a few weeks back i asked this newsgroup about staining a front
door.well, that part of the job is done(turned out well) and now it is
time to put a protective coating on it. i am planning on using a spar
varnish and i have a few questions...shout i lightly sand the door( with
steel wool?) and would it be better to take the door down and apply the
varnish to door whilst flat? more that one coat?

any tips or advice would be appreciated
thanks, cj

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:51:48 -0400, cj wrote:

a few weeks back i asked this newsgroup about staining a front
door.well, that part of the job is done(turned out well) and now it is
time to put a protective coating on it. i am planning on using a spar
varnish and i have a few questions...shout i lightly sand the door( with
steel wool?) and would it be better to take the door down and apply the
varnish to door whilst flat? more that one coat?

any tips or advice would be appreciated
thanks, cj

I would use sandpaper. I would also read the
recommendations/instructions that come with the varnish and follow
them.

cj wrote:
a few weeks back i asked this newsgroup about staining a front
door.well, that part of the job is done(turned out well) and now it is
time to put a protective coating on it. i am planning on using a spar
varnish and i have a few questions...shout i lightly sand the door(
with steel wool?) and would it be better to take the door down and
apply the varnish to door whilst flat? more that one coat?

any tips or advice would be appreciated
thanks, cj

1. You don't need to sand unless the surface is rough

2. You don't particularly need spar varnish; you *do* want a varnish that
contains an UV filter

3. It is much easier to get a decent varnish job on something that is
horizontal

4. You need a minimum of three coats, four to six are better. Lightly sand
after each coat wnen that coat is dry...overnight at least.

5. You didn't ask but you should lightly sand the door and apply another
coat of varnish at the first sign of deterioration. Annually should work.

dadiOH

On Jun 3, 11:51*am, cj wrote:

snip

would it be better to take the door down and apply the
varnish to door whilst flat?

Much, much, easier and far better results...

more that one coat?

As many as you like. Two minimum, lightly sanded before recoat. Don't
forget the edges. Use the best quality brush the budget will permit.

Joe

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:51:48 -0400, cj wrote:

a few weeks back i asked this newsgroup about staining a front
door.well, that part of the job is done(turned out well) and now it is
time to put a protective coating on it. i am planning on using a spar
varnish and i have a few questions...shout i lightly sand the door( with
steel wool?) and would it be better to take the door down and apply the
varnish to door whilst flat? more that one coat?

any tips or advice would be appreciated
thanks, cj

Carefully hand sand the door, a light touch with 220-grit.
Best to lay the door flat on two saw horses and prevent drips/sags.

On 6/3/2009 7:47 PM Phisherman spake thus:

On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:51:48 -0400, cj wrote:

a few weeks back i asked this newsgroup about staining a front
door.well, that part of the job is done(turned out well) and now it is
time to put a protective coating on it. i am planning on using a spar
varnish and i have a few questions...shout i lightly sand the door( with
steel wool?) and would it be better to take the door down and apply the
varnish to door whilst flat? more that one coat?

Carefully hand sand the door, a light touch with 220-grit.
Best to lay the door flat on two saw horses and prevent drips/sags.

And most importantly, get the door thoroughly clean before varnishing.
Painstakingly clean. I'm doing exactly this same job sometime next week
(just finished staining door). I first use a whisk broom, then a vacuum
cleaner to get all the dust off the surface. Then a tack cloth (be
careful not to snag it on any rough wood). You don't want any crap
embedded in your shiny new coat of varnish.

Spar varnish is the perfect stuff for that, by the way.


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism