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Author	Topic:   What is the best Varnish ?
NHKatama	posted 03-25-2003 08:04 PM ET (US)         I am getting ready to varnish all of the Mahogany pieces in my Katama, any opinions on which brands hold up the best. I am down to Z Spar, Interlux, or Epifanes, all High Gloss. I have already used Z Spar wood stain on the all the pieces and now I am ready for the fun of applying several coats of Varnish. Thanks for any input, ~~~~Pete
dscew	posted 03-25-2003 08:49 PM ET (US)          On my Katama I used Z Spar Flagship varnish; I think it has the best color, it's durable, and has alot of UV protection.
Montauk	posted 03-25-2003 10:56 PM ET (US)             Epiphanes has a great product called Wood Gloss, it is formulated for teak but work very well on mahogany also. There is no need to sand between coats if recoated within 48 hours, I do sand the last coat to a flat finish before applying a final coat. Wood Gloss is not as glossy as the regular epiphanes, but you can top coat with regular epihanes if you want gloss. Many wood boat restorers are using this product with great results. It is compatible with z spar stain also.
lhg	posted 03-26-2003 04:55 PM ET (US)          I'll second dscew's recommendation. I use it exclusively. Apply it with foam brushes from Home Depot.
dscew	posted 03-26-2003 05:16 PM ET (US)          Ihg, I would agree with the last comment except for foam brushes from Home Depot. The Jen brand far outclasses those wobbly POS's from Home Depot. Much firmer foam with smaller cells. Up here where we use upside down 5 gallon pickle buckets for ice fishing, then for anchors in the summer, Jen is available at Menards, I don't know about the rest of the country.
lhg	posted 03-26-2003 06:08 PM ET (US)          I also like, and use, the Menard's foam brushes. Around here, I have found the Home Depot product identical. Maybe there is a variance in what they carry locally. I figured not many would know the Menard's name. The Walmart foam brushes I tried were not good.
larimore	posted 03-26-2003 07:16 PM ET (US)             Make sure you get a marine spar varnish
whalerron	posted 03-27-2003 09:10 AM ET (US)             I use Interlux Schooner varnish. It looks good and has the UV inhibitors. Last year I used the suggested Home Depot foam brushes. They were a royal pain in the a--. They were not stiff enough to hold their shape while varnishing and they actually started losing tiny bits and pieces of foam while I was varnishing. It really messed up the finish. So, I threw all of them in the trash where they belong and I bought some good ones at Boaters World. The ones from Boaters World did an absolutely great job with the varnish. - ron
Royce	posted 03-27-2003 08:32 PM ET (US)             Call Smith &Co. in Richmond, Ca. They have two products that the wooden boat nuts claim are the best. The first product is a penetrating epoxy sealer that is used as a primer. The second is a top coat called Five Year Clear polyurethane finish. If you call them they will send you more information on why varnishes fail than you might want to know. Phone #1-800-234-0330 www.smithandcompany.org Royce

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