Refinishing cockpit table
- Thread starter peterbud
- Start date
As it's in the cockpit and can be easily covered, why not do it right and varnish it? Spar varnish is the only thing that will make that table look spectacular. At least ten coats. It should outlast Cetol by years if done right and kept covered when not in use. And did I mention it would look spectacular?
I've always started with Interlux clear wood sealer after the wood was glass smooth, raising the grain several times first. Then, after sanding it back to the glass smooth surface, yes a thinned first coat, though many today advocate an epoxy for the first few coats for hardness, then successive coats of varnish. I haven't tried that; I'm just a keep putting on coats with lots of sanding between kind of guy. I think it's all about the glass smooth surface before each coat, if you want that show boat glow of a wonderfully varnished piece of wood. I've used Captain's varnish as long as I can remember and have never been dissatisfied with the results, IF I've done the prep work correctly.
It takes a lot of work to get your brightwork up to that quality, but IMO worth it if one has the time and desire to maintain it. However, if you keep this table out of the sun and don't run lines across it, it shouldn't require that much maintenance; perhaps a new coat every 12 to 15 months.
I always sand the first coat all the way back down to bare wood. That just leaves sealed grain. Capta gives good advice about raising the grain several times. Sand, water, dry, sand, water, dry until the water doesn't make it fur back up. It doesn't take much to knock the grain back down. My first coat is always done with a course paper, 220 or 300 then sand it down to 400+ grit. After that, sand and recoat as you normally would.
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/i...ery-lengthy-project-post.188874/#post-1416389
My hatch board project. It's what I do for a living.
- Will (Dragonfly)
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/i...ery-lengthy-project-post.188874/#post-1416389
My hatch board project. It's what I do for a living.
- Will (Dragonfly)
I have used UltraGold water-based spar varnish with great results. Great to work with also.
- Will (Dragonfly)
- Will (Dragonfly)