Boat US Magazine -- Varnishing Perfection by Mark Corke

Boat Owners Association of the US April/May 2016 issue marks 50 years it's been 'our champ'.
(Not always... I've almost forgotten their Wets Marine takeover and brick&motar disaster.)

That said, I've been a member forever, still remain faithful even tho they are mostly the other
side of water sports: powerboats and fishing. The mag often has something of interest,
This time it's a 50 year "Leaders & Legends" photo essay that fattens the issue nicely.
You didn't know Tania Aebi is now 49 and has a couple sons!!

AND They've recently added a new associate editor to their staff. Had to look it up because,
as usual, I wasn't aware right away. Flipped to a "DO IT YOURSELF" (pg 90) and started
reading....
Love tricks and tips, always looking for something that vindicates and favors my own doubtful
experiences, 'Guess I've been doing that right!'. Or. checking out whether the advice is
a condensation of other writers, videos and commercial datasheets.


Real ADVISE is hard to come by. One main problem is whether the writer can write. It's
more than just lining up the 'howto' ducks. This guy doesn't let words get in the way of
really clear, friendly, and obviously, experienced revelation on this always near disaster
called 'varnishing.'

Mark Corke's article is a treat to read. It takes 6 pages through the mag's ad landscape.
One thing I've noticed over years of trying to steal experience through reading, that often
I'll be chugging right along... and turn the page, and it's done. Like right where more
was expected or hoped for, but the writer had no more. Expectations unrewarded.

Mr Corke's easy going style matches the art of varnish perfection he's describing.
It is the best concise essay on the art of varnishing I've read!
Wish there was a way to reproduce it here. Though we've varnished a thousand times,
this talk will reveal something for everybody, something you needed to be reminded...

April/May2016 BoatUS mag identified by a nearly white cover with a large graphic '50'.


I used the services of BoatUS to get littlegull USCG documentation. Cost, but they made
it easy.

I Googled it and found this: (hopefully it'll work)

http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2016/...perfection.asp

You can also download it in PDF format.

As always, thanks Ebb for passing on good bits on info!

Mike, you are the best. Hope the blue line lasts
awhile! Looked at it again and it still holds up, imco.

Hate varnishing, never get a great job.
At one point Mark sez: "Hold the brush like a pen..."
Can't do that. Probably why I'll never get it.

He admits you have to, 'Sand between every coat.'
Even if you're using something fast. I've hardly
ever not gotten tiny bumps in my gloss. It's true,
you can't ignore them, they'll expand & grow like
teenage acne if you just coat them. Gotta sand
them, which means varnish has to completely dry.

Can use a 3M rubber 1/4 sheet sanding block
for this. Spring the sheet on as tite as possible,
then float the block lightly without pressure over
the work, Just to knock the nibs down, then finish,
also lightly as possible, with a folded 1/4 square
like he suggests, just for tooth. (because varnish
cakes on paper, your local guitar maker will use
a cabinet scraper for the high points. By far the
easiest way is to shave them off.)

Notice we can access 'Marshall's list' of All
varnishes, including those I consider... coatings.
Oil varnishes can be removed. If a hard surface
coating fails... and you finally get it off... you'll
never use it again, you'll go back to traditional.

LeTonkinois is mentioned, which is very fair.
Hard to find. But it's as green and traditional
as it gets, no solvents. No added UV pigment.
You can do things with it that you'd never do
with any other varnish. (like use it under water!)
Consider LeTonk a natural outdoor product...*

Thanks, Mike
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Know this is not the place for this. LeTonk is
used unstirred, unthinned, decanted into a cup.
Note the neat varnish kit in the lead foto of
the article.
www.tarsmell.com/letonkinois_original.html
Traditionalists will still want to thin the first
coats for bare wood. LeTonk's own bravado
FAQ states: do not thin, it penetrates already.
Have to accept this varnish is like no other
you've ever come across before.
If you are spraying and need to thin use
mineral spirits. By default, I guess, thin with
the brush cleaner also. They would rather you
not stain the wood first because that acts as a
sealer and the first unthinned coat will not
penetrate like it's supposed to.

If you are using a fancy varnish brush,. one
way to clean it is to pull the wet varnish out
from the bristles with a dry rag. Wash it in low
odor spirits, hang it wet in deodorized kerosene.
Make yer own like this $42 Paint Brush Keeper:
It's BIG..http://www.jamestowndistributors.com
I'll have one or three fancy brushes hanging in
a tall, wide mouth 64oz Ball canning jar, $6.19.