It’s a real disappointment to find that your partially used container of varnish has skimmed over after just a few weeks, and has lost some of its sheen or coverage properties. This happens because the varnish reacts with the oxygen in the air and hardens. It doesn’t happen in a full can because there is very little air inside. To eliminate this problem, I put my leftover varnish into mason jars and pump out the air with a FoodSaver vacuum pump. You’ll need a handheld vacuum pump ($20) and a jar sealer ($10), which is a plastic cap that fits over the top of the mason jar. Pour the finish into the jar, put on the lid, and put the jar-sealer cap on top. Connect the handheld pump and remove the air from the jar. The resulting vacuum will seal the lid to the jar and the jar sealer can then be removed. You don’t even need to add the screw-on ring—the lid will stay on with vacuum pressure alone. The mason-jar lids can be used over and over again, making this a low-cost solution.

Jim Richey

Peter Limon, Irasburg, VT

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