AlistairM
(regular)
22/04/2008 08:56
How do I treat this?

The varnish on my small dinghy has flaked away leaving bare wood. Do I simply varnish straight on and sand untill a decent finish is achieved, or is something required in preparation. The boat is completly covered with a tarpaulin but "natural moisture" still penetrates.

Also can some one please settle some confusion once and for all. Can epoxy be used to fill cracks and splits in the wood, or is this a definete no no.

Thanks





Englander
(regular)
22/04/2008 11:32
Re: How do I treat this?

Take all the varnish off and start again. I would use epoxy to fill the cracks, but lots wouldnt. Might need something more flexible.
But really all that varnish needs to come off, the wood has bleached also, I think it's Mahogany, so will come up a lovely reddish colour, once all the varnish is off and it's sanded. The whole boat probaly needs re-varnishing, if the varnish is all that old.


deisel
(regular)
22/04/2008 11:57
Re: How do I treat this?

You Shouldent Really Rub Bare Plywood Down They Usally Add A Diluted Coat Of Varnish First, This Stops It Splintering,
You Can Use Epoxy For Filling If You Mix In A Filler ie Silica.


AlistairM
(regular)
22/04/2008 13:28
Re: How do I treat this?

Thanks for the info, I will sand off all the varnish and reapply. This is my first "project" boat so I am looking forward to getting into it.

I am one of those rare occurances of being young(ish) and interested in wooden restoration jobs instead of out and plastic tubs.

Anyway thanks again


Pete_Cooper
(regular)
22/04/2008 13:36
Re: How do I treat this?

I recently stripped some varnish using a hot air stripper - much easier and quicker than sanding.

stephenh
(regular)
22/04/2008 17:16
Re: How do I treat this?

Alistair - the black marks are fungi - probably a 'blue stain-in-service' fungus . The fungus itself often blows the varnish, use oxalic acid to bleach it and sterilize the spores. And then revarnish.

Peeriemaa
(regular)
22/04/2008 18:57
Re: How do I treat this?

Hi
It looks as though the varnish has been blown off by damp penetrating from the inside of the boat, possibly rain water gathering against the transom. I would certainly look to the inside as well, and consider the quality of your rain cover. Damp may be getting in under the drain plug fittings and rudder hanging, so make sure that the wood under them is well sealed and bed them properly in something appropriate before refitting them.


AlistairM
(regular)
23/04/2008 12:11
Re: How do I treat this?

Thanks for lots of good advice, this being my first wood project its alla bit of a learning curve.

I plan to cover the transom in Oxalic acid as indicated above then sand down and revarnish

What would be suitable for bedding the rudder pintle on??

Oh and take on board the cover issue too, I will look to enhance that also.

Thanks for the patience.


castaway
(regular)
24/04/2008 12:16
Re: How do I treat this?

I would use Nitromors to remove the varnish...makes it a very quick and easy job.

In case you havn't used it before, be cautious as it gets everywhere and of course use latex or similar gloves.

If its warm and the nitromors is tending to 'dry out' to quick, cover with cling film or ali foil to keep it 'working' longer.

Possibly with a dinghy sized job it might be worth applying with a mini roller.

Regds Nick


Woodlouse
(regular)
24/04/2008 22:17
Re: How do I treat this?

Hot air gun and a scraper to remove. Totally safe as long as you're careful not to burn the wood by staying in one spot too long. What sort of dinghy is it?

Cuchilo
(regular)
25/04/2008 08:03
Re: How do I treat this?

Quote:

a 'blue stain-in-service' fungus . The fungus itself often blows the varnish




Even if blue stain was found in hardwood ply it is a non structual defect that will not blow the varnish . Sometimes i think you guys make this stuff up for fun


stephenh
(regular)
25/04/2008 13:59
Re: How do I treat this?

Cuchillo - I’m not making it up !! “blue stain…. will not blow the varnish “ – I think it will -

Here from my BRE ‘rot’ book – there are photos similar to AlistairM’s but I’m no good at loading them:

“Blue stain in service fungus

Commonly - Aureobasidium pullulans and others

Damage characteristics -

Disfigurement of the wood and especially of clear finishes; early failure of surface coatings caused by rupture of the fruit bodies.
Discolouration caused by sap stain which has occurred in the log may still be detectable after drying and conversion of the timber…… Damage to coatings will occur through the growth of blue stain in service.

Cannot grow below 20% moisture content

Treatment - …. Dry the timber , treat with preservative containing an additive specifically active against these fungi….: apply new coating….’


Cuchilo
(regular)
25/04/2008 18:31
Re: How do I treat this?

A blue stain treatment , amazing ! What will they think of next

Cuchilo
(regular)
27/04/2008 19:55
Re: How do I treat this?

Sorry i wasnt very constructive there . Blue stain as i know it has no structual effect on the timber and is only found in pine . It is a fungus that attacks the sapwood and feeds on the sugars in the timber and ray cells if i remember rightly ..... It was along time ago ......Bluestain is not regarded as a defect in the timber as all it does is make the timber look blue . The staining in the Hardwood ply shown looks more to me like the start of wet rot .

Igor_Korousic
(new user)
27/04/2008 21:44
Re: How do I treat this?

Don't use epoxy below waterline

Woodlouse
(regular)
27/04/2008 22:25
Re: How do I treat this?

Care to explain why? Most production boats have a layer of epoxy below the waterline these days.

stephenh
(regular)
28/04/2008 08:15
Re: How do I treat this?

Wet rot ? I think you are right.

On closer inspection there would seem to be more than one type of rot on the go.
The problem with blue stain is that it lies dormant as spores which then errupt as small flecks as in the photos, these break open the protective coating and let in more water and so white, brown, wet & dry rots ( take your pick !) are able to get a hold.
So the fact that it, in itself is not structurally damaging, doesn't put it on the 'harmless' list .....and it loves hardwood as well - spalted beech and ash being classic examples.


Cuchilo
(regular)
28/04/2008 08:49
Re: How do I treat this?

And there is me sat next to a sycamore spalted and blue stained side table saying it only grows in pine




stephenh
(regular)
28/04/2008 09:13
Re: How do I treat this?

Whoops !

We've all been there......

Nice piece of timber.....

Thats not wet rot starting on the RHS is it ?!!!!


LakeSailor
(regular)
28/04/2008 13:30
Re: How do I treat this?

Strange thing to say. I gave my Heron an epoxy coating when I rebuilt her and most plywood boat builders do the same. They also use fillets of epoxy to bond the panels together.

Fyne Boats for one.


Cuchilo
(regular)
28/04/2008 17:31
Re: How do I treat this?

There was a bit of everything in them . They where logs that had been felled and left to rot in my local woods . I milled them up , cut out the rot and made a table out of them . People where looking at my rather odd as i walked down the road with them





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