DH

Doug Hortvet

04/08/2012 9:52 AM

Varnish not drying properly

All,

Continuing the project of varnishing the exterior face of a mahogany entry door.

Is going well - better than I would have expected, certainly the result of all the helpful
guidance from members of the group - with special thanks to DadiOH.

The first coat of Flagship varnish was thinned 10% (per manufacturer's instructions) with
their T120 brushing thinner and went on well for my first time applying varnish and to a
vertical surface.

The product tech bulletin states time to dry hard is 8-12 hrs @ 90 F.

Four days after application there were areas where the varnish had accumulated that were
still very gummy / tacky - note our max. temps have been in the mid to upper 90's. The
accumulation was approx. 1/32 +/- thick.

Thinned to the max. recommended - do not understand why this would be the case.

Any ideas?

Should remaining coats be similarly thinned or applied with no thinner - although may need
some considering the temperature.

Best time is late afternoon when the humidity is below 50% - of course that is when the
temp is at or near max. for the day.

Thanks again for all the great advice!

Regards,

Doug


This topic has 11 replies

ML

Michael Lalonde

in reply to Doug Hortvet on 04/08/2012 9:52 AM

05/08/2012 3:39 AM

x-no-archive: yes

When we varnished our cottage entranceway it took almost 24 hours for
it to completely dry. It was still sticky in spots. The recommended
time was 12 hours but it was put on rather heavy. Just allow it to sit
untouched and it will eventually dry

Michael Lalonde
Sudbury, Ontario - jumlers.com food catering

DH

Doug Hortvet

in reply to Doug Hortvet on 04/08/2012 9:52 AM

05/08/2012 2:32 PM

Thanks to all for their comments.

Epoxy was not used - just the varnish on bare wood.

Is clear the first coat was too thick, which allowed the accumulation to form.

Although the accumulation was not all that thick - I would have thought it would have
dried hard after 4 days with max. daytime temps in the mid 90's.

A better description would be gummy instead of sticky - kind of balled up when sanding.

Was going to apply the next coat this afternoon - and it is now raining.

No complaints on the rain - it is sorely needed.

Drier days are sure to come shortly.

Regards,

Doug



Stuart Wheaton <[email protected]> wrote:

>On 8/4/2012 10:52 AM, Doug Hortvet wrote:
>> All,
>>
>> Continuing the project of varnishing the exterior face of a mahogany entry door.
>>
>> Is going well - better than I would have expected, certainly the result of all the helpful
>> guidance from members of the group - with special thanks to DadiOH.
>>
>> The first coat of Flagship varnish was thinned 10% (per manufacturer's instructions) with
>> their T120 brushing thinner and went on well for my first time applying varnish and to a
>> vertical surface.
>>
>> The product tech bulletin states time to dry hard is 8-12 hrs @ 90 F.
>>
>> Four days after application there were areas where the varnish had accumulated that were
>> still very gummy / tacky - note our max. temps have been in the mid to upper 90's. The
>> accumulation was approx. 1/32 +/- thick.
>>
>> Thinned to the max. recommended - do not understand why this would be the case.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
>> Should remaining coats be similarly thinned or applied with no thinner - although may need
>> some considering the temperature.
>>
>> Best time is late afternoon when the humidity is below 50% - of course that is when the
>> temp is at or near max. for the day.
>>
>> Thanks again for all the great advice!
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Doug
>>
>>
>
>Did you use Epoxy on the door? I have had issues like this going over
>epoxy. You have to give the epoxy time for a full cure, and then wash
>the amine blush off completely or it will interfere with varnish curing.
>
>Stuart
>

DH

Doug Hortvet

in reply to Doug Hortvet on 04/08/2012 9:52 AM

07/08/2012 5:58 AM

Will make certain to sufficiently stir before the next application.

All surfaces were dry and sanded nicely except where the varnish had accumulated - the
result of being applied too heavily.

Thanks again!

Regards,

Doug

"dadiOH" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Doug Hortvet wrote:
>
>> A better description would be gummy instead of sticky - kind of
>> balled up when sanding.
>
>Did you stir the varnish well before using? Remember, varnish is resin +
>oil + thinner. If the oil wasn't mixed in well that might be your problem
>as oil stays sort of gummy even when cured. Stir well, don't shake, don't
>make bubbles.

