Really old varnish -- good for anything?

[Thorne]

I've somehow inherited 6 cans of Bakelite Spar Varnish, can't tell the age but the labels look seriously retro. A web search only brings up the fact that the manufacturer misrepresented materials in the 40's.

Is this stuff still good for anything? The cans have not been opened, and the one I opened showed no residue or oxidation.

How about mixing with boiled linseed oil for coating the mast or the boat's false bottom? Mixing with red lead paint for a final primer coat?

Or is it only good pouring on fencepost bases?

http://www.luckhardt.com/bakelitevarnish1.jpg

http://www.luckhardt.com/bakelitevarnish2.jpg

[ 11-13-2005, 11:42 PM: Message edited by: Thorne ]

[Thorne]

I've somehow inherited 6 cans of Bakelite Spar Varnish, can't tell the age but the labels look seriously retro. A web search only brings up the fact that the manufacturer misrepresented materials in the 40's.

Is this stuff still good for anything? The cans have not been opened, and the one I opened showed no residue or oxidation.

How about mixing with boiled linseed oil for coating the mast or the boat's false bottom? Mixing with red lead paint for a final primer coat?

Or is it only good pouring on fencepost bases?

http://www.luckhardt.com/bakelitevarnish1.jpg

http://www.luckhardt.com/bakelitevarnish2.jpg

[ 11-13-2005, 11:42 PM: Message edited by: Thorne ]

[Thorne]

I've somehow inherited 6 cans of Bakelite Spar Varnish, can't tell the age but the labels look seriously retro. A web search only brings up the fact that the manufacturer misrepresented materials in the 40's.

Is this stuff still good for anything? The cans have not been opened, and the one I opened showed no residue or oxidation.

How about mixing with boiled linseed oil for coating the mast or the boat's false bottom? Mixing with red lead paint for a final primer coat?

Or is it only good pouring on fencepost bases?

http://www.luckhardt.com/bakelitevarnish1.jpg

http://www.luckhardt.com/bakelitevarnish2.jpg

[ 11-13-2005, 11:42 PM: Message edited by: Thorne ]

[Stiletto]

Try some on a piece of scrap wood after a good stirring and hang it in you shed. I think your remark about no oxygen getting to it was right on the mark. What can have happened to it while it was in the can all that time? Does it say for exterior use on the label?

[Stiletto]

Try some on a piece of scrap wood after a good stirring and hang it in you shed. I think your remark about no oxygen getting to it was right on the mark. What can have happened to it while it was in the can all that time? Does it say for exterior use on the label?

[Stiletto]

Try some on a piece of scrap wood after a good stirring and hang it in you shed. I think your remark about no oxygen getting to it was right on the mark. What can have happened to it while it was in the can all that time? Does it say for exterior use on the label?

[Hughman]

Boat soup.

If you can't trust it for brightwork, (interior, this is pre-UV inhibitor), mix it with other old and extra goop in your paint locker.

Typical recipe for boat soup is linseed oil, pine tar, varnish, with turpintine and/or japan drier.

Add black paint as a coating for served rigging.

[Hughman]

Boat soup.

If you can't trust it for brightwork, (interior, this is pre-UV inhibitor), mix it with other old and extra goop in your paint locker.

Typical recipe for boat soup is linseed oil, pine tar, varnish, with turpintine and/or japan drier.

Add black paint as a coating for served rigging.

[Hughman]

Boat soup.

If you can't trust it for brightwork, (interior, this is pre-UV inhibitor), mix it with other old and extra goop in your paint locker.

Typical recipe for boat soup is linseed oil, pine tar, varnish, with turpintine and/or japan drier.

Add black paint as a coating for served rigging.

[Bob Smalser]

Test it.

I used to buy Bakelite resin rubbing varnish from Constantines as late as 1980.

Wish I could still get it.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594265/36790863.jpg

That WO kitchen table top done in Bakelite is just as perfect now as when I rubbed it out in 1977, and has survived three small boys in the process.

[Bob Smalser]

Test it.

I used to buy Bakelite resin rubbing varnish from Constantines as late as 1980.

Wish I could still get it.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594265/36790863.jpg

That WO kitchen table top done in Bakelite is just as perfect now as when I rubbed it out in 1977, and has survived three small boys in the process.

[Bob Smalser]

Test it.

I used to buy Bakelite resin rubbing varnish from Constantines as late as 1980.

Wish I could still get it.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594265/36790863.jpg

That WO kitchen table top done in Bakelite is just as perfect now as when I rubbed it out in 1977, and has survived three small boys in the process.

[Andreas Jordahl Rhude]

Groovy label in any event. Keep the can and set it on a shelf as a conversation piece!

[Andreas Jordahl Rhude]

Groovy label in any event. Keep the can and set it on a shelf as a conversation piece!

[Andreas Jordahl Rhude]

Groovy label in any event. Keep the can and set it on a shelf as a conversation piece!

[Thorne]

Won't touch *that* one with a 10 ft. sweep, but tonight I cut the ancient varnish 50/50 with turps and used it to coat the thwarts, a camping table and several boxes -- so we shall see...

[Thorne]

Won't touch *that* one with a 10 ft. sweep, but tonight I cut the ancient varnish 50/50 with turps and used it to coat the thwarts, a camping table and several boxes -- so we shall see...

[Thorne]

Won't touch *that* one with a 10 ft. sweep, but tonight I cut the ancient varnish 50/50 with turps and used it to coat the thwarts, a camping table and several boxes -- so we shall see...

[Thorne]

So far not so good...even with record-breaking high temps, a 50/50 ancient varnish and turps mix has taken over 2 days and is still not totally dry. Primary test is over a very dry (1+ month stored outdoors in the sun) coating of turps and boiled linseed oil on the fir thwarts.

Also not dry on the several other stained and unfinished tables, plywood and pine boxes I tested it on.

[ 11-23-2005, 08:49 AM: Message edited by: Thorne ]

[Thorne]

So far not so good...even with record-breaking high temps, a 50/50 ancient varnish and turps mix has taken over 2 days and is still not totally dry. Primary test is over a very dry (1+ month stored outdoors in the sun) coating of turps and boiled linseed oil on the fir thwarts.

Also not dry on the several other stained and unfinished tables, plywood and pine boxes I tested it on.

[ 11-23-2005, 08:49 AM: Message edited by: Thorne ]

[Thorne]

So far not so good...even with record-breaking high temps, a 50/50 ancient varnish and turps mix has taken over 2 days and is still not totally dry. Primary test is over a very dry (1+ month stored outdoors in the sun) coating of turps and boiled linseed oil on the fir thwarts.

Also not dry on the several other stained and unfinished tables, plywood and pine boxes I tested it on.

[ 11-23-2005, 08:49 AM: Message edited by: Thorne ]

[StevenBauer]

Add a few ounces of Japan Drier and try again.

Steven

[StevenBauer]

Add a few ounces of Japan Drier and try again.

Steven

[StevenBauer]

Add a few ounces of Japan Drier and try again.

Steven

[igatenby]

Flog it on ebay as a heritage item?

[igatenby]

Flog it on ebay as a heritage item?

[igatenby]

Flog it on ebay as a heritage item?