VARNISH – Outdoor railings, best way?
Folks,
I have successfully avoided varnish for the last two decades. Spending two weeks a year in a bosun’s chair, varnishing my masts cured me. I love varnish – on other people’s boats, etc. My luck ran out this week.
Just sanded and varnished a set of outdoor stair railings. Once the dead and dying varnish was removed to fresh wood, there was some nice heart redwood exposed. SoCal sunshine had blasted the previous layers off.
As per the Boss’s directions, I mixed 50:50 spar varnish and sealer/stain in the pressure pot and shot it.
Don’t see where that gave me any benefit of the sealer. Lot of differential absorbtion across the grain. Going to need more coats for sure.
What are some better approaches to doing railings? Keeping in mind that it’s not a piano or the Gotbucks yacht. More Production vs. Fine Woodworking. (I suggested they paint the railings and cut their maintenance costs. Nope.)
The ToolBear
“Never met a man who couldn’t teach me something.” Anon.
Replies
Spray dewaxed shellac as a sealer first.This will dry fast-within a half hour. Sand off any nibs as necessary, then shoot it with your varnish.
Combining the two as in the first go round is of little help.
"Anything is possible with a big enough expense account."
Hunter S. Thompson