Doesn't do what it says on the tin

You sure it hasn't just brought the grain out?

En el artículo , Roland Perry escribió:

Were you meant to stir it before starting?

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

Yes, it's on top of white paint.

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.)

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

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

In message , at

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

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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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.

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

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

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

Just wondering out loud why you're varnishing paint?

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

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

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

And it's not that dissolving?

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

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