How does VARNOL give a gloss and matt finish from the same can?
Thinned with gum turps, VARNOL will give a beautiful matt or oiled-wood finish, and if used neat ‘straight from the can’, a proper high gloss results.
What’s involved in maintenance?
Ease of maintenance is the main reason people use VARNOL. None of us have much time to lavish on this work, so the quicker and easier it is done, the better.
Re-finishing gloss areas: Any bare patches or badly weathered finish should be rubbed back and touched up with a few wet-on-wet coats to ‘re-saturate’ the surface. Once these areas are dry, the entire area can be over-coated with un-thinned VARNOL, allowing to dry between coats.
Re-finishing ‘matt’ or oiled-wood areas: Any badly weathered areas should be sanded carefully to smooth the grain and remove any weakened finish. Then a number of wet-on-wet coats should be applied to re-saturate the surface.
Always refer to the full instructions on the can before use!
Can I use VARNOL over existing finishes?
We know of no reason why VARNOL should not be used over existing established finishes. E.g.: It can be used as a touch-up interim measure before a major restoration/re-finishing project is undertaken. However, do remember that if the existing finish is already weakened, there is no great future in just slapping another finish on top!
Will VARNOL darken the wood?
VARNOL contains only the colour imparted to it by the refined pine resins, so it is a fine dark honey colour. Enriching the visual qualities of the timber, it will darken the wood slightly with the first coat or two, very much as an old-fashioned varnish will. Subsequent applications change the colour very little.
Do I have to get all the existing finish off first?
VARNOL is most effective if it is allowed to penetrate into the wood, as mentioned above. There is little point in adding to an already poor or badly-weathered finish. However, VARNOL can be used to touch-up bare patches, followed by 2 or 3 ‘topcoats’ over all, and this is often satisfactory. But to do a proper job, it is best to start from scratch.
Do I thin it for the first coat or two and then use it neat?
On bare wood, VARNOL must be thinned to start with, and applied wet-on-wet until the wood absorbs no more. This is a quick way of giving the wood protection from the weather, and can be followed with ‘neat’ VARNOL for a high gloss finish, if required. Always refer to the full instructions on the can - it makes all the difference!!
Can I use white spirit or turps substitute to thin VARNOL?
Gum turpentine (a.k.a. ‘genuine’ or ‘raw’ turps) is the recommended thinner for VARNOL. White spirit can be used, but less penetration into the wood and a poorer job will result. Plus the fact that you’ll miss out on the fine aroma of raw turps and VARNOL (to be enjoyed in moderation). At risk of boring you, check out the labels on the can before use!
Can I use stains with VARNOL to ‘touch up’ existing finishes, or for other matching?
For exterior and interior use, John Mylands supply light-fast spirit stains suitable for use with VARNOL. Though we cannot guarantee the results of any stains with VARNOL, the experience of using Mylands stains in VARNOL and the results have proved to be excellent. The stain should be mixed with the thinned VARNOL at the outset, and applied evenly. Don’t be afraid of trial and error - The Black Dog recommends trying a test area before diving in! With care, such spirit stains may be used to great effect with VARNOL.
Do I have to sand between coats?
Normally it is not necessary to rub down between applications of VARNOL, except as follows
1. First, if the wet-on-wet coats have raised the grain and you wish to go on to a full-gloss finish, you may wish to use 300-600 grit wet and dry paper with plenty of water, or a high quality dry paper, to smooth the raised grain.
2. Second, if there are particles of dust, unfortunate flying insects etc. in the last coats of un-thinned VARNOL, 1200 wet and dry paper with plenty of water can be used. This will result in a much improved finish.
Can I use other products over VARNOL?
VARNOL has been used to great effect as a primer under other traditional hard-finish paints and varnishes. Here it is stabilising the timber, and helping to lengthen the life of the finish. Under paint, experience has shown that the thinned and wet-on-wet coats of VARNOL applied first have reduced the bubbling sometimes associated with changes in temperature and in the moisture content of the wood. Naturally, in all cases it is essential to ensure the manufacturers own instructions are followed.
How long does VARNOL take to dry?
VARNOL is a traditional air-drying oil, and contains no chemical driers. Because much of them soak in, the wet-on-wet applications will dry quickly, and in good conditions unthinned VARNOL will dry in around 4 hours, meaning that on a fine day two topcoats (for gloss finishing) can be applied. Unlike many other finishes, there is NO minimum waiting time between coats - once it is dry to the touch, the next coat can go on.... VARNOL does not suffer from being applied in direct sunlight, though you need to work fast as it will dry quickly! Best results are not achieved in extremes of temperature. In a shed in winter, drying times can be 24 hours or more, depending on air movement etc. It is important to remember that VARNOL applied sparingly dries faster
