: I thought I would use a top quality brand, so I spent a small fortune buying
: "Epifanes", top knotch stuff.

: Problem is it won't dry, it's been on the deck now for 72 hours and it's
: still very tacky, the workshop is heated to 14c, Iv'e even got a fan
: running to aid ventilation.
: I assume it's to do with it's inability to soak into the resin.

: Anyone got any idea what I can try next.

: Nick
: UK

If you apply varnish within a month of your last fresh coat of epoxy the
still curing epoxy will interact with the varnish. Some varnishes will cure
properly and some never will.

I suspect you have an incompatiblity issue. You can find out quickly
by contacting the epoxy manufacturer and ask which varnish you should
use with their product and if Epiphanes would work.

Or you can do a test piece. Apply a thick coat of your epoxy to
a flat panel. Give it a day to cure then apply your varnish to it.
Do all this and keep it, in a warm place.

Let the varnish cure for two days. You can tell if the varnish is hard and
cured by sanding with 220 grit. If the sandpaper clogs fast it is not cured.
If the sandpaper does not clog the varnish is cured
and your problem is all temperature related.

I use System Three epoxy. Z Spar Captains varnish cures well over fairly
fresh coats. The first coat of varnish will always take twice the normal
cure time over new epoxy, usually two days at 72˚F.

I have a friend who kept telling me about how great "Epifanes" was so I
tried some. I applied the Epifanes on epoxy about a week old in 75˚F temperatures.

After five days it was still tacky. It was easy to remove with mineral
spirits and steel wool. So much for that experiment.

Rob