# Finishing Tips **URL:** \ **Category:** Builder's Forum\ **Created:** [April 7, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/finishing-tips/33870 "2008-04-07T16:48:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stephen\_Undy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@Stephen\_Undy](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Stephen_Undy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/finishing-tips/33870/1 "2008-04-07T16:48:10Z")
Well, it's taken me a lot longer than it should have (1.5 years) to get to this point, but I'm almost ready to start painting and varnishing my Eastport Pram. I've read the "Tips" articles, but I still have a question: how much should I thin my varnish and/or 1-part polyurethane? I'm looking for advise on how to tell what the right amount of thinning should look like.  I'm using Interlux Brightsides 1-part polyurethane and Schooner varnish. My apologies if this has been answered before (but I haven't found a way to search the archives yet). -Steve   http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.noname/Pram ![Prior to epoxy coats](http://lh5.google.com/steve.noname/R9dZcjW35vI/AAAAAAAAApI/K_8z3Czyjbo/DSCN3305.JPG.jpg?imgmax=800) ---
**Author:** ![Laszlo\_Morocz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Laszlo\_Morocz](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Laszlo_Morocz)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 6:12am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/finishing-tips/33870/2 "2008-04-08T06:12:46Z")
Steve, I used Schooner varnish unthinned and am very happy with how it turned out. That was when the temperatures were high 60's, low 70's at night, mid-80's in the day. I put the varnish on first thing in the morning and it was hard enough for wet sanding when I came home from work. If I'd tried working in the middle of the day, I'd have needed the thinner.  Nice boat, BTW,  Laszlo   ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Jacobson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Chris\_Jacobson](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Chris_Jacobson)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 7:59am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/finishing-tips/33870/3 "2008-04-08T07:59:58Z")
Very nice job Steve! You'll definitely need to thin the Interlux Brightsides to get a streak-free finish if you're using the roller/foam brush method.  Use their thinner and follow their recommendations.  I applied three coats of white under one coat of Interlux Pre-Kote last July in my basement with evening temps. in the mid 70's.  I tried to apply the 2nd coat unthinned but was unhappy with the results.  I sanded and applied the last coat thinned and all was good.  I used Captain's Z Spar varnish on the deck and only thinned the intitial coat of 5.  ![Painting MC16.5 hull](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1151/1367519448_60a51bebef.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Stephen\_Undy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@Stephen\_Undy](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Stephen_Undy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 10:10am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/finishing-tips/33870/4 "2008-04-08T10:10:27Z")
Laszlo: So is the overall purpose of thinning varnish to make it dry slower or to make it more brushable (or both)? Chris: Great looking finish! What ratio of paint to thinner did you use? -Steve  ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Jacobson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Chris\_Jacobson](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Chris_Jacobson)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/finishing-tips/33870/5 "2008-04-09T19:06:30Z")
The directions say not to thin more than 10% by volume.  I poured some paint in a clean container and added thinner slowly until I liked the feel of it when stirred.  Nothing too exact. Chris  ---
**Author:** ![Laszlo\_Morocz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Laszlo\_Morocz](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Laszlo_Morocz)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 7:23am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/finishing-tips/33870/6 "2008-04-13T07:23:30Z")
Steve, Yes. It can help extend the useful temperature range some. I've just waited for the weather to cooperate, but some of the other builders who post here add all sorts of stuff to the varnish and get good results. Laszlo   ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Morry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@Michael\_Morry](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Michael_Morry)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 10:12am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/finishing-tips/33870/7 "2011-09-03T10:12:18Z")
Chris, I just put on 3 coats of Brightsides White on my CH16, but it has not evened out at all. I can still see the tippng strokes. I followed CLC's intructions to the letter but am disappointed with the result. My painting conditions were pretty much ideal, I think. I have a feeling that I should have thinned the paint but have not experience doing this. I'm looking for that sprayed on, auto finish. I hope this is still possible since no one will see the hard work underneath, just the finish on top. Any advice on this problem would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Daniel\_Thaler](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/forum.clcboats.com/daniel_thaler/32/313_2.png) [@Daniel\_Thaler](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Daniel_Thaler)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/finishing-tips/33870/8 "2011-09-03T13:56:36Z")
Would Penetrol (flowing agent) help? ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Gordon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Greg\_Gordon](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Greg_Gordon)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 6:09am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/finishing-tips/33870/9 "2011-09-09T06:09:07Z")
whatever you use ,transfer to a glass jar with a screw on lid and use a varnish strainer [they look like cofee filters ,you can get them at a paint store]other wise you can get little chunks of dried  varnish ---
**Author:** ![Dean\_Stecker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dean\_Stecker](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Dean_Stecker)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 10:45am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/finishing-tips/33870/10 "2011-09-11T10:45:27Z")
I love it when I buy a new car and it gets some dings so that I can stop worrying about getting some dings.