Secrets to Varnishing Your Outdoor Wood Signs

[@paulstrange6654]

Hi great video , I make sign’s for various occasions but they are usually are kept inside. Iv been ask to make a memorial sign for a garden it’s far a child so I feel it should be colourful As most of the things I make stay in side iv only ever used standard varnish, I’m in the uk so we get a lot of rain . Iv watched a lot of videos but there seems to be a lot of contradiction on what to use, I’m really not sure what to use can you help, This is a very important project to me as it’s for a friend so it needs to be perfect, I hope to hear from you soon , Thank you

[@StudioR12Stencils]

Thank you for watching! We always use a matte polyurethane varnish for outdoor projects. The reason we use matte for outside projects is that any glossy finish will have a bad reflection/shine.

[@paulstrange6654]

@@StudioR12Stencils thanks for your help

[@StudioR12Stencils]

@@paulstrange6654 Absolutely! Please always feel free to reach out with any questions.

[@Moonbeam-dr7zd]

What paint do you use please, are they acrylics? Many thanks

[@Debgh9]

love the information she presented thank you again

[@StudioR12Stencils]

Thank you!!!!

[@thezobiehead1]

Thanks for this great tutorial, it really helped me a lot!

[@StudioR12Stencils]

Thank you for watching!!!

[@CapitalAreaPharmacistsAssociat]

I wish i would have watched your video before i started varnishing my outdoor sign with semi-gloss. I thought matte would be too streaky and dull, but what you said about the light reflection makes so much sense. Maybe my sign will go in the shade now. ; )

[@StudioR12Stencils]

We are so glad you found us, even if it was after you painted ;)

[@rosiediflumeri1147]

Love it ❤️

[@StudioR12Stencils]

Thank you!!

[@annwoodnoel7645]

Did I miss where you discussed deciding the edge colour and painting it? What about router edges and fine gold trim etc.? Thanks for wonderful videos.

[@StudioR12Stencils]

Hi there! We typically paint the edges of a porch sign when we basecoat it. Most of these projects are done on both sides, so you'll want to think about the color of the front and back to determine the edge color. If we have two different colors as basecoats on the sides, we typically will paint the edges black. Love those other ideas. We have not tried those!

[@luzbarrera5299]

Hi!! Can that varnish be use on enamel oil base paint!?? I did some lettering on a piece of wood with enamels but l want To put some varnish on!! thank you!! Nice videos!!!!

[@patcoulson6025]

Would a matte sealer/finiisher spray work the same way as a liquid varnish?

[@StudioR12Stencils]

Thank you for asking, Pat! Yes, it will work the same!!

[@kellieventimiglia8792]

Great tips as usual! Question - Do you clean your brush and roller the same as a stencil brush or is there something else you use when using the varnish? ❤❤❤❤

[@StudioR12Stencils]

Thank you, Kellie!! 🥰 If you're using a foam tool just use water. For regular brushes, you can use soapy water.

[@kellieventimiglia8792]

@@StudioR12Stencils Thank you so much!

[@StudioR12Stencils]

@@kellieventimiglia8792 Absolutely!!

[@GGC2019]

Can you just do the wax or should that be over top of your varnish?

[@StudioR12Stencils]

Great question, Pam! 👉If the sign is going to be exposed to any weather elements, we recommend using the polyurethane varnish for outdoor signs. Kari just painted one for her porch. It is tucked into a corner and will not be exposed to rain, so she just waxed hers.

[@ruthzinser7255]

Would you use the varnish and the wax for an outside sign? Or would the varnish be enough?

[@StudioR12Stencils]

We just use the varnish on all sides of the board. You could wax if you wanted, for an extra layer of protection, but you don't have to.

[@joemarasco3091]

I notice that yellow is hard to get a nice bright yellow-what or how do you do it??

[@StudioR12Stencils]

You can use a light gray under the yellow, or even a lighter yellow, like a pastel yellow. This video talks about undercoating and painting with red - which is going to be similar to painting with oranges and yellows. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2OvhKiKmM6LiMU

[@jeffpearson6150]

I used my varnish with a dense roller and it smeared the red paint into the white. Now it’s a re-do😢

[@StudioR12Stencils]

How long did you wait before varnishing? What brand of paint did you use? What brand of varnish did you use?

[@jeffpearson6150]

Doesn’t it yellow over time?

[@StudioR12Stencils]

We use a DecoArt Matte Polyurethane varnish. It is a non-yellowing varnish that we've been using for a couple of decades. We've used it on hundreds of projects and haven't had any yellowing problems.

[@jeffpearson6150]

@@StudioR12Stencils Thank you