How do you apply varathane and stains in the winter time?

Posted by Joe Caruso on April 11, 2014 at 12:18pm

Ready to finish up my current CBG and pausing because it's still too cold to work in the garage to apply stains and varathane on the neck. Doing so in the basement right now not an option a) might blow me up b) would smell up the house. I will add that I do have a 7x12 garden shed next to the house.

Polling for comments on how others in the group deal with this issue. In the meantime starting another ;-)

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Replies

  • David McQueen April 11, 2014 at 3:48pm
    You do have to have some heat. I think 15 degrees is required ( would have to look at the tin to be sure). I did one just prior to last Christmas. It had been commissioned so it had to be done. I did it in the bathroom. The odour was not bad. When I do mine, the first couple coats are thinned with mineral spirits, which would be worst than straight varnish. You are only using about 2 tablespoons of varnish mix for the first coat or two and then only a tablespoon for each coat after. You are probably right that the basement might not be best, especially close to the hot water tank with a pilot light.
    • Joe Caruso > David McQueen April 15, 2014 at 1:28pm

      David - thanks for the feedback. I hadn't thought of thinning the first few coats. Thanks for the idea

    • David McQueen > Joe Caruso April 15, 2014 at 2:18pm
      I thin the first two coats half and half with mineral spirits. I sand between coats. Come the third coat, I am using about three quarters to quarter varnish to spirit. It flows smoother when thinned, especially if it is cool, which happens a lot here. Apparently this is the same technique used if you want to do brush laquer. It takes about two tablespoons total to the first coat and less for each coat thereafter. I am sanding down to 400 grit. I don't think you can get down much further with poly eurathane. You can't buff it out like laquer, at least not soon after it is done. My understanding is the varnish keeps curing for some time. I would love to hear if someone has buffed out this type of varnish after the guitar is say a year old and the varnish much fuller cured. I am using high gloss. Others seem to like flat.
    • Joe Caruso > David McQueen April 25, 2014 at 8:08pm

      Thanks Dave - very helpful!

  • Neil Johnson April 11, 2014 at 12:28pm

    I do mine in the basement. It doesn't stink the house up.

    • Joe Caruso > Neil Johnson April 15, 2014 at 1:29pm

      Thanks Neil - do you have a vent hood exhausting to the outside or just open a few windows? 

    • Neil Johnson > Joe Caruso April 16, 2014 at 6:46am

      I have a window right above where I do my staining ect... that does the trick.

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