Mark Meckes
6th October 2005, 08:07 PM
From the pages of Fine Woodworking Magazine, this article summarizes the different types of oil based varnishes and their characteristic properties, with some tips on method of application.
Varnish: An Almost Ideal Finish (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00063.asp) - by Chris Minick
"Understanding the chemistry behind many common oil varnishes helps you choose the right product".
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As mentioned in the article ...
Alkyd varnish
Once the mainstay of the furniture-finishing trades, this class of varnish is increasingly hard to find.
Polyurethane varnish
Polyurethane dries fairly quickly and exhibits good moisture resistance, but it does not hold up well to the degradation brought on by ultraviolet light.
Fast-dry varnish
The vinyl toluene and naphtha listed on the label identify this as a fast-drying finish.
Spar varnish
Tung-oil-based phenolic resins are found in most brands of spar varnish, and they are the ingredients that help this product stand up to the elements
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It must be kept in mind that the main difference with wood and bamboo is that if the outside 'skin' of bamboo is kept intact, varnishes don't have the same absorbency or penetration of surface coatings.
With the outer layer removed, the bamboo would be similar to other wood species.
Mark
Varnish: An Almost Ideal Finish (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00063.asp) - by Chris Minick
"Understanding the chemistry behind many common oil varnishes helps you choose the right product".
---------
As mentioned in the article ...
Alkyd varnish
Once the mainstay of the furniture-finishing trades, this class of varnish is increasingly hard to find.
Polyurethane varnish
Polyurethane dries fairly quickly and exhibits good moisture resistance, but it does not hold up well to the degradation brought on by ultraviolet light.
Fast-dry varnish
The vinyl toluene and naphtha listed on the label identify this as a fast-drying finish.
Spar varnish
Tung-oil-based phenolic resins are found in most brands of spar varnish, and they are the ingredients that help this product stand up to the elements
-------
It must be kept in mind that the main difference with wood and bamboo is that if the outside 'skin' of bamboo is kept intact, varnishes don't have the same absorbency or penetration of surface coatings.
With the outer layer removed, the bamboo would be similar to other wood species.
Mark