Replies

1. 
   jhausch | Oct 29, 2002 01:44pm | #1

   Used to work on a yacht with 400sqft of brightwork: caprail, handrails, half-rounds, doors, etc. The dread of starting was always worse than the job itself.  3-4 new coats every 6 months. 

   Schooner and Clipper made me look the best, but Epiphanes seemed to last the longest.  Had some of that 2-part stuff sprayed on the wheel.  Very durable, but too spooky to use as the "everyday brush applied stuff" (too many warnings on the can)  I am sure I did myself enough nerve damage using laquer thinner for wipe downs and brush clean-up

   I agree, properly laid varnish is a zen-like experience.  We'd do it early before the sun heated up the wood.  The low light and "one to lay, one to watch" helped us catch the holidays before it was too late.  Sanding all that wood required the right state of mind, too.

   Never tried the artist brush idea, but I will.  Still have my $90.00 oval bodied italian varnish brush hidden away from the wife so she doesn't accidentally use it to paint a wall.

   I read a great piece on laying good varnish.  It compared it to learning to hit a baseball from reading a book.  You just gotta get out there and do it, and talk to others, and do it, and watch others, and do it and do it and do it.  Hardest thing to teach a new person is LEAVE IT ALONE - lay it down, tip it out, keep moving . . .

   Thanks for the trip down memory lane

   Steelkilt Lives!