Rick Pristas
04-10-2015, 8:56 AM
Hi guys,
Need a little advice/newbie
I picked up a mahogany bar top from a friend of mine. Adjusted it to fit for my bar and then had to finish it.
I am used to working with varnish, awl grip etc from being on boats and wound up using Helmsman spar varnish at the recommendation of from a SW store. I wasn't happy that is is a softer finish, but didn't want the drink rings and was familiar with it from working on boats. Put 3 coats on and it was really looking great.
As I was looking on some forums i came across Behlens Rock Hard table top finish. I know it is not a good idea to put the hard finish over a softer finish, however, bar will be in finished basement so i figured i would take the risk since it would not be subject to extremes.
Both state they are urethane finishes so i thought they would be compatible. I put a coat of Behlens Gloss on top of the spar about 24 hours of the last coat of Spar. The behlens seemed to get a reaction with the spar. It did coat it, but dimples are everywhere and it will not dry smooth like glass. It is shiny, just with a lot of dimples. The last coat of Spar was almost like a mirror.
I thought maybe it was a reaction with the mineral spirits i used just before a coat of behlens so the last 2 coats i have just wiped down with plain water. I have put 4 coats of behlens on waiting 24 hours between coats and wet sanding in between, but the dimples still appear.
As a last shot i figured i would wait a week or so for everything to cure then give it another shot to see what happens. I know the right answer is to probably strip completely, but didn't know if there were any other options since I now have 3 coats of spar and 4 of behlens on it.
Also, read that Behlens may be more of a polyurethane now even though the can states urethane so am thinking that may be the reason for the reaction as well-just not sure if that is true.
I am working in a very clean, ventilated, temp controlled room so it is not a situation where something contaminated the surface.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Need a little advice/newbie
I picked up a mahogany bar top from a friend of mine. Adjusted it to fit for my bar and then had to finish it.
I am used to working with varnish, awl grip etc from being on boats and wound up using Helmsman spar varnish at the recommendation of from a SW store. I wasn't happy that is is a softer finish, but didn't want the drink rings and was familiar with it from working on boats. Put 3 coats on and it was really looking great.
As I was looking on some forums i came across Behlens Rock Hard table top finish. I know it is not a good idea to put the hard finish over a softer finish, however, bar will be in finished basement so i figured i would take the risk since it would not be subject to extremes.
Both state they are urethane finishes so i thought they would be compatible. I put a coat of Behlens Gloss on top of the spar about 24 hours of the last coat of Spar. The behlens seemed to get a reaction with the spar. It did coat it, but dimples are everywhere and it will not dry smooth like glass. It is shiny, just with a lot of dimples. The last coat of Spar was almost like a mirror.
I thought maybe it was a reaction with the mineral spirits i used just before a coat of behlens so the last 2 coats i have just wiped down with plain water. I have put 4 coats of behlens on waiting 24 hours between coats and wet sanding in between, but the dimples still appear.
As a last shot i figured i would wait a week or so for everything to cure then give it another shot to see what happens. I know the right answer is to probably strip completely, but didn't know if there were any other options since I now have 3 coats of spar and 4 of behlens on it.
Also, read that Behlens may be more of a polyurethane now even though the can states urethane so am thinking that may be the reason for the reaction as well-just not sure if that is true.
I am working in a very clean, ventilated, temp controlled room so it is not a situation where something contaminated the surface.
Any advice would be appreciated.