I used Detco and initialy had some similar problems. Here's how I solved 'em:

The brush - use a good quality foam brush, in my area only found at marine supply stores ... rather than a stiffener just in the center, they have a "T" shaped stiffener ... the top part of the "T" is the full length of the brush. OR ... use a badger hair (or similar) brush ... keep it spotless as you use it and store it correctly. Clean it first before you use it ... mine had dust in it.

Varnish kick off ... varnish is packed in nitrogen and as soon as you open the can, the volatils start to kick off. When you open and close the can the air must be displaced or the varnish will continue to thicken. I use a product called Bloxygen. Some people use propane or exhale into the can. For me, the only reliable fix has been Bloxygen. You have to address this because if you don't, hour by hour your varnish will be thickening up. I've had a can of varnish become completely unusable for finish coats within 24 hours. I either store the can upside down or decant the varnish into a glass jar made for canning which I also store upside down.

More on varnish kick off - when you poor your varnish into a clean bowl for application don't poor too much ... it's exposed to the air and it will kick off and thicken as you proceed. Never put the unused portion back into the container from which you took it, store it separately and never use it for a finish coat.

Thinning - it may help but it didn't work for me. When you use a thinner the surface starts to cure very quickly and odly the varnish may not flow out well, ESPECIALLY with a thin coat. I got this info from the Detco tech guys ... who were super!

Application - this is where you may get different opinions. I found trying to do a thin a coat caused a lot-o-brush marks, sags and holidays. So ... I loaded up my brush and made the first pass in an "N" configuration, tipped it off and went on to the next section. I worked quiclky. I ended up with far, Far, FAR fewer brush marks, sags and holidays.

Over working the varnish - don't ... you'll regret it! Ditto going back to touch up a spot!

Sanding - I lightly wet sanded every coat except the last with 400 wet/dry wraped around a neoprene foam block. I sanded flaws until they were unnoticable,

Advice - I found talking to the tech guys at Detco VERY informative and usefull.

Ken Blanton

: I did the second coat of varnish on my deck last night and did not have a fun
: time. It seemed like the varnish did not want to lay out flat, it was
: almost like it wanted to bead up (lots of brush marks etc.).

: Is the solution to this problem to thin the varnish a bit? The guy at the
: store told me that I shouldn't have to thin it at all, but this is
: annoying as I think that by the time that I have sanded the varnish flat I
: will be back at square one (I have no illusions that my sanding/cabinet
: scraper technique is good enough to avoid sanding through the varnish in a
: few spots).

: Am I just extremly varnish challenged, or is there just a fundemental problem
: that I am not aware of?

: I am using epifanes (sp?) with "high uv block"

: Thanks,
: JJ