Varnish Adhesion Problems

[mariner2k]

Any ideas for geting varnish to stay in difficult areas? The wood is 75 year old teak, Most of it stays on well, but some seam areas,edges and continual trouble spots don't last into the next season. These areas have turned dark. I have stripped them almost evey other year....tried no cpes and tried cpes. I have tried just about all varnishes, all with the same results. I'm trying to figure out why the varnish lifts in these areas every year.

thanks, kevin

[Jay Greer]

It could be moisture trapped in the wood. The dark wood is a good indicator of this. Or it could be lack of being able to sand in the difficult areas. Hot coating while the previous coat is still tacky will give a chemical bond.
Jay

[mariner2k]

Thanks Jay. I have hot coated varnish to varnish, varnish to cpes (over the years of course). Still comes back. I agree there still seems to be a moisture issue in those areas. Maybe it runs up the old fasteners through the coamings and such. I thought cpes soaking may eliminate that, but it didn't. This is a tough/ frustration one.

[Jay Greer]

Golly, you have my sypathies!
Jay