water based varnish?

[Terry Chapman 2Participant @terrychapman2]

Hi,As a guitar builder/repairer I use a water based varnish (lacquer) often to finish the guitars. I was curious to know if this would be ok to use on my Diva?

If not,I assume yacht is ok inside and out?

Thanks.

[Terry Chapman 2Participant @terrychapman2]

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Water based varnish is not usually the coating of choice for a model boat which is immersed in water although it can be used.

If you are applying it over bare wood then the successive coats should bond together OK but if applied over a paint surface it tends to form a thin film which can peel off if water gets beneath it such as if the hull should get scratched,

I don't know if the latest versions are more durable but I have also had problems with 'bloom' in the past where water gets into the surface.

Yacht varnish is of course intended for above water application only on full size boats. Probably OK for models which don't spend much time in the water.

Spray varnishes and clear coatings need to be applied over a compatible surface as the solvent can often attack paint and existing coatings from other manufacturers.

I have always found the best varnish for model boating to be Ronseal Hardglaze (or its Blackfriar equivalent) which is a solvent based polyurethane and can be applied over almost anything without reacting. It is really tough too. You can thin it with white spirit. The interior variety is perfectly OK for model boat use.

**LINK**

Colin

 

Edited By Colin Bishop on 10/02/2021 13:11:56

[Terry Chapman 2Participant @terrychapman2]

Posted by Colin Bishop on 10/02/2021 11:07:53:

Water based varnish is not usually the coating of choice for a model boat which is immersed in water although it can be used.

If you are applying it over bare wood then the successive coats should bond together OK but if applied over a paint surface it tends to form a thin film which can peel off if water gets beneath it such as if the hull should get scratched,

I don't know if the latest versions are more durable but I have also had problems with 'bloom' in the past where water gets into the surface.

Yacht varnish is of course intended for above water application only on full size boats. Probably OK for models which don't spend much time in the water.

Spray varnishes and clear coatings need to be applied over a compatible surface as the solvent can often attack paint and existing coatings from other manufacturers.

I have always found the best varnish for model boating to be Ronseal Hardglaze (or its Blackfriar equivalent) which is a solvent based polyurethane and can be applied over almost anything without reacting. It is really tough too. You can thin it with white spirit. The interior variety is perfectly OK for model boat use.

**LINK**

Colin

 

Hi Colin,thanks for that.

Terry

Edited By Terry Chapman 2 on 10/02/2021 11:54:09

Edited By Colin Bishop on 10/02/2021 13:10:49

[David Walker 17Participant @davidwalker17]

I am building a pair of Fishing boats and hope to varnish them .However i was told to seal them with fiber glass .Would this be correct

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi David,

Welcome to the forum, you will get many different answers here, but if the fishing boats you have built are wooden? I would say not the use fibre glass on the outside, but many of us would use it inside to ensure watertightness. Polyester resin is smelly stuff to use, these days a 2 part epoxy laminating resin is far more popular with lightweight glass cloth on the outside of your hulls if needed, let us know what your building and maybe a couple of photos will get better answers.

I do find yacht varnish is most suitable for model boats.

Regards Ray

[David Walker 17Participant @davidwalker17]

Thanks Ray .Iam no where near ready yet as iam just doing the mock in thin ply atm

 

Edited By David Walker 17 on 03/03/2021 17:25:46

[Terry Chapman 2Participant @terrychapman2]

Posted by Colin Bishop on 10/02/2021 11:07:53:

Water based varnish is not usually the coating of choice for a model boat which is immersed in water although it can be used.

If you are applying it over bare wood then the successive coats should bond together OK but if applied over a paint surface it tends to form a thin film which can peel off if water gets beneath it such as if the hull should get scratched,

I don't know if the latest versions are more durable but I have also had problems with 'bloom' in the past where water gets into the surface.

Yacht varnish is of course intended for above water application only on full size boats. Probably OK for models which don't spend much time in the water.

Spray varnishes and clear coatings need to be applied over a compatible surface as the solvent can often attack paint and existing coatings from other manufacturers.

I have always found the best varnish for model boating to be Ronseal Hardglaze (or its Blackfriar equivalent) which is a solvent based polyurethane and can be applied over almost anything without reacting. It is really tough too. You can thin it with white spirit. The interior variety is perfectly OK for model boat use.

**LINK**

Colin

This is how mine came out 8 coats flattening every two coats.

Hardglaze good stuff,thanks for the suggestion bud.

Edited By Colin Bishop on 10/02/2021 13:11:56

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