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Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish *PIC*
By:Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K
Date: 12/7/2016, 3:31 pm
In Response To: Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish (JohnAbercrombie)

Are there different quality foam brushes? All the (cheap) ones I've ever tried were the same grey foam with a plastic insert and the round stick handle. Very 'floppy' and tended to 'break down' with oil-type varnish. I couldn't get a thin coat with them.
I was taught to use unthinned varnish but 'brush it hard', so I've found a traditional varnish brush works best for me. That said, varnishing is something I avoid, so my technique is probably bad.

Well you hit the head on the nail --- the problem with quality and consistency of materials and tools.

The smallest details often make all the difference.

The foam brushes I buy from Hamilton Marine a local Maine company are not floppy.

https://shop.hamiltonmarine.com/products/paint-brush-poly-foam--each-or-box--43377.html

I do believe traditional varnish brushes are better, however I have to admit I have not had consistent luck in cleaning them. The cost of tossing them has lead me back to 4" foam brushes which I'm confident will give me consistently good results.

And then, there's the whole dust issue with varnish, which can drive you nuts.

I wet the floor to keep down dust, spray the air an hour before varnishing to remove dust. Wipe surfaces with a tack cloth and then apply varnish.

Traditional varnish brushes which are not properly cleaned will create a non skid surface which looks like you coated the surface with a salt shaker. Varnish curd bits left in the brush come out in a never ending mess. Ask me how I know!

Who wants to hear a grown man whimpering! :)

It's no wonder some ship their boats off to auto shop finishers.

Messages In This Thread

S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Wesley -- 12/7/2016, 1:15 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 12/7/2016, 1:33 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Wesley -- 12/7/2016, 2:06 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 12/7/2016, 3:19 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Hubert Schreier -- 12/7/2016, 10:57 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 12/7/2016, 2:27 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/7/2016, 2:49 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish *PIC*
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 12/7/2016, 3:31 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish *PIC*
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 12/7/2016, 4:42 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Paul D -- 12/7/2016, 5:53 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Thomas Duncan -- 12/7/2016, 9:09 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 12/8/2016, 7:33 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Wesley -- 12/8/2016, 1:39 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 12/8/2016, 7:39 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Wesley -- 12/8/2016, 1:34 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Mike Bielski -- 12/7/2016, 3:26 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Wesley -- 12/8/2016, 1:44 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
jaybabina -- 12/7/2016, 5:16 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Mike Bielski -- 12/7/2016, 10:58 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
upchurchmr -- 12/7/2016, 11:39 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Mike Bielski -- 12/8/2016, 9:58 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish *PIC*
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 12/8/2016, 10:45 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Randy -- 12/8/2016, 12:53 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 12/8/2016, 1:46 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Wesley -- 12/8/2016, 1:47 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Bill Hamm -- 12/9/2016, 12:27 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 12/7/2016, 5:26 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Etienne Muller -- 12/7/2016, 5:37 pm
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Wesley -- 12/8/2016, 1:57 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 12/8/2016, 10:42 am
Re: S&G: Thanks! About Varnish
upchurchmr -- 12/7/2016, 8:13 pm
Re: S&G: Thanks! About Varnish
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 12/8/2016, 8:03 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Bill Hamm -- 12/8/2016, 12:25 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Wesley -- 12/8/2016, 1:59 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Paul Sylvester -- 12/8/2016, 4:52 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 12/8/2016, 10:36 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
John VB -- 12/8/2016, 10:50 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Bill Hamm -- 12/9/2016, 12:29 am
Re: S&G: Counsel About Varnish
Wesley -- 1/8/2017, 2:58 am