"dadiOH" wrote in message
news:ZIZ0k.652$yg6.545@trnddc01...
blueman wrote:


Yes, the sheen is determined by the top coat (assuming it is applied
heavily enough to actually make a decent film thickness); i.e., varnish
does not melt into preceding coats as do lacquer and shellac. Since the
semi-gloss has a matting agent in it it must be thoroughly stirred before
application else you are putting on more glossy.

"Most" varnishes do not meld in to the previous coats. Gel varnishes do in
fact meld into preceding coats. With gel varnishes you do not have to scuff
the precious coat before applying the next and you can repair a previous
coat that may have a glob that you missed while wiping by simply applying
more of the gel varnish to that area. That glob will soften and smooth out.

A few other oddities about gel varnishes, there is no stirring to mix in the
matting agent, it stays permanently suspended. Additionally I have yet to
see a gel varnish that comes in a "gloss". Because gel varnishes go on thin
and yield a finish that gives spraying a run for its money in smoothness, it
seems like a gloss finish would be a naturally "easy to apply finish" with a
gel. I'll have to e-mail Lawrence McFadden and find out the skinny on that.
;~)