Subject: Spar Varnish

From: [email-masked] (Charles Stroom)
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 10:51:58 GMT

In one of the latest FWW's 'spar varnish' was mentioned.  What
is it?  I could not find a good translation in the dictionaries
or Webster I have.

Thanks
-- 
Charles Stroom, ESTEC/YCV

[email-masked]
European Space Technology Centre, Noordwijk, the Netherlands

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From: Termite <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 09:00:12 -0500

If you were into boats you'd know this subject well. On sail boats the
mast (the item the sails are flown on) are also known as 'SPARs'. When
putting a finish on a boat there are a lot of areas that are exposed to
the sun and UV rays. The UV rays break down the finish and then into the
decking/spars. Boaters don't have a lot of time to put on 10 or 15 coats
of very thin finishes. SPAR varnish is a HIGH-BUILD finish. This means
that each coat builds on the previous coat very fast. Putting on two or
three coats of this type of finish builds a very think layer of varnish
with minimum numer of layers. Thus reducing the total amout of time
involed with the finish work and still providing good protection from
UV.

You can use this finish almost anywhere you would use any other varnish.
You can find it at your local boat store.

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From: [email-masked] (Craig1708)
Date: 11 Feb 1997 23:42:33 GMT

Spar varnish refers to a long oil varnish and is usually meant for outside
as it never really dries.
To elaborate....a long oil varnish means that it has a higher percentage
of oil in relation to the resin content. This allows the coating to be
more flexible and weather better. It can not however take a polish
In contrast, short oil varnish is a lower percentage of oil to resin
content and is meant for interior applications. It dries harder and can
take a polish.
Furniture should use short oil, like Pratt&Lamberts #38,
exterior boat decks should use long, or spar, varnish.

Did that help??

Craig   
**************************************************************************
Craig Deller
The Deller Conservation Group Ltd
Geneva, Illinois
USA
[email-masked]                "Conservators make it last longer"
http://home.aol.com/DELLERCON
***************************************************************************

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 21:49:59 -0500

> is it?  I could not find a good translation in the dictionaries

Spar varnish is a soft yet tough varnish which, because it is not so
brittle as a table-top varnish, does not crack or check as woods which
are outdoors expand and contract. UV inhibiters slow down the oxidation
process that the finish undergoes because of its exposure to the sun.

It does not make a good finish for a table because of its softness. 
-- 
Daniel