DM

Doug Miller

in reply to Doug Hortvet on 04/08/2012 9:52 AM

04/08/2012 3:36 PM

Doug Hortvet <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
[...]
> The first coat of Flagship varnish was thinned 10% (per
> manufacturer's instructions) with their T120 brushing thinner
> and went on well for my first time applying varnish and to a
> vertical surface.
>
> The product tech bulletin states time to dry hard is 8-12 hrs @
> 90 F.
>
> Four days after application there were areas where the varnish
> had accumulated that were still very gummy / tacky

Too heavy a coat, or old varnish.

> - note our
> max. temps have been in the mid to upper 90's. The accumulation
> was approx. 1/32 +/- thick.

Too heavy.
[...]
> Should remaining coats be similarly thinned or applied with no
> thinner - although may need some considering the temperature.

Thin it. And don't brush it on nearly so heavy.

Ll

Leon

in reply to Doug Hortvet on 04/08/2012 9:52 AM

05/08/2012 1:12 PM

On 8/5/2012 7:12 AM, dadiOH wrote:
> Leon wrote:
>> On 8/4/2012 2:07 PM, dadiOH wrote:
>>> Leon wrote:
>>>> On 8/4/2012 9:52 AM, Doug Hortvet wrote:
>>>>> All,
>>>>>
>>>>> Continuing the project of varnishing the exterior face of a
>>>>> mahogany entry door. Is going well - better than I would have
>>>>> expected, certainly the
>>>>> result of all the helpful guidance from members of the group - with
>>>>> special thanks to DadiOH. The first coat of Flagship varnish was
>>>>> thinned 10% (per
>>>>> manufacturer's instructions) with their T120 brushing thinner and
>>>>> went on well for my first time applying varnish and to a vertical
>>>>> surface. The product tech bulletin states time to dry hard is 8-12
>>>>> hrs @ 90 F.
>>>>>
>>>>> Four days after application there were areas where the varnish had
>>>>> accumulated that were still very gummy / tacky - note our max.
>>>>> temps have been in the mid to upper 90's. The accumulation was
>>>>> approx. 1/32 +/- thick. Thinned to the max. recommended - do not
>>>>> understand why this would
>>>>> be the case. Any ideas?
>>>>>
>>>>> Should remaining coats be similarly thinned or applied with no
>>>>> thinner - although may need some considering the temperature.
>>>>>
>>>>> Best time is late afternoon when the humidity is below 50% - of
>>>>> course that is when the temp is at or near max. for the day.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks again for all the great advice!
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Doug
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> So would "Flagship" varnish possibly be a marine type Spar
>>>> varnish??? If so keep in mind that Spar varnishes never really harden,
>>>> they
>>>> will always remain some what sticky and not harden so that they can
>>>> flex.
>>>
>>> Marine, yes; spar, no. I have never had spar (or any other) varnish stay
>>> sticky.
>>>
>> You might have that backwards, Spar always remains sticky, so much so
>> that I will no longer use it for around the house.
>> When the spar flexes the spar varnish needs to flex with it.
>
> Just because it flexes more than non-spar doesn't mean it has to stay
> sticky. I kept a foremast, mizzen mast, main boom, main gaff, mizzen boom,
> jib boom and yard varnished with spar varnish for close to 20 years. They
> were never sticky.
>
That simply has not been my results and perhaps the OP's results either.

Ll

Leon

in reply to Doug Hortvet on 04/08/2012 9:52 AM

04/08/2012 1:10 PM

On 8/4/2012 9:52 AM, Doug Hortvet wrote:
> All,
>
> Continuing the project of varnishing the exterior face of a mahogany entry door.
>
> Is going well - better than I would have expected, certainly the result of all the helpful
> guidance from members of the group - with special thanks to DadiOH.
>
> The first coat of Flagship varnish was thinned 10% (per manufacturer's instructions) with
> their T120 brushing thinner and went on well for my first time applying varnish and to a
> vertical surface.
>
> The product tech bulletin states time to dry hard is 8-12 hrs @ 90 F.
>
> Four days after application there were areas where the varnish had accumulated that were
> still very gummy / tacky - note our max. temps have been in the mid to upper 90's. The
> accumulation was approx. 1/32 +/- thick.
>
> Thinned to the max. recommended - do not understand why this would be the case.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Should remaining coats be similarly thinned or applied with no thinner - although may need
> some considering the temperature.
>
> Best time is late afternoon when the humidity is below 50% - of course that is when the
> temp is at or near max. for the day.
>
> Thanks again for all the great advice!
>
> Regards,
>
> Doug
>
>
So would "Flagship" varnish possibly be a marine type Spar varnish???

