So its happened a few times now, and the cost is starting to add up, and im getting frustrated – any advice very much appreciated!
First, 2 different jars (both glass, metal lids, well sealed) of 50/50 spar varnish/mineral spirits blend turned to gel. They were both only a couple weeks old – poured from a can of varnish only 2 months old. Never left with lids off more than a few minutes.
Then the can of spar varnish (pure, never mixed with anything) turned to gel as well. Im talking gel top to bottom – no skin on top, not thicker or thinner at any point, consistent gel all the way thru.
What am i doing wrong? Ive just opened a 1 gallon can of the same spar varnish, REALLY dont want it to go to waste too…. =(
(im attaching a pic of the spar varnish in question)
Replies
I started using Bloxygen a while ago. Haven’t had it long enough to check long term results.
Are you keeping it in a cold space?
1 - Are you consuming it fast enough that a gallon is cost effective?
-- That is, saving a few bucks in buying bulk goes out the window if the bulk of the product goes in the trash.
2 - What else do you do in your shop?
-- A friend broke a glass container of sulfuric acid in his shop. Steel within about 10 feet rusted rapidly and several of his finishing products fouled. Any welding or other activities that put things into the air going on?
yeah, im using quite a bit. will be thru the 1 gallon within the year for sure. and anywho, the small can turned to gel in less than 2 months - so buying small amount at first didnt save me. =(
interesting! hadnt thought of that. no welding, nothing other than woodworking...
I'm wondering about cold temps too. If all else fails, call manufacturer. I've had a can on Minwax spar for close to 3 years, it turned dark black, but still liquid so something is going on there...
I use a lot of spar varnish and it is often stored in cold environment. Half full cans will develop a thick film with time, I strain the contents and add mineral spirits to the required viscosity, maple syrup style. I suspect that your problem is caused by storing very diluted spar varnish and probably not having the right solvent for this particular brand. At one third the price I pay for spar varnish, this product is highly diluted before you add an equal amount of solvent, it also says plastic finish so that may be that it is not necessarily alkyd, actually I think this is not spar varnish per say.
so... youre saying you pay much more for the spar varnish you use? assuming youre happy with it, which brand is it? this is the first varnish Ive ever used, got it cause it was cheap - but happy to switch to something better =)
and to my understanding, most modern varnishs use a synthetic resin, which is a "plastic" finish. but sadly this stuff doesnt say what its made of...
Have you ever used enough of this product were it did not gel up. Were did you purchase this varnish? Looking on the web and I can not find a MSDS for it. Have you tried to contact the manufacturer. I think you need to return this product. You say just opening the can a few minutes and it turns to gel? I' am not a chemist but I think the formulation is wrong.
In the past I used a lot of Interlux , their Schooner product is a classic spar varnish, soft and quite amber. Their urethane has changed name and quality over time, I used Gold and Compass with good results. I now use mostly Epiphane and have tried Petit products which was one of the best I found but rarely available where I live. I will thin down the first coat, maybe the second and will continue with a minimum of four more coats applied as thick as possible without having runs.
thanks for the advice!! much appreciated =)
Do you need spar varnish or will something else do?
Pardon...I only work with oils & nothing for out of doors.
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