Downtime project: Varnishing

Repair or modification of Boston Whaler boats, their engines, trailers, and gear
dtmackey
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Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2017 9:29 pm

Downtime project: Varnishing

Postby dtmackey » Tue Apr 28, 2020 7:22 pm

Taking advantage of the Corona virus lockdown and getting the varnishing done.

2 more coats of foam brush applied Epifanes (sanded 320 between coats) followed by 2 coats of sprayed urethane clear with a 10 min flash dry between coats. Clear is about 1 mil per coat and really brings out the gloss and smoothness. I'm debating whether I should buff as well.

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It's ready to install and my son will assist.

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Phil T
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Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2015 6:08 pm
Location: Was Maine. Temporarily Kentucky

Re: Downtime project: Varnishing

Postby Phil T » Tue Apr 28, 2020 10:24 pm

Seriously, Mackey.

Between you and Bob, you are killing it!!

We are not worthy.
1992 Outrage 17
2019 E-TEC 90
2018 LoadRite 18280096VT
Member since 2003

dtmackey
Posts: 760
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2017 9:29 pm

Re: Downtime project: Varnishing

Postby dtmackey » Wed Apr 29, 2020 8:15 am

Phil T wrote:Between you and Bob,


He's buying paint this week. I may drive up there and shoot the primer for him and then he will roll and tip the topcoat.

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L78steve
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Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2019 9:51 pm
Location: Hendersonville NC

Re: Downtime project: Varnishing

Postby L78steve » Wed Apr 29, 2020 12:46 pm

I'm currently restoring my wood parts. How much dry time are you allowing for the Epifanes before you sand?
And how much are you thinning the Epifanes for the foam brush app?
1988 15' Sport, 89 Johnson 70HP
1998 22' Progression Merc 300XP
1961 12' Allstar FG 73 Evinrude 25

dtmackey
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Re: Downtime project: Varnishing

Postby dtmackey » Thu Apr 30, 2020 7:57 am

L78steve wrote:I'm currently restoring my wood parts. How much dry time are you allowing for the Epifanes before you sand?
And how much are you thinning the Epifanes for the foam brush app?


first coat was thinned about 30% and I don't use the same thinner they recommend, instead I use an reducer from automotive paints that speeds up the dry time, but still always wait 24 hours between coats. First coat was pretty thin, all subsiquent coats were thinner 10 - 15%. When dry, a sanding of 320 gritt was performed and the next coat laid down.

A good trick is to place the foam brush in a ziplock back and place in the freezer when you finish. If the foam brush is a quality unit, you can get 3 coats of varnish from the same foam brush before tossing and starting with a fresh one. They don't actually freeze and the cold prevents the varnish from drying and one in use again then soften right up in a few mins.

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L78steve
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Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2019 9:51 pm
Location: Hendersonville NC

Re: Downtime project: Varnishing

Postby L78steve » Thu Apr 30, 2020 12:47 pm

Thank you for the advice. I have been waiting several days between coats due to slow drying and not being able to sand while sticky.
1988 15' Sport, 89 Johnson 70HP
1998 22' Progression Merc 300XP
1961 12' Allstar FG 73 Evinrude 25

dtmackey
Posts: 760
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2017 9:29 pm

Re: Downtime project: Varnishing

Postby dtmackey » Fri May 01, 2020 8:40 am

L78steve wrote:Thank you for the advise. I have been waiting several days between coats due to slow drying and not being able to sand while sticky.


Sorry Steve, I omitted one small factor that affects my dry time. My garage is heated and I keep it at 75 degrees which gives me a 24 hour re-coat time window.

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jimh
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Re: Downtime project: Varnishing

Postby jimh » Fri May 01, 2020 8:56 am

ASIDE on heated garage: our house used to have a heated garage, although the garage was not really insulated at all. The heating cost was excessive, but in a Michigan winter, the heated garage was also a problem for older car engines, day c.1970. If you started the car on a cold winter morning in the warm garage, once you backed out of the garage and into the 10-degree-F outside ambient, the car would stall and be hard to restart until the automatic choke re-adjusted to the sudden temperature change.

