Taylor,

I have used Interlux varnish with very good results...BUT...it does take days for the first coat to dry, even with my shop kept at warmer temps. A buddy of mine had had the same problem(very slow cure) with the Interlux before me and also had good results, otherwise I would have been in the freakout mode with how slow mine was setting up. Subsequent coats dry quickly.

My guess is you may have started sanding too early.

Good luck!

Ken

: This is my first time varnishing. I really don't know what is normal and what
: is a problem so please bear with me if I'm being overly cautious.

: Working in an unheated garage, I applied my first coat of varnish on
: Wednesday in 85 degree weather. It's been cooler since (40'a and 50's).
: Today is much warmer again so I started sanding to prep for the second
: coat of varnish and was trying the technique mention on the One Ocean site
: of marking the hull with a sharpie and sanding just until the marks
: disappear.

: My first problem is that the 220 grit paper is gumming up almost immediately.
: I can sand about 18 inches down one plank of the hull before the sand
: paper is gummed beyond usablilty.

: My second problem is that there are a couple of place where the varnish seems
: to have peeled away during sanding. It leave a very rough area where, if I
: scrape a fingernail, more clear film peels up and sander marks are very
: evident. Also, in other area the sanding pass seems to have created area
: of slight clouding (even when wet) compared to area that I haven't sanded.

: I fear that perhaps the varnish hasn't completely cured and that I've done
: damage to the area I've already sanded. I'm using Interlux varnish and a
: palm finish sander with 220 grit.

: Please let me know if there is anything I can do to fix this or if any of
: this is normal.

: Thank you for any assistance

: Taylor Warren