If so keep in mind that Spar varnishes never really harden, they will
always remain some what sticky and not harden so that they can flex.

Ll

Leon

in reply to Doug Hortvet on 04/08/2012 9:52 AM

04/08/2012 5:06 PM

On 8/4/2012 2:07 PM, dadiOH wrote:
> Leon wrote:
>> On 8/4/2012 9:52 AM, Doug Hortvet wrote:
>>> All,
>>>
>>> Continuing the project of varnishing the exterior face of a mahogany
>>> entry door. Is going well - better than I would have expected, certainly
>>> the
>>> result of all the helpful guidance from members of the group - with
>>> special thanks to DadiOH. The first coat of Flagship varnish was thinned
>>> 10% (per
>>> manufacturer's instructions) with their T120 brushing thinner and
>>> went on well for my first time applying varnish and to a vertical
>>> surface. The product tech bulletin states time to dry hard is 8-12 hrs @
>>> 90 F.
>>>
>>> Four days after application there were areas where the varnish had
>>> accumulated that were still very gummy / tacky - note our max. temps
>>> have been in the mid to upper 90's. The accumulation was approx.
>>> 1/32 +/- thick. Thinned to the max. recommended - do not understand why
>>> this would
>>> be the case. Any ideas?
>>>
>>> Should remaining coats be similarly thinned or applied with no
>>> thinner - although may need some considering the temperature.
>>>
>>> Best time is late afternoon when the humidity is below 50% - of
>>> course that is when the temp is at or near max. for the day.
>>>
>>> Thanks again for all the great advice!
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Doug
>>>
>>>
>> So would "Flagship" varnish possibly be a marine type Spar varnish???
>>
>> If so keep in mind that Spar varnishes never really harden, they will
>> always remain some what sticky and not harden so that they can flex.
>
> Marine, yes; spar, no. I have never had spar (or any other) varnish stay
> sticky.
>
You might have that backwards, Spar always remains sticky, so much so
that I will no longer use it for around the house.
When the spar flexes the spar varnish needs to flex with it.

dd

"dadiOH"

in reply to Doug Hortvet on 04/08/2012 9:52 AM

04/08/2012 3:07 PM

Leon wrote:
> On 8/4/2012 9:52 AM, Doug Hortvet wrote:
>> All,
>>
>> Continuing the project of varnishing the exterior face of a mahogany
>> entry door. Is going well - better than I would have expected, certainly
>> the
>> result of all the helpful guidance from members of the group - with
>> special thanks to DadiOH. The first coat of Flagship varnish was thinned
>> 10% (per
>> manufacturer's instructions) with their T120 brushing thinner and
>> went on well for my first time applying varnish and to a vertical
>> surface. The product tech bulletin states time to dry hard is 8-12 hrs @
>> 90 F.
>>
>> Four days after application there were areas where the varnish had
>> accumulated that were still very gummy / tacky - note our max. temps
>> have been in the mid to upper 90's. The accumulation was approx.
>> 1/32 +/- thick. Thinned to the max. recommended - do not understand why
>> this would
>> be the case. Any ideas?
>>
>> Should remaining coats be similarly thinned or applied with no
>> thinner - although may need some considering the temperature.
>>
>> Best time is late afternoon when the humidity is below 50% - of
>> course that is when the temp is at or near max. for the day.
>>
>> Thanks again for all the great advice!
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Doug
>>
>>
> So would "Flagship" varnish possibly be a marine type Spar varnish???
>
> If so keep in mind that Spar varnishes never really harden, they will
> always remain some what sticky and not harden so that they can flex.

