# epoxying/varnishing timing

**URL:** <https://forum.clcboats.com/t/epoxying-varnishing-timing/48433>\
**Category:** Builder's Forum\
**Created:** [March 11, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/epoxying-varnishing-timing/48433 "2021-03-11T16:34:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Andrew\_Gorelik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@Andrew\_Gorelik](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Andrew_Gorelik)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/epoxying-varnishing-timing/48433/1 "2021-03-11T16:34:08Z")

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I am about to embark on the sanding/epoxying/varnishing part of my build, and I would like to understand the timing better (since I can't wait to get the boat done!).

I've read that I can do a coat of MAS epoxy inthe morning and another one in the evening. How many coats on non-fiberglassed wood people usually do? How long should I wait before sanding the final coat? And how much time between varnish coats?

I assume I'll have to do inside and outside separately. I don't see any way to coat the entire boat in one pass.

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**Author:** ![Howard\_Spira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ec9cab/32.png) [@Howard\_Spira](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Howard_Spira)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 11:36pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/epoxying-varnishing-timing/48433/2 "2021-03-11T23:36:15Z")

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on the epoxy over wood, no glass....i would go with at least two coats.&nbsp; this way you have the second pass to pick up any bits you missed on the first coat.&nbsp; doing these coats with a little foam roller&nbsp; https://www.clcboats.com/shop/products/boat-building-supplies-epoxy-fiberglass-plywood/boat-paint-varnish-finishing/foam-roller-covers.html&nbsp;makes it easier to get a thin coat on easily and then tip it with a foam brush.

make sure to do your epoxy work for the first coat when the temperature is decreasing over the cure time to prevent outgassing.&nbsp; the wood breathes...so when you epoxy coat it you want it inhaling so it doesn't put bubbles in your epoxy.&nbsp; if the wood is heating up, it will try to exhale.

this can be a one day operation.&nbsp; do the first coat at night (so it gets cooler as the night moves on), then the next coat the following morning.&nbsp; &nbsp;i usually give it a day before sanding if you are at a good temperature range&nbsp; (above 70 degrees).&nbsp; &nbsp;you are only sanding lightly to take off any rough spots.&nbsp; it is very easy to sand through...so you may need a third pass to address any sand-throught just addressing the sand through with a foam brush and a little epoxy.

on varnish.&nbsp; again, follow the directions on the label.&nbsp; but if it is nice and warm you can get a morning coat and evening coat on.&nbsp; i would avoid trying to do more than two coats a day.

h

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_Budge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e57/32.png) [@Joseph\_Budge](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Joseph_Budge)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 7:34am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/epoxying-varnishing-timing/48433/3 "2021-03-12T07:34:10Z")

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&nbsp; &nbsp;\>\>&nbsp;and then tip it with a foam brush. \<\<

Pay attention to those foam brushes. The ones I got from the hardware store began to come apart in the epoxy, leaving little black lumps in the coat. Discard the brush and get a new one at the first sign of deterioration. Fortunately I learned this on an interior part of my boat that's all sealed up now.

I don't know if the foam brushes CLC sells have the same problem or not. I've been doing mainly paint & varnish since I switched to them.

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**Author:** ![Stephen\_Clark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Stephen\_Clark](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Stephen_Clark)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 8:39am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/epoxying-varnishing-timing/48433/4 "2021-03-12T08:39:15Z")

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Use your pull saw to cut those foam rollers into sections, then cut the sections in half lengthwise, glue on a handle. Much better tool for 'tipping' rollered-on epoxy to reduce/prevent bubbles than the foamies that can start to disintegrate. The cut-up rollers work as well for tipping varnish too. &nbsp;

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**Author:** ![Andrew\_Gorelik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@Andrew\_Gorelik](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Andrew_Gorelik)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 1:11pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/epoxying-varnishing-timing/48433/5 "2021-03-12T13:11:47Z")

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&nbsp;&nbsp; Thank you all for the responses. The project feels manageable time-wise.

By the way, how do you guys apply varnish? With rollers? With foam brushes (the way CLC [suggests](https://www.clcboats.com/shoptips/finishing-tips/varnished_kayak.html))? Something else?

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**Author:** ![Howard\_Spira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ec9cab/32.png) [@Howard\_Spira](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Howard_Spira)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 8:15am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/epoxying-varnishing-timing/48433/6 "2021-03-13T08:15:15Z")

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the methods described&nbsp; on the CLC website and their videos work well (with foam brushes) and that is how i approach it.&nbsp;

per the comments above,&nbsp; it is very important to use foam brushes/rollers that are compatible with the step (varnish or epoxy or paint) and the stuff you get at the local hardware store often is not.&nbsp;

i usually buy my rollers and brushes from CLC ...the pricing is good.&nbsp; or i use another marine supplier like jamestown....who know that they are selling to marine users who are working with marine paints, varnishes and epoxies.&nbsp; its cheaper to buy in bulk so estimate the entire project and save on shipping.&nbsp; &nbsp;

the right quality/specifications are important and most general hardware stores would not be able to tell you the formulation of the foam they are selling.&nbsp; &nbsp;even though i have a local hardware store and have run out of brushes (and they had foam brushes), i waited for an order of known quality to arrive from CLC.

if you do use from a supplier who does not know the details of what they are selling, consider doing some test work

h

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Andrew\_Gorelik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@Andrew\_Gorelik](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Andrew_Gorelik)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 11:18am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/epoxying-varnishing-timing/48433/7 "2021-03-13T11:18:15Z")

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&nbsp;&nbsp; Yeah, since this is my first build and I am clueless otherwise, I got essentially all my supplies from CLC. If things go wrong, I'd better blame them than myself :)

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**Author:** ![Andrew\_Gorelik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@Andrew\_Gorelik](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Andrew_Gorelik)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 4:01pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/epoxying-varnishing-timing/48433/8 "2021-03-13T16:01:05Z")

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&nbsp;&nbsp; Regarding the time between varnish coats, this question is actually answered on the Interlux Schooner Varnish [product page](https://www.clcboats.com/shop/products/boat-building-supplies-epoxy-fiberglass-plywood/boat-paint-varnish-finishing/interlux-schooner-marine-varnish.html):

55°F (13°C) 16 hours  
70°F (21°C) 12 hours  
85°F (29°C) 8 hours

So yeah, two coats are doable in a day at 70º and up.

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