: You have a varnish that is not compatible with the epoxy you used. Epoxy
: takes weeks to totally cure. All the while the surface is producing a
: chemical residue that may not be compatible with all but a few varnish
: formulas. This is why it is best to talk with the epoxy maker to find out
: which brands (of course their own, but they will tell you others) will
: work with their curing epoxy.

Well it is MAS epoxy. Their web site says "Clear coats may be protected by a good
quality varnish or urethane with UVA protection additives" and that's it for recomendations.
Schooner certainly qualifies.

: Typically the first coat of varnish takes longer to harden on epoxy even when
: it is a compatible finish. The instructions on varnish can are for coating
: bare wood and subsequent coats over.

That may indeed be part of the problem.

: I have a friend who used Epihanes on his boat and he told me how wonderful it
: was, course, he used West System epoxy. When I tried some on my boat,
: System Three epoxy, it wasn't dry after five days.

: Don't think you'll wait a week and varnish over. You even can have varnishes
: that appear dry that are incompatible. The way you'll know if that when
: you try sand with 220 the paper will clog instantly or form beads on the
: paper.

: This why the "buy the cheapest varnish", advise is bad advise.
: Cheap materials always cost more in the work it takes to deal with them,
: their short life, and the work it takes to repair them.

Interlux Schooner varnish is certainly not cheap!

: Do yourself a favor. Get some medium steel wool and mineral spirits and
: remove the varnish you applied. Then find out from the epoxy maker which
: varnish will work and buy it.

I think I'll wait a bit. It does seem to be hardening up and the humidity and the
time estimates on the can may have discouraged me. I'll give MAS a call on
Monday to see if they think there is a problem. I'll let you all know the results.

: All the best,

: Rob Macks
: Laughing Loon CC&K
: www.LaughingLoon.com

Thanks for the response.

---Paul