Last coat of epiphanes gloss varnish. What do you use for final sanding and how do you then make it gleam?
Thanks. Ilan
Thanks. Ilan
Last coat of Varnish: what now?
- Thread starter Ilanortho
- Start date
Hmmm... I always sand a lot before I varnish. Then make certain not to stir the varnish so aggressively that bubbles get trapped*. That will ruin your finish. If the varnish can is old, strain it through a screen first. Use a high quality brush. Brush on light and (so the varnish does not come in physical contact with a surface) hang the piece of wood using a hook and string....(see photo) . Let dry.... then add a coat... dry... coat....dry....etc.
It should gleam when done.
I have heard of people applying a 200 grit sand and then a final coat ... but I have never had to take it that far.
Do not use foam brushes, they make little bubbles in the varnish....
*The instructions on the can I had said to stir it very slowly so as to avoid making bubbles in the varnish. Instead I shook the hell out of it the night before and let it sit so the bubbles could work themselves out.
It should gleam when done.
I have heard of people applying a 200 grit sand and then a final coat ... but I have never had to take it that far.
Do not use foam brushes, they make little bubbles in the varnish....
*The instructions on the can I had said to stir it very slowly so as to avoid making bubbles in the varnish. Instead I shook the hell out of it the night before and let it sit so the bubbles could work themselves out.
You say last coat. Of how many? 4 coats? 8 coats? With Epiphanes, you are going to be at 10 coats at a very minimum to get the thickness build required. Normally you I'll go 14 or so. As you go you sand, knocking down the high spots while letting the low spots fill.
If you are at a low cost count, sanding to flat will get you into unvarnished wood. So go carefully.
The short answer to your question:
Assuming you have laid multiple coats down an slowly built up to a flat "next-to-last" coat, you do NOTHING after the last coat.
3 coats West epoxy and 4 coats varnish sanding between each coat. Is clear and deep. Question is, after the last coat any minor imperfections must be smoothed or sanded out; there are always some ( I come from the auto refinishing world). After minor sanding, what do you use to restore that crystal clear finish?
The wood boat guys will tell you the UV inhibitors move to the surface of the top coat, (all coats) during drying. Sanding and polishing removes them according to that camp. I have no personal experience with that phenomenon but I don't risk it.
Rather, my take is this: if Ya ain't happy with your last coat it ain't yer last coat.
Rather, my take is this: if Ya ain't happy with your last coat it ain't yer last coat.
Don't think for a minute that varnish is like automotive paint. The two are NOT interchangeable, in mental process or mechanical properties. When I was into woodies, Chris Crafts, Pen Yans, Wagemakers etc. I bought a boat on a whim; a beautiful boat, a 1947 Wagemaker Wolverine. The guy who did it informed me he'd done it in automotive clear, saying: "I wanted it to last and be done finishing." Knowing what the guy did, I should not have bought it, but it WAS gorgeous. A doctor friend had to have it so I sold it. 6-months later the clear was GONE. I share this just to try to point out that you can't think in automotive finish terms.
If you feel a need to cut and polish, wait a couple of weeks or months to let solvents get really good and done out gassing. I did a 14' wood runabout on a tight time schedule once. The finish looked great, 14 coats applied over the course of about three weeks. Two days after the last coat we took the boat for upholstery. Two days there, and we were stopping by to check on progress and you could see all these hand prints on the finish; oils had been deposited on the surface creating a barrier, and it caused blush that took about a month to go away.
Despite being dry, your finish is still quite active. Give it time before you go sanding on it. It ISN'T the same as automotive finish
If you feel a need to cut and polish, wait a couple of weeks or months to let solvents get really good and done out gassing. I did a 14' wood runabout on a tight time schedule once. The finish looked great, 14 coats applied over the course of about three weeks. Two days after the last coat we took the boat for upholstery. Two days there, and we were stopping by to check on progress and you could see all these hand prints on the finish; oils had been deposited on the surface creating a barrier, and it caused blush that took about a month to go away.
Despite being dry, your finish is still quite active. Give it time before you go sanding on it. It ISN'T the same as automotive finish
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But we do sand between coats, right? Also I always wondered, how soon can you overcoat a previous coat if there is no need to sand; ie can it still be a little tacky?
With Epiphanes I have found I like sanding every three to 4 coats. Every 24 hours unless the weather is cold and or humid. Finger-print tacky no. Smelly tacky, yes. If that makes sense 
Thanks for sharing; is what I do but sometimes I'm tempted to put on a wet coat while its a bit sticky tacky thinking it will adhere and level well, haven't the courage do so figuring I'll end with a gooey mess
