TotalBoat Gleam Varnishing Tips

Learn some great tricks and tips for applying varnish.

[@Maxdesander]

I served my time to a registered Master Decorator & spent 25+ years sanding, varnishing, paperhanging, signwriting, graining, marbling, etc...etc. - and I can honestly say that this man is my new hero. My dad was a master carpenter, & I learned a lot about woodwork from him, but this man has a depth of knowledge about wood, boatbuilding, finishes, etc. that would be hard to equal...

[@alainsaaiman4975]

Such a soothing voice. I wish I had a dad like this to teach me as a kid instead of a dad that shouted and hit me.

[@thestig007]

Hopefully you can be that kind father to someone. Make right on his wrong.

[@RTD1947]

Alain Saaiman yup, well, join the crowd...dads aren't perfect...remember, you hurt the one you love!!

[@AlexViardo]

Do we have an idea of what finish was used prior to varnish??

[@KyleCamberdella-og7xk]

He is my go to shipwright any processes I want to explore further he has and bring the knowledge and I soak it up like a sponge! Absolutely the best teacher on KZbin !

[@markchichester9571]

This guy is top notch with wooden boats. I learn something every time..

[@shawngeraghty6347]

Lou, another great video, especially relevant since I am in the process of re-doing the varnish on my boat. Looking forward to more videos on varnishing and painting. Thanks!

[@cosmonott1]

I could spend an entire afternoon chatting with this guy, what a craftsman!

[@stuwylam342]

never seen. a more thorough video on the varnishing.you truly our a master.thanks for taking the time and making the video for the rest of us.

[@carmelpule6954]

I must congratulate his man for his clearity of thinking and the manner in which he delivers such beautiful sentences, ".......I coordinate my vision with the height of the light so that I can get a nice reflection off the varnish so that I can see exactly what I am doing........" while at the same time we are shown the homogenous distribution of the varnish which with his abilty almost equals a mirror. From raw wood it looks as if he covers about six or more layers with sanding in between. Wonderful man with a lot and lot of experience, and his clear thinking and delivery is something to admire to by any listener.

[@CloverKismet]

Wow! This was Great!! :D It felt like one of those really good building channel episodes. Thanks a bunch!

[@LeilaBenamor]

i got to this from watching 'how to remove varnish' videos... i'm really amazed watching this. it's like watching a real master at work. i'm learning a lot and i actually have little interest in boats. i just love the look of the varnished wood and the love that is going into the work!

[@atticsofmylife9884]

I would love to sit with him over a couple beers. He is such a wealth of information and that is invaluable

[@1stinsonguy]

He works like they used to...with skill and pride! Thanks to all in these productions!

[@kevingeaney7741]

I just watched this varnishing video and your plastic bag steam bending video and like the other admirers here, I'm just blown away by your skill and knowledge. Thakeham a bow my friend, you are a true master.

[@stillwatersailor665]

Punching the holes in the rim of the paint can was gold!!!! thanks

[@GergC0521]

Dang it! Ya learn something every day. been painting and varnishing for 40-50 years now and have NEVER seen that little trick @2:39 popping little holes around the lid to let the varnish run back in the cans. Brilliant!

[@davearonow65]

Excellent video, Sir. Everything we need and nothing we don't. Dig that accent too.

[@diceman220]

He is the real deal, a true Master Boat Builder. Awesome, thanks for sharing the information.

[@user-lk2uf3ji3y]

You are an inspiring wood doctor / practical man. As someone else said, good commentary. Watchable. thank you.

[@oldbloke135]

Absolutely fantastic job. To me it looks better to be able to see that it has been done by hand by a true craftsman than the "artificial" over perfect finish machines give.

[@bobpitt1261]

Awesome job Louis. You are a true master craftsman.

