> 1. I found that the foam brush is good at holding varnish, but
> not very good at spreading varnish. As a consequence, even though
> I tried to apply a uniform thin coat, I got some sags. Is this avoidable
> with foam brushes? Are badger brushes better or worse for spreading
> a thin layer? I'd prefer to continue to use the disposable brushes,
> so any advice on using the foam would be appreciated.

I have recently been rolling on the varnish with a 1/8" nylon bristle roller. This gets the stuff spread out in a relatively even manner. Then I tip it off with the foam brush. The brush should not be dry, but it should not be so wet that it drips. Z-Spar Flagship is harder to apply than Z-Spar Captains, but that is the price you pay for 3x the UV protection.

> 2. Also, I've got a few fisheyes. They didn't show up as I was
> applying the varnish, but they were plain as day a couple hours later.
> What's a good way to handle this before I apply the remaining coats?
>

Try thoroughly sanding the fisheye. If you can see something in the middle of the eye, remove it.

> 3. When sanding between coats, should this be a thorough sanding
> with a uniform matte finish over the entire surface?

Ideally yes.

> 4. After sanding, is wiping away the dust with mineral spirits
> okay?

Yes, this is also what tack cloths are for. They are lint free and do a good job of picking up dust.

> Thanks for the advice.

> Ross

>