Replies

1. 
   ChipTam | Feb 23, 2006 10:10pm | #1

   I asked this very same question here at Knots about 2 years ago.  Yes, it's getting harder and harder to find a good quality alkyd varnish.  You might want to try McCloskey's in a semi-gloss but the gloss (which I generally prefer) is a polyurethane not an alkyd.  Several replies to my post suggested Pratt and Lambert which I tried.  However, the quart I purchased was much too thick.  It may just have been very old but, in any case, thinning it didn't produce very good results.  I'll watch this thread to see if others have found a good substitute for the Sherwin-Williams product.  Meanwhile, the Minwax polyurethanes in various sheens aren't too bad if you can't find a good alkyd varnish.

   ChipTam 

2. 
   Pondfish | Feb 23, 2006 10:18pm | #2

   McCloskey's heirloom varnish.  Be sure to read the label first, they've changed formulations before.  I look for an alkyd based varnish without UV blockers (which are common in spar varnish).   The McCloskey's gave a nice light amber color to the wood I applied it to (combined with BLO).

   Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
3. 
   LeeGrindinger | Feb 23, 2006 10:33pm | #3

   McCloskey's Heirloom, it's a decent varnish but the lower sheens cannot be sprayed. High gloss will go through a gun just fine but the flatting agents don't even out well in the film. The reformulation took the path of substituting oil for solvent to meet VOC recommendations and it's not the same product it was 20 years ago. For brushing it's still great stuff but don't spray it.

   For spraying I use Benjamin Moore's Benwood. It's really tough to brush but it sprays well and levels as well as you'd expect from an alkyd varnish.

   Lee

1. 
   JeffHeath | Feb 25, 2006 01:34am | #4

   Hey Lee

   Is the McCloskey's varnish the stuff you were showing us in your shop?  Is that the only finish you apply, or do you top coat afterwards?  Thanks.

   Jeff

1. 
   LeeGrindinger | Feb 25, 2006 02:44am | #5

   Yup, it probably was the Heirloom. I will use shellac under it and the Benwood Varnish as a sealer but just as often I'll thin the first coat 20% and use that as sealer.Lee

   Edited 2/24/2006 6:45 pm ET by LeeGrindinger

1. 
   JeffHeath | Feb 25, 2006 06:08pm | #7

   When you use shellac, do you spray it, or brush and rub.  I'm experimenting with shellac now, and haven't gotten the results I'd like from brushing it on.  I keep getting ridges, because it dries so fast.  Spraying was next, and was wonder what cut you used, if you spray it.

   Thanks again.

    

   Jeff

1. 
   LeeGrindinger | Feb 25, 2006 09:42pm | #8

   When I use shellac as sealer I brush it. I'm not looking for a sleek film from a sealer, just sealer. I'll sand it pretty aggressively, like 150, before I put varnish to it.Honestly, I've never sprayed shellac. When I'm using it as a final finish on a piece I apply it thinned and with a rag, French Polish. It's quite easy and produces a very nice film but it is shellac and as such it's not a durable finish under today's normal uses. I use it for stuff that doesn't get hard use, like picture frames.Lee

4. 
   SteveSchoene | Feb 25, 2006 07:23am | #6

   Behlen's Rockhard is still decent, but must be thinned a bit more (about 15%) than it used to need.

   Still listed on the website is a Quick Rubbing Varnish by Ronan (more usually known for Japan colors.)  I have used this and like it a lot--very similar to Behlen's now discontinued 4-hour Rubbing Varnish.