Re: Streaky/blotchy door varnishing - please help

I think that will be too thin to allow the varnish to "go off." The mix does look good though if you slap it on then wipe it off with a cloth after a few minutes. It leaves a lustre in the wood with no layer to speak of.

You can dilute the varnish with up to about 10% turps or meths (one or the other not both) to help spread it out evenly.

Dark varnish over a pale background will tend to look that way. Paint stripper should make it soluble enough to redistribute it on the surface. Smelly job but a lot easier than re-sanding.

Possibly, as will over-brushing, e.g. when the varnish is drying ("skinning over").

The secret is to stain the timber before applying clear varnish. Sometimes you can't stain easily, e.g. where timber has been stripped of a previous finish, as the stain won't be absorbed uniformly.

You may well be best advised to strip. However, you may be OK if you de-nib with fine paper, then apply several

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Ah...I did wonder after I sent the post.

No, you can't dilute water-based varnish with white spirit. I don't like water-based - IMO it's absolute rubbish.

Si

Then dilute it with water. Once dry though, only paint stripper will shift it.