Sanding with bronze wool between final coats?

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Author Topic:   Sanding with bronze wool between final coats?

oliverweagle posted 06-10-2006 03:41 PM ET (US)
The end of the sanding / varnish application is finally in sight for my console. It now has 8 coats of Flagship, the last 5 of Which I have sanded between coats with 320 grit. I plan 2 more coats and have read a recommendation of using fine bronze wool between them.
Should I go the bronze wool route and has anyone had experience with this?
Thank you,
Matthew.
PeteB88 posted 06-10-2006 03:51 PM ET (US)
In my experience - no need. Your boat has to look awesome right now. Some will disagree but the only time I use bronze wool is if object is installed on the boat. The reason is steel wool fines will rust and make a black mess all over the boat and you can never vacuum it all up. Bronze wool does not rust.
I'm sure some magazine article will recommend that step but with marine spar varnish as thick as it is I use 120 between coats until maybe the last two and I go maybe 220.
The main reason is 120 makes a better mechanical bond (assuming confirmed full cure before next coat), is faster and I use no more than one sheet if that much. Finer grit will load up much faster and it really is not as effective at cutting into the cured surface as 120 - 150.
But I also worked around a production shop and base coats were critical - the last several might have gotten 220 - not much finer unless furniture.
best

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Author	Topic: Sanding with bronze wool between final coats?
oliverweagle	posted 06-10-2006 03:41 PM ET (US) The end of the sanding / varnish application is finally in sight for my console. It now has 8 coats of Flagship, the last 5 of Which I have sanded between coats with 320 grit. I plan 2 more coats and have read a recommendation of using fine bronze wool between them. Should I go the bronze wool route and has anyone had experience with this? Thank you, Matthew.
PeteB88	posted 06-10-2006 03:51 PM ET (US) In my experience - no need. Your boat has to look awesome right now. Some will disagree but the only time I use bronze wool is if object is installed on the boat. The reason is steel wool fines will rust and make a black mess all over the boat and you can never vacuum it all up. Bronze wool does not rust. I'm sure some magazine article will recommend that step but with marine spar varnish as thick as it is I use 120 between coats until maybe the last two and I go maybe 220. The main reason is 120 makes a better mechanical bond (assuming confirmed full cure before next coat), is faster and I use no more than one sheet if that much. Finer grit will load up much faster and it really is not as effective at cutting into the cured surface as 120 - 150. But I also worked around a production shop and base coats were critical - the last several might have gotten 220 - not much finer unless furniture. best