[@paulhardy4092]

Picked up a couple of good pointers from this video which I found very useful and effective when applying yacht varnish to my outdoor table and chairs which I treasure. Have done this for the past several years but the lessons learned from this video helped to improve the finish which I have been delighted with. Obviously not to your professional standard but pleasing for me nonetheless. Many thanks Paul from tropical Leicester, England

[@nowbuy23]

Great job! Love the dedication!

[@Khepramancer]

Wow, that's a gorgeous job you did on that!

[@kathysarmcandy1992]

I just stopped by for your accent. Thank you from Marshfield.

[@kirsty4martin]

Wow i could listen to him all day. Someone i would enjoy learning from.

[@KenpoMoogy]

Outstanding work & makes so much sense. Kicking my self for not coming to this technique naturally

[@sed6]

Just what I needed to see before I tackled my project! Thanks! 👍

[@MrDaveFerrier]

Wow!! Great work there Sir, lookin to be a top finish.

[@andrewgreen1940]

Lots of useful information. Thanks. Will use all of it restoring my Triumph Herald dashboard.

[@cpobyrne1]

lovin' the accent...and the skill of course!

[@bryantg1412]

Beautiful work. Your a true artisan. Cheers mate

[@krispsynch]

You make it look so easy! : ) I'm going to attempt this roll and tip method when applying varnish to the top decking of my 16' garvey. How much pressure are you applying when sanding between coats with 320? What's the goal? To remove high spots and any air bubbles? Light touch or assertive force? Many thanks for another very informative video.

[@tomm6789]

I use to take a buffer after 2 days of drying. And buff the hell of it. Looks like glass after you heat it up a little with the buffer. Well done video.👍👍👍

[@davidmcmillan343]

Excellent learning video. Keep them coming.

[@fiesalalawar7796]

Great work and style Games🌷

[@snakemtboatworks]

Great clip, but we've switched from a natural bristle tipping brush to high-end foamies for tipping with great results. Keeping that brush wet, an absolute must unless leaving a trail of dirt in the varnish behind is the goal.

[@stepcatdog]

What brand and model of foam tippies?

[@Davidslavik]

very good descriptive video. Hit all the important tips.

[@dongalbraith5018]

I have watched your video several times. We are going to varnish our 1901 homes interior clear vertical grain wood walls and some ceilings . Going to try your technique. Any other recommendations on varnishing wood interior walls? Thanks

[@karlhansen635]

Beautiful finishing ~~~

[@SuperFlyfisher101]

True craftsmanship!

[@michaelpavia7964]

Thanks for the great video. The foam brush is a great tip. I built a mahogany Lutyens bench and used a satin spar varnish to protect it. I'll be using Total Boat next time because the Minwax did not hold up well. My question has to do with total Boat epox as a "primer" and then followjng it up with their spar varnish. Any chance you may have done this?

[@Farmer2492]

Hi another fantastic video, i just have a few questions, i have a 16 foot couta boat with clinker hull, the wood on top is light was told its sassafras i want to stain it merbu color would it be ok to stain it then varnish it like your doing now also the hull is bare timber what do you suggest to put on it Thank you

[@erniezamora9509]

nice video..sir.....im learning about wood painting what colori that one that u are using on top of the rail edges thanks

[@sajidullah]

wow... can i convert my kitchen cabinets to this finish ?

[@bogdanimiolek2225]

Good job 🙂👍

[@peadan867]

Bravo Boss....

[@fusca-tk4cq]

Maravilhoso melhor esplicacao parabens

[@BillWalters77]

Did you thin the Gleam varnish before you applied it? It looks like this is a 1-part varnish - does it still have the durability and water resistance of 2-part varnishes? Thanks for sharing.

[@markreynolds3850]

Beautiful job

[@IsaacOLEG]

I noticed that the most basic microfiber cloth is better than the tack cloth when working with wood. Only way to get rid of lacquer dust in the pore, in my opinion. Purely mechanical as there are much small brushes on a supple cloth. I also use microfiber to get rid of oil after oiled sanding (or French polishing FWW) With à bit of alcohol distributed in it it get me free of oil traces on a surfacé that I am working on with shellac, pu, Nitro... So, first the tack cloth, then microfiber (then compressed air if the paint booth allows for it?) Is it the UV protection that darkens the varnish?

