Tools for Applying Varnish
While there are various varnish supplies you'll need, the most important tool is your applicator. Most one- and two-part varnishes can be applied using a brush, a foam roller and brush (roll & tip method), or some type of sprayer (airless, HVLP, etc.). There’s even varnish that comes in an aerosol can! Setting up and adjusting spray equipment takes time, as does cleaning the equipment. But you don’t need professional spray equipment to get professional results.
A good, natural bristle brush yields excellent results. We recommend getting the best quality brush you can afford, using it just for varnishing, cleaning it properly, and it’ll last for years to help you maintain your beautifully varnished finishes. On large areas, consider the roll & tip method: Use a high-density, lint-free foam roller to apply the varnish, and have someone follow behind you with a wide-bristle brush to even out the finish, removing any small bubbles introduced by the roller.
What Type of Varnish Brush Should I Use?
Using the right brush is one of the most important ways to get a smooth, beautiful finish. The other is having the right technique. But all the technique in the world won’t help if you don’t have the right brush. Try painting your house with a push broom. You’ll get paint on the surface, but it won’t look good. The same holds true for applying finish coats of varnish with a foam brush, because even though foam brushes don’t leave brush marks, they tend to introduce more bubbles. Small bubbles can be sanded out of build coats, but not finish coats.
To keep costs down, it’s okay to use a foam brush for the sealer and build coats, but a soft-bristled badger hair brush is the best brush for finish coats because it lays the varnish down smoothly with no bubbles or brush marks. Badger hair brushes are also best for removing air bubbles when you’re rolling and tipping.
Other Equipment Needed for Varnishing
- Heat gun or chemical stripper for removing old varnish. Our TotalBoat TotalStrip paint and varnish remover is easy to apply, odor-free, biodegradable, can strip up to 25 layers in a single application, requires no acid wash neutralization, and cleans up easily with just plain water.
- Sandpaper – From 80 to 320 grit
- Sanding blocks – Use soft blocks for curves and contours; hard blocks for flat surfaces.
- Scrapers – Pull scrapers work best with minimal effort and gouging.
- Masking tape – Use a high-quality masking tape. For curves, use a flexible tape.
- Lint-free wiping rags and denatured alcohol
- Tack cloth – removes fine dust before finishing
- Synthetic mesh strainers – for filtering varnish into your pot
- Optional – Random-orbit sander and vacuum for prep cleanup
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