varnishing

[ik9000]

Any woodworkers on here? Do i have to do two coats of varnish if I don't care about getting a smooth surface?

Varnished some plywood with 1 coat of decent yacht varnish. Would quite like to not have to sand and re-varnish it due to the drying times. It's going under a washing machine so no real incentive to get it looking too nice, just want to enhance its water resistance in case of leaks, spills etc.

Any thoughts?

[stevie lee]

I've been told by a retired vehicle builder, and quite a few other tradesmen, that when you apply the first coat of paint or varnish to bare wood it soaks up a lot of that liquid creating an uneven coverage on the surface, depending on how much each part has soaked up.
he tended to do 2 coats to make sure the surface is even.

also applies to fresh plaster too.

there may be some 1-coat varnish stuff nowadays you could get. but 1 'primer' coat and then the surface coat is how I've been told to do it for decades.
you just have to be sure it wont soak up any more liquids.

with it being under a washing machine, theres also the heat and moisture in the air to think about.

I would try and do 2 coats, just to be sure the wood wont crack up and warp anytime soon.

[ik9000]

sigh. Thought it would be that. Just trying to be hasty in getting it installed.

[deejayburnout]

What about using a decking oil of some sort. I think this may dry faster and you can get a good few coats of it.

[Zak33]

2 coats... 100% minimum

as Stevie said.. it soaks in and water ingress can occur.

my builder used water based varnish on some of my garage shelving and it was very good, and dried fast. But I assume you're using a yacht style varnish?
Either was ... 2 coats

[snedger]

Only 2 coats? Only joking.
Just go over it with some wire wool and put on a second light coat.

And, probably more importantly, if you don't varnish both sides then the wood will be more likely to bow.

[ik9000]

No fear, varnishing both sides!

Sanded with some 600 fine flour paper and 2nd coat of varnish applied to one side and edges Just waiting for it to dry.

It definitely needs two coats - amazed how much has soaked in as people said. If I'd thought about it I would have used a thinner to do a wash coat to begin with, but too late for that now. If it sets like it currently looks I will be a happy man.

@Zak - yes the varnish is a yacht grade external varnish. No idea why it had to be yacht grade, but best thing the local Screwfix had in stock in a non-trade size. Seeing as it's for going in an unheated utility area under a washing machine it didn't seem the best place for interior water soluble varnish!