Finishing that varnish job

[Jim on Whiskey Girl, 1973 C-27]

I've spent way too much time redoing the varnish from bare wood, and am down to the last coats. But I need some advice. How do you get the final coats on without air bubbles? I've read both Dan Casey's advice, and Rebecca Wittman's Brightwork Companion, and while they mention air bubbles, they don't really say how to not get them other then don't shake or stir. I notice that they get into my working pot from cleaning off the tipping side of the brush, or on the surface from putting too much pressure on the brush as I try to flow the varnish on, so I try to avoid both. Does anyone know of an additive that reduces surface tension, or have you tried to make the last couple of coats with the varnish cut with some mineral spirits? All advice welcome.

 

[Mike]

Feather the brush strokes

First of all, I believe in thinning the first several coats a lot so that they really soak into the wood. It sort of is like making the outer surface of the wood plasticized. Also, sand between every coat, and wipe off with a tack rag. The last couple of coats should not be thined much, if any. After you've applied your varnish, gently slide the tip of the brush with out adding any more varnish in a very light feathering motion, only going in one direction. This will leave your finish smooth, with out brush strokes or air bubbles. The trick is to not use too much varnish for each coat.

 

[Jay]

wipe with turpentine

before you apply the last coat,sand with 320 paper, then wipe the job down with a cloth lightly soaked with turpentine. then gently dip your brush into the varnish,apply,then with long even strokes drag the brush across the job uninterrupted from one end to the other. dont go back over the work. the bubbles should not be a problem.