McCloskey Varnish issue?

[floydvoid]

Hello, I have a varnish issue.

I varnished over red cedar with three coats of McClosky man o war spar varnish Gloss. Looked good, worked well. Sanded between each coat as usual. I wanted to finish the boat with a satin varnish so I did my last coat with McClosky Satin varnish. There was some jelly like solids in the bottom that I mixed up, then stained and rolled and tipped as usual.

The coat is now dry but very much not satin and almost looks gloppy, like every brush stroke can be seen. Some small areas have the typical satin sheen like it actually dried or went on the way I expected.

I’ve used both versions of this varnish many times and I trust it more than Epiphones. I’ve had more issues with adhesion with Epiphones. The only thing I can think of different is that I varnished over fresh gloss (still sanded between coats!). Although I have used the satin right over older canoe varnish and it’s been 8 years of use and everything looks good still.

Maybe the varnish is old? Maybe I need another coat?

I’m going to sand a small area and try another coat before I just sand it all and put a final gloss layer on.

I’m not sure what they use in the satin varnish to make it satin but it certainly stinks way more than the gloss!

 

[Dave Osborn]

McCloskey varnish has been around for a long time. My guess is that you got a bad can, or it was old.
I used it a couple times early in my restoration career. Since then, I’ve used Epifanes exclusively with zero issues or complaints.

 

[Michael Grace]

Sounds like the jelly-like substance on the bottom may have been the flattening agent used to give the satin appearance, and the varnish simply didn't get mixed well or maybe couldn't mix well. I've never used McCloskey's though somehow I have a can. I've used every other major marine varnish, though, and like Dave, I now use Epifanes exclusively without any troubles. That's not to say you should switch. Clearly something was wrong with either surface prep or the varnish itself. The globs suggest a varnish issue, and the end result suggests that it wasn't homogenous when it was applied.

 

[Worth Gretter]

I agree with Michael. The blobs you found were probably the additive that kills the gloss to get the satin look.

 

[Dan Lindberg]

I confess to being prejudiced (about a number of things) but will stick to varnish here.

1st - I learned years ago you get what you pay for with most things and for here - varnish.
Cheaper varnish IME is thinner and has less of the resin that does the work, ie, more solvents. And for exterior use, less UV blockers.
2 - if it's from a home store, it's cheap varnish.

Back years ago I tried McClosky man o war spar varnish on something, don't remember what, but I remember it being thin (runny) and sticky.
I would never use it on anything today, boats or otherwise.

I've tried Captain's but lost about 1/2 the can as it jelled up and was not usable. Other's have better luck.
I haven't tried Epifanes - mainly because I like Interlux. It goes on well, and doesn't give me any troubles.
And it smells so good going on.

Dan