EMC clear coat and real wood

[bigtalljv]

This should have been a question but now it's an "experience". I recently decided to refinish the wood exterior doors, that I am not replacing, about 10 years too late. I have spent several days sanding the top 1/16 that has deteriorated to mush after I spent several days bleaching the mold out of them. They look better but not perfect. Still serviceable.

So yesterday I pulled them down for clear coat. I had seen Joel's post about his table and how he used just a few ounces on his table and though great it's got good coverage. So I mixed up twice that for my two doors, they are 75% glass anyway, lots less surface area, and started rolling. I was then reminded if the most amazing thing. Real wood soaks up finish like a sponge. My first two coats went poof and sucked right in. The third coat was looking better so I stopped there. I let it dry over night and got up this morning and hit it with 320 and the final coat. They are looking pretty good but I've used just over half a quart on them. It's turned out to be a very expensive two doors.

I have three more that I need to do. All in the same shape except the front which is covered and has held up better. The front door is all wood, lots of surface area. So the question is should I epoxy coat them first? Instead of sealing with the most expensive finish on the planet do I used a coat or two of expoxy to seal and then clear coat?

Thanks
Jason

[Cracker Larry]

That's what I would do.

[tech_support]

So the question is should I epoxy coat them first?

absolutely, it will save you time and money

[bigtalljv]

yeah, that dawned on me right after the first coat of the EMC.......$%%$#!!!

Now I'm experienced

Jason

[bigtalljv]

what's the best way to seal with epoxy? Am I looking to get the wood fully covered and glossy or just go with the first coat that soaks in?

Jason

[tech_support]

I use 2 coats; I like to roll a thin coat on first, to seal up the wood so air bubbles do not come through on the second coat. On the second coat you can go pretty heavy, especially if the doors are laying flat.

[Cracker Larry]

I also use 2 coats of epoxy. I'm using a lot of clear finished cypress on the GF18 I'm building and it sucks up finish like a sponge. On the steering pod I used 2 coats of epoxy, sanded between, then 4 coats of EMC. The epoxy seals the wood, the clear coat gives the finish and UV protection. Epoxy is less than $100 a gallon. Compared to about $400 a gallon for the clear coat.

[bigtalljv]

I also use 2 coats of epoxy. I'm using a lot of clear finished cypress on the GF18 I'm building and it sucks up finish like a sponge. On the steering pod I used 2 coats of epoxy, sanded between, then 4 coats of EMC. The epoxy seals the wood, the clear coat gives the finish and UV protection. Epoxy is less than $100 a gallon. Compared to about $400 a gallon for the clear coat.

Thanks joel/Larry,

The cost issue was what got me when I initially thought I could get all 5 of my doors done with the quart, then I used half that quart on two of the smaller doors!!

Ah well, live and learn. I'll just buy more and Joel is that much closer to retirement

Jason

[bigtalljv]

So they look much better. This is not the exact same door before and after but the condition was pretty much identical. I still need to clean the glass. It's a lot of glass with a razor blade.

Before:


After:

[ks8]

nice doors. I can see why you want to preserve them.