cornballbub Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 A buddy told me to add spar urethane to my Cabot oil based deck stain, said it would make for a more durable finish. The mix would be 8 onces of urethane to a gallon of stain. Magic or Myth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AceHoleInOne Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 I would say myth. Wouldn't be very durable. I think to slide deck chairs, tables, BBQ, umbrella weights. Spar is a soft finish made to flex would probably damage easy and chairs very well could stick in or print the finish. Some manufactures say no to spar coating on floors even outdoor decks. -Ace- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornballbub Posted April 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 Ace, I agree with you as a finish over the stain, but Im not sure if your hearing me....my bud advocates adding it to the stain, pre application. Comprede Amigo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 I am thinking myth. If you had a commercial test lab and coatings science at your disposal would you skip over a simple addition to your deck stain? They make it to endure foot traffic and furniture as well as weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dlhunter Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 sounds like BS to me. Does your "buddy" sell spar urethane? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AceHoleInOne Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 Ace, I agree with you as a finish over the stain, but Im not sure if your hearing me....my bud advocates adding it to the stain, pre application. Comprede Amigo? I read your post. Don't be offended. Sorry if it's not what you wanted to hear. You can add super glue to a finish. Does it make it any better? Some will say yes some will say no! If your buddy thinks it helps make it more durable? Than fine. Define durable? The chemistry of adding some of this to some of that can actually harm and weaken a finish. -Ace- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatworks Today Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 IMO won't do a thing. You're dealing with 2 different types of finish; a film forming protectant versus a penetrating that has some UV inhibitors mixed in.. I would guess that it would develop a flaky "fuzz" and fail prematurely.. Never tried it so wouldn't put money on it, but I'd never spend my money and effort on that kind of experiment . For an outside deck that is going to see some wear, a straight deck stain is about as good as your going to get .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornballbub Posted April 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 OK guys, after a quick search this morn, this came up.... http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/m/video/0,,20282692,00.html If you have 3 minutes....then "let er rip". (This should bring on some good discussion ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 It's on the internet, so it must be true. I'd like to see one of those decks the following year. If you still need to add another coat of stain the following spring, then I'm not sure what it buys you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AceHoleInOne Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 Well if you listen to Tommy Silva instructions...he said "Varnish" not "Spar Urethane" The only reason I can think of adding varnish to the stain is to help speed the dry or to thicken the stain up some to keep it on the a pad applicator longer. Or maybe those deck guys like to thin the stain out and it gets to watery so add varnish to thicken it up?????? Makes a gal of stain go longer? Some trick is going on? I do not believe it is used to to "fortify" the finish and make it more durable. -Ace- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBaker Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 I noticed that they never gave a reason for adding the "varnish" . I'm not sure what it buys you either. I think you should add one part poly to add durability, one part Clorox to retard algae growth, one part Thompsons to repel dew in the mornings, one part deet so mosquitoes don't ruin your bbq, one part Ospho so the Clorox doesn't eat your fasteners up, and when it's all dry, spray with Pam so the food doesn't stick. You may have to repeat every three months, but my buddy says it works. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 ==> thicken the stain up some to keep it on the a pad applicator longer. +1 It's for the verticals. We've got 2,800+sf of decking. That's a lot of railing.... We go through 10 - 12 gals of Cabot Deck Stain each spring. You add some varnish to thicken it up a bit to help application -- but that's all it does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornballbub Posted April 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 I knew this was gonna be good, didn't realize it spark a firestorm.... Anyone know a chemical engineer? Tommy?...OK....Bob?...come on, chime in, anytime now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AceHoleInOne Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 I knew this was gonna be good, didn't realize it spark a firestorm.... Anyone know a chemical engineer? Tommy?...OK....Bob?...come on, chime in, anytime now.... Firestorm? Where? Just good conversation. Hope your not trying to egg folks on? This forum isn't one of those. -Ace- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBaker Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 Cornball, we also tend to say things tongue-in-cheek, at times. Well.....I do anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerskevin Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 If you are looking for a quality wood protectant to lengthen the life of your wood, I would choose a waterproof wood finish. This will protect it from the environmental factors in the area that you live and since this is it's purpose, will be a more reliable product! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Paintboy Posted May 20, 2021 Report Share Posted May 20, 2021 Instead of mixing in additives, just buy a deck stain that has it. OLYMPIC ELITE, has oil and water based coatings with added urethane for scratch resistance and ADDED UV protection. It is the same flexible urethane that is used to coat Titlest golf balls. Working in the coatings, I have found, that you let chemists/ chemical engineers formulate the product, otherwise, like ACE said, one additive might take away from the durability or life of product, and now you are going backwards........ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enos Bacon Posted June 1, 2021 Report Share Posted June 1, 2021 I used to use it mixed with porch paint in my plant bathroom floors. Held up very well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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