Boat Building Forum

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Varnish curing
By:Brian Nystrom
Date: 5/5/2003, 12:07 pm
In Response To: Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers? (Dave Grimmer)

: Unlike epoxy, varnish must be fully hardened before another coat is applied.
: Varnish hardens through solvent evaporation.

This isn't actually the case. The thinner in varnish is exactly that, thinner. If you wipe a cured varnish surface with the same thinner, it will not dissolve it. The thinner evaporates quickly, leaving just the resin/oil blend behind. It cures as it combines with oxygen from the air. The reason for not re-coating varish is that the top coat will create a barrier that prevents oxygen from getting to the bottom coat readily, so the bottom coat cures very slowly. The end result is a finish that stays soft for a much longer time than if each coat had been allowed to cure properly.

Messages In This Thread

Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
Myrl Tanton -- 5/2/2003, 4:17 pm
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
rnb4tla -- 5/3/2003, 11:46 pm
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
Rob Peterson -- 5/3/2003, 1:30 pm
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
Roy Morford -- 5/3/2003, 3:29 pm
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers? *Pic*
Bobby Curtis -- 5/3/2003, 7:02 am
Wow! Hot Shop - Better Varnish Fast ;) *NM*
Ted Henry -- 5/3/2003, 11:46 pm
Re: Wow! Hot Shop - Better Varnish Fast ;)
Bobby Curtis -- 5/4/2003, 8:02 am
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
rnb4tla -- 5/3/2003, 11:40 pm
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers? *LINK*
Bobby Curtis -- 5/4/2003, 6:58 am
Sweet looking work, Bobby! *NM*
Robert N Pruden -- 5/3/2003, 9:00 pm
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
Ken -- 5/3/2003, 2:55 pm
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers? *LINK* *Pic*
Bobby Curtis -- 5/4/2003, 7:54 am
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
Melissa -- 5/5/2003, 1:05 am
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
Myrl Tanton -- 5/4/2003, 12:22 pm
nice
Myrl Tanton -- 5/3/2003, 11:39 am
Re: nice
Bobby Curtis -- 5/4/2003, 7:59 am
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
Ken -- 5/2/2003, 10:01 pm
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
Myrl Tanton -- 5/3/2003, 11:29 am
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers? *LINK*
Charles Leach -- 5/3/2003, 5:59 pm
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
Roy Morford -- 5/2/2003, 11:55 pm
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
Myrl Tanton -- 5/3/2003, 11:36 am
Bear in mind that you will be...
Robert N Pruden -- 5/3/2003, 8:58 pm
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
Dave Grimmer -- 5/2/2003, 7:55 pm
Varnish curing
Brian Nystrom -- 5/5/2003, 12:07 pm
Re: Strip: not sanding between Varnish layers?
Myrl Tanton -- 5/2/2003, 8:24 pm