Tom Lathrop Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Awh Greg, Tongue is firmly in cheek ;D Hope it did not sound more like foot in mouth ;D Attempts at humor are sometimes too oblique. Someone looked at Lapwing's rain spattered deck and asked me "What do you have on the finish?" My answer was, "Dust, insects and bird poop". Not far from the truth either. Quote
Oyster Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Why worry? Time, tide, and use creates the same level of finish for all the perfectionists and the amateurs alike. Quote
Craig Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Absolutly correct Mike. Every time I finish any bright work just guess what is the first thing to get dinged! That is why I always spen so buch on paint. 8) 8) Quote
Frank Hagan Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Someone looked at Lapwing's rain spattered deck and asked me "What do you have on the finish?" My answer was, "Dust, insects and bird poop". Not far from the truth either. I like that answer! Finishing is my nemesis, so I just build "ten foot" projects now. When someone starts to look at one of them, I usher them aside, make sure they are about ten foot away, and we can talk about it. If they get closer, their opinion changes! Quote
Charlie Jones Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 ;D Frank- I got ya beat there- Laura does it ;D Quote
Charlie Jones Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 Yep- now 47 year old Mahogany. Didn't look like that when Laura started on it, I'll tell you for sure. Quote
Konrad Posted October 21, 2008 Author Posted October 21, 2008 OK, well a minor update with some succes to report... I stayed with the same brand of brush, but started loading it more. Dipping it in a full 1/3 and letting it really fill up, and then sort of ooze off the brush while moving along the wood. I can't say that this has completely solved the problem, but I will say it's reduced the air pockets by a good 50% from what I'd been seeing. It causes the varnish to "pile up" some, and I'm not so sure about that. But still... So basically, I must have been trying to apply it too thin, with too much brush pressure. I just let the weight of the brush do the work this time, and it's certainly an improvement. If I get real serious about this thing, it sounds like ultimately I can probably solve this completely with better brushes and better (mail order) varnish. Like I say to my 5 yr old: "Thanks for all the 'help'..." Quote
Greg Luckett Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 I use foam brushes for applying varnish and have not experienced the bubble problem unless I keep stroking without enough on the brush. I buy 1", 1-1/2", and 2" brushes by the box from both Duckworks and Rockler, depending on what else I am ordering, but mostly from Duckworks. I also buy the chip brushes from Duckworks. I do not like the foam brushes that do not have a support inside the foam as those come loose easily from the handle and do not maintain a good shape for application. I think those kind came from Ace Hardware and the big box stores. Needless to say, I do not buy from them any more. Quote
PAR Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 Move the brush slowly. Painfully slow in fact will produce the best results. Don't wipe the brush after dipping, just a little shake to get the drips. Quote
Frank Hagan Posted October 22, 2008 Posted October 22, 2008 ;D Frank- I got ya beat there- Laura does it ;D Does she give classes to other wives? Although I can't complain ... Jan is very good to me (after 34 years, she has me well trained!) Quote
Frank Hagan Posted October 22, 2008 Posted October 22, 2008 Move the brush slowly. Painfully slow in fact will produce the best results. Don't wipe the brush after dipping, just a little shake to get the drips. Yeah, as my Dad used to tell me, "slower is faster". Quote
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