Exterior varnish

[hammer n nails]

hi i have a problem with Exterior varnish i keep getting bubbles i have used varnish brushes ,sponge brushes and even paint pads but to no avail still get bubbles can you buy spray-able Exterior varnish? or can you spray ronseal varnish has anyone tried i don't have a spray gun or compressor so cant try it or has any one got any ideas how to stop getting bubbles
thanks..............Roger

 

[RogerBoyle]

Have you tried thinning it slightly ????

 

[pip1954]

have you tried drawing the brush slower across the work piece.
pip

 

[srp]

Bubbles are either already in the varnish, and can usually be brushed out, or they are caused by air in the pores of the wood. Applying varnish in the sun is usually the cause, the sun heats the wood, which heats the air in the pores, which expands and comes to the surface. Solution is to make sure the wood stays at the same temperature while the varnish is curing, eg don't varnish in the sun. Normally the first couple of coats are thinned a bit, and it helps to stand the tin in a bucket of hot water to warm it up. At least 4 coats, usually around 8, will give you a decent finish, provided you rub down between coats, have a decent brush, tack rags and a dust free atmosphere. The best varnishes are for marine use - Blakes (recently taken over by Hempel), Jotun, Le Tonkinois and International.

Note that you can buy stuff called 'Yacht Varnish' in the likes of B and Q, some of it even made by International, but if you read the small print it says 'not for marine use'. It is utter rubbish. Go to a decent chandlers, either in person or on-line.

http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/32 ... ic-varnish
http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/69 ... nish-375ml
http://www.letonkinoisvarnish.co.uk/VarMain.html
https://marineindustrial.co.uk/index.ph ... rnish.html

 

[DIY Stew]

srp+1
Also do not overload your brush and wipe the excess off on the side of the tin.

Stew