Cloudy to Partly Coudy....Varnish?

[SteveH]

Just a question for the group. I've started varnishing the interior of my tear and got to the bottom of the gallon of Minwax Semigloss Spar varnish, and where I used the last part of the varnish, on the floor and a portion of one wall, the varnish clouded up and is very hazy...like looking at a heavy fog.

Was the varnish bad? Did I do something wrong, and if I did, what did I do?

More importantly, other than sanding it all off and starting over, is there any thing I can do to fix it?

[AmyH]

I have heard that it is good to pour varnish through a filter into a new can, don't know how accurate this is or if it helps with the sediment that tends to accumulate on the bottom of the can. Maybe others on the board have heard this as well and can chime in,

Amy

[shil]

You've got to stir the varnish. The 'semi' has settled out of the 'gloss'. At the bottom of the can, you've got opaque.

The trick is in stirring the varnish without adding air bubbles to the mix.

[Guest]

You've got to stir the varnish. The 'semi' has settled out of the 'gloss'. At the bottom of the can, you've got opaque.

The trick is in stirring the varnish without adding air bubbles to the mix.

Yup, semi-gloss has to be stirred often during usage.

[SteveH]

Thanks everyone. I've got a new can and I WILL stir it before I use it.....After I sand all the clowdy stuff off!

[Arne]

Usually, when I apply varnish, I drag it with a foam brush to get the air bubbles out... I don't like anything to do with a brush, so apply it fast and drag it to get done... no patience here....

Stirring is a pain, but can be done at a moderate rate without too much air. But, stir it I must.

[Steve Frederick]

You should watch the humidity also. I did the floor in my living room a few years ago, and it was cloudy afterwards. I checked with some smarter guys,pro's. They said that high humidity will cause a cloudy finish also. I didn't do anything about it,just added furniture! Looks good now! When ever I do a boat, I try to do the finishing in the winter, when the heat is on and the air is drier.

[SteveH]

Steve,

Yes, I'm aware of what extreem humidity will do, but when I varnished it wasn't too humid...at least it wasn't too humid for South Texas! The humidity seems to get to laquer based materials much worse than others.

[SteveH]

Just thought I would give everyone an update just in case you ever mess up your semi-gloss or satin varnish by not stiring it frequently enough.

What happens is at the end of the can the varnish gets very thick and it turns cloudy or even white after it dries.

I've figured out after quite a bit of sanding, that it CANNOT be sanded out within reason. Maybe if it were one of the last coates, it could be.

The way you get the cloudy off is to wash it with a rag wet with thinner. Simple enough if you know to do that! Been working on this for two days and finally it's off!

[doug hodder]

Just a heads up to others. Anyone using epoxy or varnish will find that moisture will create an amine blush (cloudy) appearance, Some varnishes are alcohol based and will have a problem with moisture, Interlux has a polyurethane based varnish, I'm not sure on the application. I use automotive clear coat and have no problem with cloudy appearances with clear coat, more expensive, tool, and experience intensive. If you are using varnish, and the weather is cool, don't use a Kerosene heater as they dump a ton of moisture in the air and you can bet on a cloudy finish. I heat the shop with wood so it's no problem, Most cloudy finishes can be blamed on moisture I think. Just my opinion however.I'm sure there are differing ones. Doug Hodder