Varnish....Le Tonkinois

Rhymes with Iroquios...
The best site to find complete info about using this amazing varnish is at
http://www.letonkinoisvarnish.co.uk
Read: Specs - FAQ - Wax removal.

To find it available in the US go to
http://www.tarsmell.com
"Lay TON kin wah"

A revoluntionary varnish, commercialized by modern French invaders,
invented by Cambodian artisans maybe 2000 years ago for paper lanterns and waterproofing houses.
NON-TOXIC

EPIFANES (A highly modified tung oil finish.)
Can say that using Epifanes Wood Finish is almost as tedious as painting on spar varnish.
Don't have to sand between coats BUT
After the first three coats my eight not-yet-installed companion way pieces needed smoothing.
The rule now is to lightly sand between every coat!
There is a minimum 24 hour wait between coats.
And a minimum 36 hour wait to sand.
After 72 hours you have sand to create tooth to continue.
8 to 10 coats are necessary for exterior brightwork.

This is serious dedication for glitz. It's ridiculous!
Not knocking the finish, it is unbelievably deep and gorgeous.

One thing about building coats of Epifanes WF without sanding the previous coat
is that it is really hard to see the wet coat going on.
Easy to leave holidays and just as easy to create runs and drips.
Smoothing/sanding takes one or two precious coats off, each time.
It is more correct to finish off WF with a couple coats of Epifanes Gloss Varnish - which drys to a harder surface.
Dang, this can go on forever!!!

I'm going to do the new coamings with Le Tonkinois.
{LATER EDIT
I did, and reported on it elsewhere -- 8 coats on the new coamings, simple, easy, beautiful.
Sealed with lam epoxy -- different technique: brushed it on, while still wet rubbed it off with rags.
Already prepped surface when set required a lite 220-320 cut with paper, raising no dust.}

Straight on BARE wood! But I still believe SEALING mahogany with epoxy before varnishing is smart to do.
Gotta simple it down,
I hate varnishing...
We have a distributor in the SF Bay Area.
Will try the Berkeley Harbor marine store.
[YES. Berkeley Marine Ctr STOCKS both products.
Le Tonkiinois comes in an awful designed 1 liter square tea canister for $40.]
No prep to the varnish is permitted. Since no thinning solvents can be used,
my suggestion would be, once you get the lid opened, decant the whole can into a StopLossBag.
Duckworks Boat Building Supply -- Stop Loss Bag. Good honest web site!

Le Tonkinois is unlike ANY other bright finish on the market, traditional or 2-part.
The stuff won't lift. There is no thinning ever*. No sanding necessary.
When the gloss dulls, wet sand lightly, then add a couple more coats. Dust dry 2hrs. Hard 8hrs. 24 recoat.
It's green - NO solvents. Goes over all surfaces (except silicone and wax.) The French Navy uses it.
You can varnish your rudder with the stuff,
id-est, it works underwater?!'
Yeah, we'll see.

Tonk is a drying china oil made with tung and linseed oils. Imco there are no petroleum toxics in this coating.
It's totally different from any of the industrial varnishes we now use. Your varnish kit wil be totally simple:
Scotchbrite Pads, throw away chip brushes and three or four inch micro foam rollers. No solvents, no clean up.
Perfect for the cruiser's bosun's locker. No $20 boars hair brushes to manicure between coats!
Altho I've never done it. LeTonk can be thinned with up tp 10% mineral spirits. Also highly UV resistant.

Look it up... I could be telling you lies.