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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from Tucson, AZ on 8/31/2009
I used this varnish to finish a cedar hose box for the backyard. We live in the hot Arizona desert and needed good protection for the wood. It was easy to apply each coat. The finish is beautiful. We chose Epifanes because it was highly recommended.
This product is far superior to any product that I have used for exterior varnish, sun/weather protection. The product brushes on thicker, but the dried first coat is 8 times thicker than the "standard" exterior product available from the consumer "home" stores. I am using this on a Oak front door facing the west sun. Two or three coats look to be suitable to handle the solution for three plus years. Previous used products would only work for 9 months.
from Robinhood Maine on 7/6/2009
Have used this product for years, primarily on exterior brightwork ( teak ) on my sailboat. On one occasion after sanding and applying coat no. 6 of 8 on fresh bare wood, I had just finished the last brush stroke when it started to rain a torrential downpour. Water was running off the deck with the irridescence of oils from the product. I went home disgusted for the week returning the following weekend to only impact damage to latest parts of the varnish surface, which was remedied by a little extra sanding. There was no clouding or discoloration, and the final result was perfect after 8 coats. It enjoyed any numbers of boating seasons ( in Maine) with only seasonal maintenance coats .It is the best.
from Weantchee. Wa on 6/9/2009
Thanks to reviews in wood working books, this has proved to be the best. But the price, was high. Thanks for providing it at almost half. My hot tub is on life extenion for many years. And it looks great. As always prep is 90% but the finish this product provides is long lasting. Years not one. It is hot and dry here. RwB
from Tampa, Florida on 5/13/2009
Unlike many on here I used Epifanes for something other than watercaft. I have a house on the water with 4000 sq ft of tongue and grove all the way around. It was originally finished with 2 coats of Helmspar 5 years ago. The varnish now looks horrible and is peeling on more than 50% of the wood.
Epifanes goes on like butter when thinned and has the consistency of molasses straight out of the can (versus Helmspar's water like feel). I would guess that 1 coat of Epifanes is as thick as 1.5-2 coats of cheaper brands. The gloss is outstanding. The higher cost of this brand compared with the box stores brands of varnish end up being much cheaper when you factor in how often you have to re-varnish the cheaper brands and they amount of additional hours of sanding to take off the flacking.
from midwest on 4/20/2009
I use this product for refinishing exterior wood doors. I have yet to see another product hold up to Epifanes. Jamestown has the fairest pricing I have found.
from Charleston WV on 3/5/2009
I have used thhis product before for exterior doors and it works well for that as well. For brightwork on a boat there is none better than epifanes.
Images shared by: Arkofloorboards and trim finished with epifanes clear
from Port Orange, Florida on 1/2/2009
We use this product on our reproduction Speedliner racing boats and have received many accolades for the gloss finish. It is very easy to work with if you follow the directions. Aeroliner
Images shared by: A/B Speeliner at AerolinerOne of our C racing runabouts
Tags: Speedliner Boats, Aeroliner Race Boats, Made with Product
Speedliner Corsair Model 510
Tags: Aeroliner Race Boats, Speedliner Boats, Picture of Product
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Pottsville, Pa on 10/28/2008
I'm a professional furniture refinisher. I use this product on all of my exterior doors that I refinish. Excellent product and would recommend it to anyone.
used for building 1936 Ford Woodie Station Wagon. Good stuff but does not seal edges of plywood well - even 3-4 coats. Water incursion.
Images shared by: Don1936 Ford Woodie Station Wagon
Tags: Made with Product
1936 Ford Woodie Station Wagon
Tags: Coated with Product
I felt like a Dutch Master painter in Harlem. This product is like no other; I finally spent the money to get the best. It is a timeless smell and feel of the North Sea in a can. First coat 75% strength and it went on like magic. Looking forward to seeing how it stand up to the Coast of Maine on the North Atlantic.
[3 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
from Fairland and the East coast on 5/16/2008
I hate varinishing. That is why I use Epifanes. This product will last for years outside and virtually forever indoors. Varnishing is never easy. But when you have to do it, use the best product available. Surface prep remains a must and every hour you spend in preparation will save you hours during the process. I recommend at least three coats for a deep, rich shine. In fact, the doors pictured below have three coats. These doors were oiled years ago and a couple had been contaminated with silicone. This is normally disaterous, but after three coats, the fisheyes were gone, the grain filled in and the surface is nearly dead flat even though I did not use any grain sealer. The gloss is outstanding! Prepare the surface, apply one coat of thinned varnish. It does not thin well with mineral spirits. Epifanes thinner works best. Then sand between coats, work the varnish in well, tip it once and let dry. Runs can be removed with a sharp chisel or scraper. The doors pictured required about 4 ouunces per door per coat, but I know I will never need to refinish them again.
Images shared by: DaveFour shiny teak doors
Tags: Made with Product, Only threee coats
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Chicago, IL on 4/27/2008
I've used this varnish now for three years. This spring I'm going to apply a new coat of epifanes clear to my hatch boards. I haven't touched them in three seasons and they still have a high gloss. I reccomend this varnish to anyone, wanting a hard, durable finish!
from Sausalito, CA on 4/10/2008
I have a 45 foot custom S&S and it took me forever to get the "feel" of the varnish/thinner mix but I've been very happy with the product after getting that down. Be sure to mix completely. I also use their extender (longer brushing time) in moderation (so it won't kill the gloss). Build-up is good but I still put down 8-10 coats or more for a glass finish. No matter what varnish you use, the prep before the first coat & using a stiff foam sanding block between coats is of most importance. I also hang my brushes in diesel when not in use.
from Reading, PA on 4/2/2008
This is the third year we've used Epiphanes Clear Gloss for our 25' Lyman. We use only the best products to maintain Dad's baby, Big Happy II. As a do-it-yourselfer, I like the smooth finish and fantastic results it provides. It works best on horizontal surfaces and sands evenly between coats.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Hilton,N.Y. on 3/11/2008
I tried other varnishes on my canoe paddles,Epifanes went on easier,dried in 24 hrs,resanded and added more coats,and is durable.I finished my guide boat in 2004 ,and will redo it this spring for the first time since then.
Images shared by: Doug
Tags: Made with Product
from Slidell, LA on 3/6/2008
Brushed on many coats interior and exterior teak; also HVLP sprayed on 20 coats on exterior teak of wooden yawl. Holds up better than other products used on Gulf Coast.
Images shared by: S/V AirborneS/V Air Shows off brightwork
Tags: Results of Product
from Sudbury, MA on 3/6/2008
In all fairness I'm using this product to waterproof a heat shrink dacron rowing skiff. I'm finding it runs like crazy, not matter how rhink you brush it out. But it leaves a very good, hard finish when it finally dries.