   'No-sand' finishes are less work, but also less protection if they're applied without a boost from varnish. 
>> 
>> Isn't it typical that there's always a cost for convenience ?
>> 
>> Gord #426 Surprise. 
>> 
>> On 2013-11-25, at 4:14 AM, pat nolan <pnolan33 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> I prefer spar varnish for all areas that are not exposed to sunlight or water , much less toxic and can be applied over oiled surfaces with little preparation . I like " honey teak" for surfaces exposed to the sun or likely to be wet . Hope this helps . Pat
>>> Seward , Ak
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Sunday, November 24, 2013 11:59 AM, Mike Lehman <sail_505 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Do NOT use Armada. I used it for 10 years and was very happy...they must have changed the formula...it now only lasts 3 months. I am pissed and have switched to Cetol natural. It looks good and is very long lasting.
>>> 
>>> --- Original Message ---
>>> 
>>> From: "Amy & David Swanson" <zira at bellsouth.net>
>>> Sent: November 24, 2013 3:41 PM
>>> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>, "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at alberg30.org>
>>> Subject: [Public-List] Exterior wood finish?
>>> 
>>> I know we have been around this before, but cold weather has me thinking ahead to spring commissioning.  We have let our exterior wood good go the last few years, and I am thinking of going with a Cetol/Armada type finish.  What are the plusses & minuses to these generally, and what one do you recommend?
>>> 
>>> David Swanson
>>> Strayaway Child
>>> Alberg 30 #229
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