[@AmIonArock]

Wow you are a true craftsman I am going to varnish my old guitar. I using to be like a sealer over the old finish. Was your varnished thinned out? I am in Texas where the weather right now is very hot and wondering how time I will have to work / or to move varnish

[@JamestownTV]

thinning will help with the heat. Your varnish will cure faster in high temps, for sure. The exact time depends on the conditions, humidity and how much you thin. Just don't go back over varnish you already laid down. Good luck!

[@benkanobe7500]

For exterior teak on a mid 80's Catalina Sailboat that was never cared for, do I "stain" it and then use that varnish you used here or do I just sand really well and then add this varnish the way you have done it?

[@gary24752]

It all depends on having a good badger brush. Skimp on the brush and the finish will never be what you want it to be.

[@wanderingwade8877]

I was looking in the comments for advice like this. And I'd like to know if he used the brush 'dry' or did he dampen it with a dip in the varnish or water or a solvent and pat off the excess?

[@jimgam730]

You give classes on how to do this? I'd love to attend one if you do.

[@devinj5593]

Very helpful.

[@lazynut81]

I have do varnish a standing vertical doors any suggestions

[@boathousejoed1126]

I want to work for this guy!

[@farringeise1916]

Can you thin down with paint thinner?

[@alext8828]

I get bubble with the foam brushes. I moved to the other ones. High density fabric. They don't leave too many bubbles.

[@brandonrivers8275]

Great work. Have a question when I am done I can see all my brush marks what am I doing wrong ? Your help would be greatly appreciated Thans

[@jccgold]

You should dilute your finishing varnish to be more thiner in the end i guess

[@pehdue1918]

How much is the varnishing ?

[@roughlyEnforcing]

is the varnish that dark or did you tint it?

[@bigears4014]

Spraying is the best way

[@eldredgraybill1410]

Good

[@MsSaud2011]

thanks thanks thanks

[@steveharvey7712]

how many coats do I put?

[@erniezamora9509]

what color are u using thanks

[@JamestownTV]

It's varnish - not paint - so no color, per se - but it does have an amber tint.

[@seancook2331]

if i suddenly ran across a bag of money or something, how much would it cost to have this guy build me a 27 foot cruising sailboat, do you think? there is like no one who builds wooden ships anymore :(

[@SALIMTECH96]

Very nice

[@renerusso5603]

"ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT "MR LOU!" IS THE "MAN!"

[@bradengels]

You can;t do that in the summer if the fan;s aren't switched on ..

[@johnnyutah565]

I’m a painter a very good painter he’s good I’ll give him that

[@aidepontemirandaaide57]

Nº me sirnden why???

[@jakescorpion1]

No word of mixing the varnish?

[@TobyMcVinn]

vawnish

[@johnweston3420]

were is your mask

[@chavirawiser5010]

Do it yourself, visit the Stodoys website and find out how.

[@danacole1288]

What I don't get is this guy does not worry about the "dry into wet" rule. He just seems to put the brush down anywhere he wants except when he is doing the final tipping from end to end, but even then he starts the brush at the wet end (I think). On some other videos he simply strokes back and forth instead of one direction and it works fine. That would never work for me!

[@deanhoward1374]

I agree. I have always brushed towards the wet, this is also a must with spraying. whenever I start brushing willy-nilly the start of my strokes look awful

[@peppersantiago7995]

The music rendered the video unwatchable, for me. The technique looked great, but the commentary was overshadowed.

[@obiwanfisher537]

I did it entirely wrong. Shit.

[@johnkearns6523]

I’ve been a wood finisher on and off for over 40 years. I’ve used everything from oils to lacquers, French polish and sprayers. I find myself in the same camp as this guy. The small foam rollers put on a very even coat, and tipping afterwards with a quality badger bristle gives you the smoothest finish you can get with the least mess and effort. I will add one hint; beware of fish-eye. Where contaminants (silicone) give you small dots where the finish is repelled. You can equalize this by adding silicone to you finish. Just a few drops per quart or litre. Also kudos for great commentary.

