What Is The Best Way To Apply Varnish?

Varnish offers a fabulous finish to many items. The best way to apply varnish is to let your paint completely dry first before putting on the varnish. One coat is all that is needed. If you want more than one coat, you have to let each coat dry first before applying the next one.

Prepping Wood for Varnish
Sand your wood. This eliminates any blemishes and imperfections before putting on the varnish. Use grit sandpaper for rough pieces, working with the grain of the wood. Sand softly until the article is smooth.

Have a Clean Work Space.
Varnish is durable and incredible finish. However, it is susceptible to hair, dust, and other pollution before drying. Varnish your item in a space that is thoroughly clean.

Get all your varnishing supplies together. You’ll need a couple of essential supplies to varnish wood. You should have:

• A paintbrush (natural bristle)
• Paint thinner (mineral spirits or turpentine)
• A stirring stick
• Varnish (make sure it is an oil-based varnish, no polyurethane)
• A clear, big measuring cup with markings on the side
• A respirator
• Rubber gloves

Carefully stir the varnish. Don’t shake the varnish container. Open it carefully. Use your stick to mix the varnish, working gently and slowly completely. You don’t want air bubbles in your varnish.

Thin your varnish. Put enough varnish for the first coat into the measuring cup. The exact amount will differ based on the size of your piece. It’s a good thing to begin small since you can always add more. Add some paint thinner and stir.

Lightly apply the varnish. Place just the tip of your brush into the thinner-varnish mixture and carefully use it on your piece.

Don’t just brush back and forth. Apply along the direction of the wood grain. Begin in a corner and varnish a one-foot square. When that is done, move your brush and varnish the square right next to it. Repeat until the whole surface is completed. For a professional look or if you don’t feel like dealing with all the mixing and whatever, ask a Rochester painter to do it for you.​

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