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Enduro-Var
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Author:  Mike OMelia [ Sun Oct 11, 2015 11:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Enduro-Var

Got to say I'm liking this stuff. Quick build. Simple sand to flat and buff. No blue cast, nice Amber tone.

Author:  Colin North [ Mon Oct 12, 2015 1:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Enduro-Var

Mike, that looks really good.
And not just the finish, the whole guitar looks great.

Author:  Mike OMelia [ Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Enduro-Var

Thank you. I was hoping to illustrate that in a sunlit room, the very dark woods had no blue cast. They shouldn't, of course, it's not an acrylic finish. I agree with whoever said it: it's like a nitro finish.

Author:  Colin North [ Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Enduro-Var

And you have.

Author:  Michaeldc [ Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Enduro-Var

Looks great, Mike!

Have you applied it directly over epoxy?

M

Author:  G.Cummins [ Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Enduro-Var

Looking good Mike.

I have a tin of the stuff in the shed. Only tested on scrap pieces as I couldn't get it to sparkle like oil varnish I've used. Found the test pieces to be more durable to scratches etc than the oil varnish.

I would be interested in your finishing schedule if you wouldn't mind sharing?

Cheers.

Glenn.

Author:  Mike OMelia [ Mon Oct 12, 2015 2:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Enduro-Var

Yes over epoxy. I had a thread about that just recently. Quite a bit of discussion about what I did.

My schedule is experimental, based on what I read here. One thing I will not do again is go 12-24 hours between any coats. I did end up with a few witness lines, even though I scuffed the surface. I will also go with 9-10 coats, 1/2 hour apart. Just set the time aside to do it all at once.

Use this at your own risk. I have not had much time with it. But similar to what I read here:

1. Z-poxy for body, three applications, then scrape and sand to thin layer, and a thin coat, scotch brite, and a final wash coat, scotch brite. When I was done, surface looked fairly finished. Light scuff with scotch brite before spraying with enduro-var. No wood showing. Eh, its what I did... I know there is controversy there. It is hard to avoid hitting wood after scrape and sand. The thin coat solved that for me. Especially on the sides. I did use West System 205/207 on top and rosette. I don't recommend that for top but quite good for rosette level.

2. HVLP spray 9-10 coats 1/2 hour apart. Less on top.

3. Let set for a week (did not have a choice here, took kids to beach for Fall break, some have said you can go shorter)

4. 600 paper dry sand (gently), then mineral spirits wet sand up to 2000. Scotch brite, then 2000 again. Scotch brite is dry.

5. Buff out with menzerna medium and xtra fine.

Looking at this, what you will notice is that there isn't much to the enduro-var application. It was the z-poxy surface prep that took all the time & effort. About 8 days for 6 bodies. Once the body hits the bench for final sanding, it takes about 3.5 hours of hand work to high gloss. No power sanders.

Author:  Mike OMelia [ Tue Oct 13, 2015 7:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Enduro-Var

Have I ever mentioned one great atttibute of Scotch Brite? You can use it without too much fear of sand thought in those really tough areas like peghead edges and diamond volutes. What a great product.

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