[@atticsofmylife9884]

I would love to sit with him over a couple beers. He is such a wealth of information and that is invaluable

[@drfiberglass]

I worked in a boat yard many years ago and had the privilege to work with the bright work guy's and let me tell you it takes a lot of skill and years of experience.

[@dngoodchild]

The finest wooden-boat craftsman in the business!

[@ericruschsr2883]

That came out great Lou. The Badger hair brush after rolling is the secret. Nice work. Eric central Florida

[@judichristopher4604]

Yes... I learned a new word... This technique is called "Tipping" That is so cool.

[@bostitch001]

This was very interesting, nice to see a pro doing it! Thank you!

[@jessicakirchoff2536]

Thank you for helping to take the mystery out of varnishing. Cheers!

[@gerald554]

i actually learn more from you than hours of work by myself

[@Gamingthrone]

Really Great information and sharing of technique and perspective step by step. Thanks for sharing

[@TipsfromaShipwrightvideos]

More advice from professional varnisher follyrob reddit/r/woodoworking - redd.it/25q4ub "Have the brush tip slightly moist when "tipping" out the varnish. If it is completely dry it can easily pick up your rolled on varnish and leave dry streaks. In this video he is using a tung oil based marine spar varnish. A quality badger hair brush works great with this type of coat, but if you don't want to spend the money, a great finish can also be achieved with a top quality synthetic. Microwave your varnish first. I know it sounds odd, but slightly warming your pot of varnish (maybe 20-30 seconds in the microwave) helps it to flow out better, keeping brush stroke marks and joins to a minimum. Thin the varnish to suit your environment. Is it room temp and indoors? Then very little thinner is needed. However, if the sun is shining, there is a slight breeze, or it's the air temp is hot you can thin the varnish up to 12% or so. Use the recommended thinner. Don't go back to "fix" runs, drips, or dry spots. If it is on, then it is on. Even after a minute, going back over the finish with a brush will do nothing more than cause unsightly brush strokes."

[@ralphfreeman255]

I want my Cape Cod Knock-About back! It is strange to miss the good old hard work, but sailing it made me proud...

[@judichristopher4604]

2:39 That is an excellent trick... to nail holes in the groove of the lip so the varnish can seep back down in the can... I used to be a furniture refinisher and I agree with everything you have done here, except one thing... at that time in the 70s we didn't have a 4" roller... not that I was aware of... so now I have learned a newer trick about "Tipping"... I like that idea... Thank you so much for sharing this great video..

[@suziehjertquist177]

What size roller

[@suziehjertquist177]

What size nap

[@judichristopher4604]

@@suziehjertquist177 NAP?

[@stevenl7878]

Nice job varnishing and restoring that wooden box too!

[@alext9067]

Attitude is everything. I enjoy yours.

[@jafo4775]

The roller, than brush technique, also works great with colored paints and trim work. Thanks.

[@judichristopher4604]

"Tipping" I just learned that too... a little extra work but it works and L@@Ks GREAT!

[@keithprice9728]

Well done, you are a truly amazing craftsman. Your videos are full of very useful tips and ideas, so easy to follow. I wish you well, God bless you. KEITH PRICE. Tenby. Pembrokeshire. West Wales. U.K.

[@patrick9761]

thanks so much for your time... love your vids

[@goodolarchie]

this guy makes me miss Boston

[@cherfieldm]

Thanks very informative.

[@gerald554]

thanks for the great tips im really on with this

[@michaelmixon2479]

Beautiful work!

[@sinailover120]

Wonderful work of a real artist. I also like the stain color may I know what stain is that ? Thanks

[@johnnyutah537]

I’m a good painter and I can tell he knows exactly what he’s doing