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How to prepare this surface for varnish?
I am sanding my Skerry to get ready for paint and varnish.
The interior has some areas in which the fiberglass and epoxy are uneven:
http://geophile.com/boat/clc/IMG_2853.jpg
http://geophile.com/boat/clc/IMG_2854.jpg
I think that is exposed fiberglass in the white areas. So my first thought is to epoxy (one coat? two?) and then sand.
I'm looking for advice from more experienced builders.
1 reply:
RE: How to prepare this surface for varnish?
» Submitted by Laszlo - Thu, 8/15/24 » 8:20 AM
Problem - Classic unfair surface with what looks like sanding into the glass. Fix - put on a seal coat of epoxy, then continue the normal fairing process (add epoxy to the low spots, sand until even or until about to sand into the glass; repeat until happy with the result). Note - that white area looks like possibly damaged glass. If so, it will never turn clear and may affect the choice between a painted or bright finish (or creative camouflauge).
Same thing on a larger scale, except now there's edges of pieced-together glass to consider, too.
Maybe the best thing to do is to first wipe the entire surface down with denatured alcohol. That will show you what it would look like if you applied the varnish right now (as the alcohol dries it will go back to how it looks without it). You can then assess if you want to paint it or varnish it.
For example, if the white areas stay white with alcohol present, then the fibers are damaged and no amount of work will ever make them transparent.
If you haven't already sanded the edge lines, then a very light sanding to remove loose and vertical fibers can make those those lines disappear, or at least become much less obvious.
Good luck,
Laszlo