Spar varnish (occasionally also called boat varnish or yacht varnish) is a wood-finishing varnish, originally developed for coating the spars of sailing ships, which formed part of the masts and rigging. These had to withstand rough condition, being flexed by the wind loads they supported, attacked by sea and bad weather, and suffering from UV degradation from long-term exposure to sunlight.
The most important condition for such varnishes was resistance to flexing. This required a varnish that was flexible and elastic. Without elasticity, the varnish would soon crack, allowing water to penetrate the wood beneath. Prior to the development of modern polymer chemistry, varnish production was rudimentary. Originally, spar varnish was a "long oil" varnish, composed primarily of drying oil with a small proportion of resin, usually boiled linseed oil and rosin.[1] This gave flexibility,[2] even though its weather resistance was still poor, and thus re-coating was required relatively frequently.
In modern times, "spar varnish" has become a genericised term in North America for any outdoor wood finish. Owing to modern varnish materials, their weather and UV resistance is likely to be good, but the original requirement for flexibility has largely been forgotten.[citation needed] A common form of modern spar varnish is spar urethane, a polyurethane-based finish intended for outdoor use, where sunlight-, heat-, and water-resistance are desirable qualities.[citation needed]
^Allen, Sam (1995). Classic Finishing Techniques. New York: Sterling Publishing. p. 70. ISBN 0-8069-0513-1.
^Haynes, Williams (1946). "XIX: Materials for To-morrow". This Chemical Age. London: Secker and Warburg. p. 247.
Sparvarnish (occasionally also called boat varnish or yacht varnish) is a wood-finishing varnish, originally developed for coating the spars of sailing...
formula for typical "oil" varnishes that are commercially available. Sparvarnish (also called marine varnish or yacht varnish) was originally intended...
some varnish added or as 'short oils' which are predominantly varnish, with some oil. Danish oil is a popular long oil finishing oil. Sparvarnish is a...
various marine varnishes (sparvarnish, polyurethane, or linear polyurethane), this work is not as intensive as it once was. Varnished finishes are maintained...
of flexing is expected, the whipping may be impregnated with dilute sparvarnish or superglue. French whipping is merely a series of half hitches. Start...
assembly practices. As recently as the 1950s, toxic lead oxide mixed with sparvarnish was used as a dope for drinking water pipes. Litharge (a form of lead...
waterproofing. Sparvarnish is the preferred waterproofing for traditional snowshoes. A light sanding is preferred before 3 coats of sparvarnish is applied...
while UV-absorbers are added to polyurethane and other varnishes (in particular "spar" varnish) to work against UV damage. Polyurethanes are typically...
produced by the naval stores industry are used to manufacture soap, paint, varnish, shoe polish, lubricants, linoleum, and roofing materials. The Royal Navy...
requires. Wood is the traditional boat building material used for hull and spar construction. It is buoyant, widely available and easily worked. It is a...
battle until running aground on a reef. She was subsequently destroyed by a spar torpedo from a boat of the Japanese cruiser Chiyoda. The design for Yangwei...
feet, with 900 staff. The site had developed synthetic rubber, paint, varnish and soap. A new 85-acre chemicals plant was to open in 1948 (the Stanlow...
Both ships were equipped with two pinnaces, which were each armed with spar torpedoes. Chinese diplomat Li Hongzhang was made aware of Rendel's designs...
manufacturer of marine (boat) coatings, antifouling boat bottom paint, varnish and epoxies for consumer and commercial markets. The company was established...
patent. Less technically, both the wings and tails of both machines were varnished yellow, though the fabric-covered fuselage of the Type E was doped bright...
Aviation: The Pioneer Years London: Putnam, 1967 p.323 "Some Notes on Fabric Varnish". Flight. Vol. 3, no. 32. 12 August 1911. p. 707. Retrieved 20 May 2021...
developed countries, alongside fluoridated mouthwashes, gels, foams, and varnishes. Twenty percent of modern pharmaceuticals contain fluorine. One of these...
(semi-fossilised kauri resin) was a valuable commodity, particularly for varnish, spurring the development of a gum-digger industry. Today, the kauri is...
turbines are commonly constructed of many balsa plywood cores and internal spars covered with resin infused cloth on both sides. In table tennis rackets...
include using the timber for making small canoes and carvings; the sap for varnish and resins; the nut shells for ornamentation (most notably as leis), fish-hooks...
permanently coupled coaches have been overhauled and restored in LNER varnished teak condition. Used as the backbone of NNR services until 1979, due to...
specialising in producing hand crafted wooden yacht masts, wooden oars and spars. The company is currently owned by Freeland Yachtspars Limited and has exchanged...
pavements, using chemicals to crack the top layer of the paint work, using varnish to create damp patches underneath the railway bridge, and making garden...
"blanc fixe", from the French for "permanent white") is used in paints and varnishes; as a filler in ringing ink, plastics, and rubbers; as a paper coating...
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