Doesn't do what it says on the tin

Been varnishing some furniture with what Ronseal call "Clear" varnish and it's full of brown/orange streaks.

I expected them to dry transparent, but they haven't.

What can one do (other than buying a different product) to stop this happening again? [I assume the only way to fix this furniture is to strip it and start over].

Reply to
Roland Perry
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You sure it hasn't just brought the grain out?

Reply to
Tim Streater

En el artículo , Roland Perry escribió:

Were you meant to stir it before starting?

Reply to
Mike Tomlinson

Having just checked an old tin of Ronseal "Natural Shades" varnish from the shed - by now it's actually a solid lump that rattles about - it clearly states on the tin

Application

"Stir well before use"

If you've got streaks, it's unlikely you stirred it very well if at all.

michael adams

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Reply to
michael adams

In message , at 15:22:31 on Tue, 21 Jul 2015, Tim Streater remarked:

Yes, it's on top of white paint.

Reply to
Roland Perry

Is it water based ? I refuse to use water based finishes because of this problem. (Except I do use a water based sanding sealer because of its quick drying and easy clean up.)

Reply to
fred

In message , at 15:55:55 on Tue, 21 Jul

2015, michael adams remarked:

That's a possibility, but why is there anything in the pot that isn't "clear" in the first place?

Reply to
Roland Perry

In message , at

08:12:30 on Tue, 21 Jul 2015, fred remarked:

Apparently not as they want you to clean the brushes with solvent.

Reply to
Roland Perry

There's a difference between "clear" and "colourless". The opposite of clear being opaque.

All polyurethane lacquers have a yellow tinge - don't ask me why. Which on wood usually isn't an issue, as it's not obvious.

From memory for a clear and colourless finish (it always used to be anyway) necessary to faff about with a two part cellulose lacquer or similar. Which meant using natural bristle or hair brushes as the thinners melted synthetic brushes.

When steeping PU lacquer/ varnish brushes in a jar of white spirit prior to washing them, out you'd eventually get a residue of brown varnish settled at the bottom of the jar.

Oh, and the instructions actually read "stir well before and during use". What about yours ?

michael adams

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Reply to
michael adams

I've had this problem with polyurethane & similar varnishes --- I think I mentioned it here before & was advised for such varnishes, "clear" means something like "as clear as this kind of varnish can be, but that's not colourless"!

I've used acrylic varnish on top of white paint without any discoloration, though.

Reply to
Adam Funk

Are you certain it isn't something in the wood being dissolved by the varnish? Perhaps a wood stain?

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

In message , at 17:12:55 on Tue, 21 Jul

2015, "Dave Plowman (News)" remarked:

Yes, it has a coat of rather fierce "furniture paint" on top.

Reply to
Roland Perry

Just wondering out loud why you're varnishing paint?

Reply to
Richard

In message , at 20:29:00 on Tue, 21 Jul

2015, Richard remarked:

So that it's more protected against things placed on it.

Reply to
Roland Perry

Or as in some of this stuff, it needs a pretty good stir up before you use it. Brian

Reply to
Brian-Gaff

And it's not that dissolving?

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

In message , at 14:53:59 on Wed, 22 Jul

2015, "Dave Plowman (News)" remarked:

No, the "clear" varnish appears to have some brown stuff in it. I'm going to give it a better stir, and try that.

Reply to
Roland Perry

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