epifanes boat paint - High-quality protection for wood - not just on the water
Epifanes stands for quality and durability for shipyards and boat owners, as the brand has been producing high-quality paints and varnishes for water sports and professional inland shipping for over 123 years. The Dutch company has earned a special reputation for its clear coats, which are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also functional and robust. However, the possible applications of Epifanes clear coats are not limited to boat building. In this blog post, we take a closer look at the products and explore creative ways in which you can still use the boat paint.
Why Epifanes yacht paint?
The company scores with its knowledge and a wealth of experience spanning over a century. The master paint makers have always specialized in the maritime sector. And even if Epifanes boat paint is often misused, it is still made for the world of water. Only the best raw materials are used for the composition, which, with the most modern color production techniques, lead to a high-quality end product that is subject to constant quality controls.
Epifanes clearcoat
With a wide range of clearcoats, Epifanes offers everything you need for the perfect look and optimum protection for interior and exterior wood surfaces on your boat. As your boat is exposed to a lot of UV rays outdoors (not just on sunny days!), the Epifanes clearcoat is equipped with effective UV filters. However, to ensure that the wood is really sufficiently protected, it is important that the varnish is applied correctly and in a sufficient layer thickness.
Tip: Did you know that your boat is exposed to around 1000-1500 hours of sunlight between April and September? It's worth investing in high-quality UV-resistant paints and equipment!
Preparation for painting with Epifanes clear lacquer
Before you start painting, you should have the necessary tools such as brushes, masking tape and sandpaper ready. You should also have a mask, gloves and safety goggles ready for your personal protection. Before painting, determine how much paint you need and make sure you have enough thinner.
Recoat with Epifanes clearcoat
Before painting, first degrease the surface thoroughly! The best way to do this is to use the so-called 'Two-wipe method', in which you wipe with two cloths in succession in the same direction, with the first cloth being soaked.
Resinous woods such as pine or Oregon pine, as well as mahogany or meranti, should be degreased withEpifanes cleaning thinner. The same applies to raw steel, aluminum or existing 2-component clear coat systems.
For greasy teak and iroko woods, multiple degreasing is necessary. Once the degreaser has evaporated well, sand the wood dry with P110-P220, always working in the direction of the grain. Then remove the dust and degrease again.
To degrease an existing paint system that is still in good condition, you can use the Epifanes 1-K spray thinner or high-quality white spirit (not the cheapest from the DIY store).
Tipp: About 75% of the final result depends on proper pretreatment, so work thoroughly.
Applying Epifanes to an existing clearcoat system
A correctly applied clearcoat system from Epifanes retains its gloss for a long time and offers reliable UV protection. A restoration should be carried out at the latest when the first loss of gloss is visible. When this time is, of course, depends on the weather and environmental conditions. With open1K paint systems, this is on average after4-5 years, while2K paint systemsare somewhat more durable at7-10 years.
If your existing system....
...only aloss of gloss, but is otherwise completely intact? Then a light sanding and degreasing will suffice before you apply one or more new coats of Epifanes clearcoat.
...in addition toloss of gloss, arethere already slight cracks? If the paint looks like this but still adheres well, you should sand the paint back so far that all cracks have disappeared. You can then degrease the surface and apply at least 4 new coats of paint.
...major damageand is in apoor condition? In this case, the varnish must be completely removed. If the wood is discolored, you can use Epifanes mahogany stain before applying the clear varnish, as with a new structure.
Tip: The sooner you take care of the restoration of the existing system, the less work it will take! By the way: after thorough cleaning, degreasing and sanding, Epifanes yacht varnish can be painted over almost any existing 1K or 2K varnish system.
It's all a question of the layer
Every clearcoat system is amulti-layer system. To ensure optimum adhesion in the fibers and pores of the wood surface,thinned coatsare applied first before applyingundiluted top coats. The latter provideUV protectionand result in a smooth surface, so you should not skimp here, but really apply enough coats - formaximum protection and long-lasting shine.
Tip: The more coats, the greater the protection and the deeper the color gloss.
Can I paint over 1K clear coat with 2K clear coat?
Any 1-component paint can be applied over an existing 2-component paint. The other way round is not possible due to the aggressive solvent in the 2K paint. With a combination of both systems, the two-component varnish is applied first and then painted over with a one-component varnish.
Preparing discolored wood
To restore the warm color of the wood, you can first apply one to three coats ofEpifanes Mahogany StainorTeak Stainto the wood. Any Epifanes 1K or 2K clear lacquer system can be applied on top.
The right care for wood with clear varnish
All Epifanes clear varnishes contain particularly effective UV filters. This is necessary because your boat is exposed to UV radiation for 24 hours in the open air. But wind and weather also affect the paint in the long term, which is why regular care is essential. Action must be taken at the first sign of loss of gloss to prevent cracking and peeling of the paintwork. Therefore, at least one, if not several coats of paint should be applied per year.
The higher the UV exposure, the more coats you should apply to guarantee optimum protection and shine.
Epifanes clear varnish for garden furniture and home
The special UV resistance of Epifanes clear coats also makes them interesting for use around the house. Solid wood furniture can not only be made to shine, but also given a protective coating. This is particularly useful for furniture that may come into contact with moisture or liquids, such as dining tables. The real wood room door could do with a new coat of paint? At Epifanes, you will not only find glossy clear coats, but also clear coats with a matt satin sheen.
But of course, Epifanes yacht varnishes shine above all in outdoor areas, when varnishing garden furniture, for example, because the UV filter in the clear coats is noticeable here and ensures long-lasting protection and preservation of the natural color of the wood.