But I get the impression your heated garage is more of a boat workshop than a place to park automobiles.

COMPLETELY OFF TOPIC: what is planned for the old mailbox? Conversion to a center console on an aluminum skiff?

dtmackey
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Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2017 9:29 pm

Re: Downtime project: Varnishing

Postby dtmackey » Fri May 01, 2020 11:46 am

jimh wrote:ASIDE on heated garage: our house used to have a heated garage, although the garage was not really insulated at all. The heating cost was excessive, but in a Michigan winter, the heated garage was also a problem for older car engines, say c.1970. If you started the car on a cold winter morning in the warm garage, once you backed out of the garage and into the 10-degree-F outside ambient, the car would stall and be hard to restart until the automatic choke re-adjusted to the sudden temperature change.

But I get the impression your heated garage is more of a boat workshop than a place to park automobiles.

COMPLETELY OFF TOPIC: what is planned for the old mailbox? Conversion to a center console on an aluminum skiff?


Hi Jim - garage is insulated R19 and the worst part was the insulated garage doors. When the wind blew, you would see daylight as the door would pull away from its weather seal on the outside. I tried everything to adjust and it was better, but not ideal. The game changer was a kit I installed on each door where the door track has bowed out areas where each door wheel guide travels and it pushed the door tight against the seal and also includes another seal they provide. Now the wind can flow as much as it wants and there is zero daylight through the deal. Even on the coldest days, you can hold your hand by the door and not feel the cold coming in. I can't recommend this product enough.

https://thermotraks.com/

The garage does serve as my playroom for getting projects done, but one stall is made available for my wife during the months of frost and snow. This keeps the peace at home.

The mailbox is a volunteer project for the Sandown NH Fire Dept and I'm refinishing this in Red, White and Blue and they will place in front of the firehouse for retired American flag disposal. Once they collect enough flags, they will have a flag-burning ceremony with the local Boy Scout troop. I'm spraying with Alexseal at no cost since I have a relationship with that Fire Dept through a family member. The best part is the local boatyard shut down there paint operation and gave me about 20 gallons of various Alexseal colors, so it's not costing me anything but time.

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jimh
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Re: Downtime project: Varnishing

Postby jimh » Fri May 01, 2020 1:28 pm

The mailbox for flags to be disposed is a very nice idea. I recently replaced the wind-tattered flag that flew for many years on the stern staff of my boat. I know old flags not supposed to be thrown into the garbage for reasons of flag etiquette and respecct . Maybe your local project could expand to nationwide coverage.

biggiefl
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Re: Downtime project: Varnishing

Postby biggiefl » Fri May 01, 2020 1:45 pm

Most American legions and VFW's have flag disposal at their posts. Most you have to go inside and ask. I am the local go-to guy for flags. Hardest part is keeping people for mistaking it from a garbage can even though it clearly says flag disposal.
On my 24th Whaler. Currently in the stable: 86 18' Outrage, 81 13' Sport(original owner), 87 11' Sport, 69 Squall(for sale cheap).

dtmackey
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Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2017 9:29 pm

Re: Downtime project: Varnishing

Postby dtmackey » Fri May 01, 2020 2:54 pm

Actually, the flag disposal at Fire Depts is already widespread, maybe not in your local region, but I've looked at hundreds of designs and think I'm going to come up with my own.

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Speaking more of flags and opening up on a little history, here's a few pics from when I lived on Iwo Jim in 89-90 while stations at the USCG Pacific Loran-C station 9970. We were the master station for the largest geographic coverage areas. In our off time over the year of isolated duty, we'd explored the island history and WWII artifacts.


Here is the American Memorial on Mt Surabachi that resides next to the Japanese Memorials.
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This is the memorial in front of the exact point the flag was planted. I'm happy to say it's still there, despite the volcanic ground movement and erosion. I see that the USCG station and transmitter has been consumed by the jungle since its closure in 1994.
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This was a sandstone carving made by one of the US service members that was part of the occupation of the island after the war.
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One of my departing gives from my duty was an offical US flag that was certified to have flown over the White House and on Mt Surbachi Iwo Jima.

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