Stripping Spar Varnish

[jtsailjt]

It's time to refinish our cockpit table and this time I want to take it down to bare wood and start fresh. There are lots of paint stripping products out there that also claim to work on varnish, but which one(s) work well on spar varnish? Since it's cold outside here and I'd like to have it done before spring, I'll be working inside and for that reason I'd prefer a non-toxic product, but if that's not possible, will use a respirator and use whatever works.

Does anyone on CF have a good product and accompanying technique that would work well to strip a varnished cockpit table?

[mikereed100]

I used to use paint remover until I sat in a puddle of it. I made a minor spectacle of myself, suspended between the dock and the boat with my butt in the water until the burning stopped. For the past 30 years I have simply used a good quality heat gun. Lots faster with easier cleanup than chemicals and much less toxic, although if you are inside you will still want to use a respirator as it does produce fumes. Just heat until the varnish starts to bubble and remove with a sharp paint scraper. If, for some reason you do use a chemical remover, don't sit in it.

[Smokeys Kitchen]

+ 1 on mikereed100.

We just stripped our caprail this fall and used a heat gun and a set of good scrapers. Scraper sharpness was important - and they come in a wide variety of sizes for large and small spots. No chemical mess to clean up.

[deblen]

Cabinet/Card scrapers do a good job also. /Len


https://www.canadianwoodworking.com/...rmance-results

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir1PsFmpCX0

[jtsailjt]

The consensus seems to be that the heat gun and various scrapers working together is the best solution so I will try that first. An added advantage is that I can do it out in the garage this time of year so will have plenty of fresh air and the heat from the gun will seem pleasant. Thanks all!

[Delfin]

Originally Posted by jtsailjt

The consensus seems to be that the heat gun and various scrapers working together is the best solution so I will try that first. An added advantage is that I can do it out in the garage this time of year so will have plenty of fresh air and the heat from the gun will seem pleasant. Thanks all!

Yeah, maybe....

On a piece like a table, I'd use stripper and a scraper. Just cover the stripper with Saran wrap for ten minutes or so, then peel, scrap and light sand. That would be the minimal amount of effort.

[jtsailjt]

Originally Posted by Delfin

Yeah, maybe....

On a piece like a table, I'd use stripper and a scraper. Just cover the stripper with Saran wrap for ten minutes or so, then peel, scrap and light sand. That would be the minimal amount of effort.

one of the problems with a stripper is to determine which strippers work with spar varnish to start with. Before I started this thread I called a local furniture refinishing shop along the coast and the owner told me that he'd tried it more than once and the stripper he uses doesn't work on spar varnish. But I have plenty of time so don't mind it taking awhile via the heat gun.

But if you know of a chemical stripper that you've used on spar varnish before that actually works, I'd be very interested to know what it is?

[Delfin]

Originally Posted by jtsailjt

one of the problems with a stripper is to determine which strippers work with spar varnish to start with. Before I started this thread I called a local furniture refinishing shop along the coast and the owner told me that he'd tried it more than once and the stripper he uses doesn't work on spar varnish. But I have plenty of time so don't mind it taking awhile via the heat gun.

But if you know of a chemical stripper that you've used on spar varnish before that actually works, I'd be very interested to know what it is?

If it's spar varnish, any stripper will work. If it's a 2 part catalyzed product the heavy duty strippers will still work, but take longer.

I like this one:. https://www.amazon.com/Jasco-QJBP002...51402563&psc=1

Again, the key is covering with Saran wrap to allow it to work.

[jtsailjt]

Now that the Christmas and New Years holidays are past, I've had time to work on the table and have found that the heat gun with a scraper works very well and without the mess or fumes from chemical stripper. Once the varnish is heated it comes off surprisingly easily. Once it's stripped, then a quick once over with 2 different coarseness sandpaper and it's ready for the first, thinned coat of varnish. It's going to take awhile due to having to suspend and varnish all the little pieces with several coats but I'm optimistic that I'm on the right path and it's going to look great. Thanks to all those who chimed in with good advice.

[AKA-None]

What about using polyethylene instead of varnish?

[jtsailjt]

Originally Posted by AKA-None

What about using polyethylene instead of varnish?

I've used both Epifanes and Petit Captains Varnish but in recent years have settled on the Captains Varnish because it seems easier to apply for amateur varnishers like myself. But looking at Practical Sailor testing results, the Detco Crystal looks interesting except for it's "fair" rating for ease of application.


What do you see as the advantage of using polyethelene instead of something like Petits Captains varnish?