Laminated timber tiller, finishing recommendations

[aardvarkash10 1,158]

The varnish on SO's tiller started cracking last season so finally got around to removing it and stripping it back to bare timber.

The old material mostly came off like sunburnt skin in large-ish sections that just peeled off the timber.  This leads me to suspect it hadn't keyed well to the surface.

At this stage for refinishing I am thinking a clear epoxy product applied directly onto the timber followed by a UV resistant polyurethane.

Any dissenters, any recommendations?

 

[Black Panther 1,815]

Angela in Stepping Out, 1997, or is that something different?

[Psyche 896]

The best varnish is white paint, 2 pot preferably. Otherwise for a tiller Id just go durepox clear if not covered, or single pot schooner varnish if you do have one

[aardvarkash10 1,158]

2 hours ago, Black Panther said:

Angela in Stepping Out, 1997, or is that something different?

That has a similar colour palette.  I'll take your word on the gloss.

[aardvarkash10 1,158]

42 minutes ago, Psyche said:

The best varnish is white paint, 2 pot preferably. Otherwise for a tiller Id just go durepox clear if not covered, or single pot schooner varnish if you do have one

Too nice for paint.

Someone must have been having a larf calling a thin protection layer product durepox.

 

[CarpeDiem 563]

I did 3 coats of west 207 clear followed by a couple of international 2 pack polyurethane coats for the uv protection. 

The epoxy gives the depth and the look of 12 coats.

[Frank 201]

After all that get a cover for it unless it lives down below when not in use

[LBD 209]

I like as much 2 pack sealer as i an get to soak in, in one go, then lightly sand, and apply awlgrip single pack primer then a minimum 3 coats awlgrip clear 

[Psyche 896]

If the tiller is going to get knocked or rubs up against something then single pack varnish is easier for retouching. You need at least 5 thin coats, but its easy when its warm like now to but a couple on each day. The harder the finish the better it lasts but also more difficult to repair. There is no wrong choice, plain varnish is just fine  or as mentioned a coat of epoxy first. What that does is seal the wood so moisture doesnt lift the varnish but you need to let the epoxy cure for a while and wash off the bloom. With 2 pot, urethanes you have to mix it for repairs which means wastage and because its so hard its easy to make divots when youre sanding. 

[aardvarkash10 1,158]

Ok, so we stripped the old finish off, sanded to 320 grit, and then pondered, struck with fear of the unknown 

I eventually mixed some bog-stock, off the shelf norski 4:1 epoxy, about 250ml finished mix.  5 minutes later it was steaming and exothermic like a champion.

So I mixed about 80ml finished mix and applied it with a 35mm or there about a roller.

And then repeated while the first coat was tacky.

24 hours later it was glossy but very orange peel-ish.  Fortunately, it was sanding beautifully so I hit it with a 120 dry then 320 dry then 600 wet.  It's now got a beautiful smooth finish and when I tack clothed it the shine comes out nicely.

Poly u this weekend.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

[aardvarkash10 1,158]

FIGJAM

[CarpeDiem 563]

Looks good! You could choose a durepox xtreme clear instead of a poly u. I just did my carbon spin pole with it.

When I redo the tiller I will swap out the polyu for the durepox now that I am familiar with it. 

Burnsco have the high performance clear which isn't as good as the xtreme but it's still pretty good. you'll need to get the xtreme from Resene Automotive. 

It's got rock solid uv protection. 

[aardvarkash10 1,158]

Hmm.  Our carbon pole needs refinishing, so that's a good project to try durepox on.

Later.