White cedar and varnish

[SandMaster]

Does anyone know if white cedar inhibits varnish from curing? I am working on a boat related project doing some varnishing and the varnish I have put on the white cedar is not curing completely whereas the varnish on everything else is.

[Mrleft8]

The aromatic oils in eastern red cedar (AKA pencil cedar, post cedar, viginia cedar, Juniper etc.) inhibit curing of varnishes in enclosed spaces, so I assume that the aromatic oils that make White cedar smell like cedar might do the same...

[Jay Greer]

I have not experienced problems with varnish drying on cedar. I might mention that, it the wood has been bleached with oxolic acid and the acid residue has not been fully nuetralised, the varnish will remain tacky. The solution is to apply another coat of varnish directrectly over the sticky coat. Like hot coating, it willl bind well and should then dry.

[SandMaster]

Why thank you Jay. You must be secretly watching me. I did bleach those boards.

[SandMaster]

A question Jay for the future. How is the oxalic acid best neutralized? I simply washed it off with the water hose.

[Fitz]

Yikes! Varnish not curing on red or white cedar!! Don't tell Old Town after building a quarter of a million canoes!!

Must be the bleach or give it a few days.

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

The oxalic I used said to neutralize with borax so I got a box of Boraxo at the grocery store.
Charlie

[SandMaster]

Thanks Chuck.

[Mrleft8]

Originally posted by Fitz:
Yikes! Varnish not curing on red or white cedar!! Don't tell Old Town after building a quarter of a million canoes!!

Must be the bleach or give it a few days.You'll notice that i said:"In enclosed spaces" As in the interior of a cedar chest where the fumes from the aromatic oils are concentrated.
I've never had trouble getting White Cedar to take a varnish finish, I was just speculating...

[Jay Greer]

Oxolic acid can be neutralised with a wash of warm water and either amonia or baking soda. Both are bases.