Singin' the Oil Varnish Blues
Well I have posted a couple threads about this project of mine. 9 or 10 years ago I tried using oil varnish on a project and had such a disaster that I swore never to use it again. But it wasn't IV oil varnish, and I believed what the catalog said: "Almost everyone can get good results". So I succumbed to the hype and bought their "varnishing kit" which includes all needed clear and colored varnish, a micro mesh kit, a sable brush, and an instructional video with some other items as well. over a hundred dollars for this stuff.
Well a things went well at first (project is a white violin) and I was satisfied with the color coats. Then things started going south with the clear coats. I just couldn't get a look I was satisfied with. First little grains of "sand" started to appear. I posted a thread about that and got some suggestions. Also asked Ken Wise of IV for advice. I tried all sorts of the suggestions but never did totally get rid of the "sand" no matter what I did. Then other problems began to creep in as if the sand wasn't enough. I became obsessed. Try it this way, sand it off, try it another way. Thick. Thin. In between. Sable brush. Disposable foam brush. Every time I tried something new it just seemed to introduce a new problem. I became a textbook example of every possible thing that could go wrong with varnish. Sand? Got it. Brush marks? Check. Runs? You betcha. Heavy spots? Ja wohl. Witness lines? Sure thing.
Well, now I am out of ideas and suggestions. I am most unhappy with the results. I do consider myself a reasonably intelligent person and capable of following instructions. But the instructions in the DVD just plain did not work for me. Nor did any of the kind suggestions from you gentlemen who tried to help me. Apparently the "Almost everyone" in the IV tag line doesn't mean me. And so I am on the verge of goving up. Problem is, I've got almost 500 dollars invested in the @#$%^& thing and it is ugly as sin. Just don't know what to do at this point. I will never oil varnish again, and I MEAN it this time! I previously swore off nitro too because of another bad experience. Guess I just really suck at this finishing thing.
Don
2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
2011 Weber Bitterroot A
1974 Martin Style A
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