To varnish old wood, you can prepare the surface by sanding and ensure the varnish is properly mixed before application.
Preparing old wood for varnishing is a crucial step to ensure a smooth, durable finish that enhances the wood's natural beauty. While the full process involves multiple stages, a key part of the preparation involves smoothing the surface and getting your varnish ready.
Surface Preparation & Varnish Mixing
Based on preparation for varnishing, essential steps include smoothing the wood and ensuring your varnish is ready for use.
- Smooth the Surface: Use 120-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. This step is vital because it creates a texture that helps the varnish adhere properly to the wood. A smooth surface also prevents imperfections from showing through the final coat, resulting in a professional-looking finish.
- Skip Sanding if Previous Coat Removed by Sanding: If you removed the previous coat with sandpaper, you don't need to do this step. The act of removing the old finish with sandpaper would have already prepared the surface texture adequately for the new varnish.
- Prepare the Varnish: Thoroughly stir the varnish so it's a smooth consistency with no lumps. Proper stirring is essential to mix any settled pigments or resins back into the solution, ensuring uniform color and application properties. Skipping this can lead to inconsistent finish appearance and performance.
By focusing on these foundational preparation steps – ensuring a smooth, ready surface and a well-mixed varnish – you set the stage for a successful varnishing project on old wood.
