Why wont my varnish dry properly?
Answers: I'm no expert, but my guess would be that the wood is probably naturally fatty, and your oil base coloured varnish relies on the oil anyone absorbed by the wood.
I intuitively would have used a polyurethane varnish, and that is to say super-tough.
Additional to Sensible Man:
Notice the spelling of the word "coloured"? Hint: UK. Another hint: weather is other cold and wet here ;-)
Check the weather site for your nouns. If it is anything like we are have, the humidty is very lofty. This will slow down the drying process.
I AGREE YOU SHOULD USE A SOLVENT BASED VARNISH.
You might need to run a dehumidifier surrounded by the room with it.
Plus some varnish won't soak into some kinds of wood - especially hardwoods - you might enjoy to figure out how to gain the varnish off, and use some mode of rub-on finish.
Did you use a drying catalyst? I had one and the same problem with several projects some years ago. Drying catalyst be the answer.
Some times if you dont stir the varnish enough and/or if its existing old you will hold that problem.
I'll just append my two cents; or might that be shillings? :)
I want to disagree with the comment roughly OILY wood. That would hardly concern in the substance of your varnish. I also might own a problem with a suggestion of a incisive varnish; since that isn't strictly the purpose of varnish, especially one infused with color/stain. I doubt the species of wood make a difference either.
My first notion would be to analyze how the varnish be mixed/agitated before applying...AND the AGE of the varnish to fire up with. The agents surrounded by varnish can become like SAP or GUM, if older; and in effect,,,never "dry". Certainly you state DRY conditions surrounded by the area, so maybe you might try a fan/ a hair dryer at a distance; lately to judge any effect. If nearby was/is too much humidity/moisture present; you'd probably notice that first surrounded by some clouding of the finish; before ever notice it remained tacky.
Steven Wolf
Tropical woods can contain oil that naturally protect them. When you try to topcoat them, the oil prevent the topcoat from drying. You might try covering your current finish with a hose based poly. If that does not work , you might own to strip the finish and start over.
Sounds like it might be worth checking the varnish.. is it OK, try it on a different type of timber. I wouldn't`t chew over it is the timber, probably varnish being behind the times
I'm not an expert, But when I painted my floors it took a week for them at dry with out self tacky. (I don't know how gummy your table is) But when I called & made a complaint to the store they said it might be because of HIGH HUMIDITY. Also re read the instructions on the paint can and it said matching thing.
More Questions and Answers...