John Right on. Been doing this for decades to get that solid deep finish on furniture. On soft wood I generally do a 50-50 thinning for thr first coat, a 25% cut on the second coat and then my full strenght coats atop this. On hardwoods, a 50-50 coat then move directly to full strenght. For airplane work, I would keep it light and easy,...a 25% cut on first coat. This will also aid in drying quicker,.... then a full coat. This is also how I finish the sides and backs of my musical instruments. The tops of musical instruments are always spruce because it is a very tonal wood and being very strong for its weight, but thin coats penetrating the spruce dampens somewhat the tonal properties, hence a reduction in brillance of sound. I have both a furniture and instrument shop. On furniture always thin, on spruce musical instrument tops, do not thin. Some of my clients have been with me for 30 years and I do get a chance to see my furniture and instruments age. Pat ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hauck, John MAJ HHC-37th TRANS" <john.ha...@arifjan.arcent.army.mil> To: "KRnet" <kr...@mylist.net> Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2005 6:30 AM Subject: RE: KR> WAF's
> Pat: > > I have always had this question: when using spar varnish, is it better > to cut the first application with paint thinner, so the first coat will > sink deeper into the wood? I have always done this, and then the next > day put a full coat on, but have never owned the wood long enough to > figure out if this was working out. Have you any thought on that? > > John > >
