Seahag wrote:
I sand the wood to 220 grit and apply 3 coats as per lable.

One of the benefits of Cetol is that you don't have to wait as long
between coats, right? This year we're using a new varnish that can also
be applied over a wet coat.

We started out using 80 grit to take of the DPO's layer of polyurethane
(now that ought to be a criminal offense). Then 150 to smooth it; both
with power sander. Then the first couple of coats of sealer/primer went
on, hand sanding (using a block on much of it) with 180 grit then 220.
By this time it's actually going pretty well since you feel like you're
making progress. The worst part is the initial sanding, takes forever
and you feel like you're accomplishing nothing.

After 5 or 6 coats of sealer/primer, we switched to real varnish and 400
grit wet/dry. The wood was totally sealed at this point and already
looking gorgeous. 3 or 4 more coats sanding with 400 then 600 grit &
soapy water. The last 2 or 3 coats went on with this new 'Jet-Dry'
stuff. Some of it is not really mirror smooth but it still looks good.

A few people looking at our caprail have assumed it was coated with some
new kind of miracle clear plastic.


... Then after a
week I knock the inevitable chunks off with a 220 hand sanding and put on a
final coat. It isn't varnish, but I can live with the results.

The important thing is that you're satisfied with it.


... I put on a
coat in the fall and spring if I can. The weather was awful last year so I
didn't get it on in time so the edges failed. I've been touching it up this
last couple of weeks and it's getting there. The stuff blends in pretty
well.

Varnish blends perfectly

... I've used the Cetol lite at work but I'm concerned it doesn't have
the umph to last a whole year.

Nothing lasts a whole year if you're far enough south. UV tears up
everything.

Judging by what I've seen, of the people who use Cetol or one of the
other 'labor saving' finishes, it's still more work than most are
willing to put into it... and it doesn't look anywhere near as good. Our
finish is maybe 20% more work to put on and 10% more work to maintain,
but IMHO it looks 1,000% better. But that's easy for me to say, I do
very little of the sanding and almost none of the actual varnishing... I
am too busy in the engine room

Fresh Breezes- Doug King