Marine, yes; spar, no. I have never had spar (or any other) varnish stay
sticky.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Maybe just ready for a change? Check it out...
http://www.floridaloghouse.net

dd

"dadiOH"

in reply to Doug Hortvet on 04/08/2012 9:52 AM

05/08/2012 8:12 AM

Leon wrote:
> On 8/4/2012 2:07 PM, dadiOH wrote:
>> Leon wrote:
>>> On 8/4/2012 9:52 AM, Doug Hortvet wrote:
>>>> All,
>>>>
>>>> Continuing the project of varnishing the exterior face of a
>>>> mahogany entry door. Is going well - better than I would have
>>>> expected, certainly the
>>>> result of all the helpful guidance from members of the group - with
>>>> special thanks to DadiOH. The first coat of Flagship varnish was
>>>> thinned 10% (per
>>>> manufacturer's instructions) with their T120 brushing thinner and
>>>> went on well for my first time applying varnish and to a vertical
>>>> surface. The product tech bulletin states time to dry hard is 8-12
>>>> hrs @ 90 F.
>>>>
>>>> Four days after application there were areas where the varnish had
>>>> accumulated that were still very gummy / tacky - note our max.
>>>> temps have been in the mid to upper 90's. The accumulation was
>>>> approx. 1/32 +/- thick. Thinned to the max. recommended - do not
>>>> understand why this would
>>>> be the case. Any ideas?
>>>>
>>>> Should remaining coats be similarly thinned or applied with no
>>>> thinner - although may need some considering the temperature.
>>>>
>>>> Best time is late afternoon when the humidity is below 50% - of
>>>> course that is when the temp is at or near max. for the day.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks again for all the great advice!
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Doug
>>>>
>>>>
>>> So would "Flagship" varnish possibly be a marine type Spar
>>> varnish??? If so keep in mind that Spar varnishes never really harden,
>>> they
>>> will always remain some what sticky and not harden so that they can
>>> flex.
>>
>> Marine, yes; spar, no. I have never had spar (or any other) varnish stay
>> sticky.
>>
> You might have that backwards, Spar always remains sticky, so much so
> that I will no longer use it for around the house.
> When the spar flexes the spar varnish needs to flex with it.

Just because it flexes more than non-spar doesn't mean it has to stay
sticky. I kept a foremast, mizzen mast, main boom, main gaff, mizzen boom,
jib boom and yard varnished with spar varnish for close to 20 years. They
were never sticky.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Maybe just ready for a change? Check it out...
http://www.floridaloghouse.net

SW

Stuart Wheaton

in reply to Doug Hortvet on 04/08/2012 9:52 AM

05/08/2012 9:49 AM

On 8/4/2012 10:52 AM, Doug Hortvet wrote:
> All,
>
> Continuing the project of varnishing the exterior face of a mahogany entry door.
>
> Is going well - better than I would have expected, certainly the result of all the helpful
> guidance from members of the group - with special thanks to DadiOH.
>
> The first coat of Flagship varnish was thinned 10% (per manufacturer's instructions) with
> their T120 brushing thinner and went on well for my first time applying varnish and to a
> vertical surface.
>
> The product tech bulletin states time to dry hard is 8-12 hrs @ 90 F.
>
> Four days after application there were areas where the varnish had accumulated that were
> still very gummy / tacky - note our max. temps have been in the mid to upper 90's. The
> accumulation was approx. 1/32 +/- thick.
>
> Thinned to the max. recommended - do not understand why this would be the case.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Should remaining coats be similarly thinned or applied with no thinner - although may need
> some considering the temperature.
>
> Best time is late afternoon when the humidity is below 50% - of course that is when the
> temp is at or near max. for the day.
>
> Thanks again for all the great advice!
>
> Regards,
>
> Doug
>
>

Did you use Epoxy on the door? I have had issues like this going over
epoxy. You have to give the epoxy time for a full cure, and then wash
the amine blush off completely or it will interfere with varnish curing.

Stuart

dd

"dadiOH"

in reply to Doug Hortvet on 04/08/2012 9:52 AM

06/08/2012 8:40 AM

Doug Hortvet wrote:

> A better description would be gummy instead of sticky - kind of
> balled up when sanding.

Did you stir the varnish well before using? Remember, varnish is resin +
oil + thinner. If the oil wasn't mixed in well that might be your problem
as oil stays sort of gummy even when cured. Stir well, don't shake, don't
make bubbles.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Maybe just ready for a change? Check it out...
http://www.floridaloghouse.net


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