TotalBoat グリームスパーワニス

I've used a lot of varnish -- both marine grade and standard outdoor varieties including Helmsman and Eplfanes. All have their advantages and disadvantages. However, I've never used one as nice as Gleam. This stuff is amazing. First, it's perfectly thinned right out of the can -- making it glide on so smoothly, you'll wonder if it's really varnish. The first 2 coats soaked nicely into the wood (deck railings / banisters). The third coat was where I noticed the most advantage over the others. It flowed onto the wood extremely smoothly without any brush tugging (waited until dry to the touch - about 4 hours at 66 degrees) and it stayed put - didn't run or begin to sag on vertical surfaces. But wait -- there's more. I just finished the fourth coat and using a natural bristle wood stains and finishes brush - it went down extremely smooth -- the bush glided along the wood like it was lubricated and still - at half the quart used -- it still needed no thinning. It was perfect. It was how the varnish glided so evenly onto the finish that impressed me so very much. Now, with all this said, I plan to put on two more coats and let it cure for several days (in the basement shop) before re-installing onto the deck. We'll see how it stands up to sun, rain and snow over the next year. Other finishes have only lasted 1-2 years. While I don't expect this finish to last more than 2 years, I certainly won't mind re-finishing once again with this GLEAM for it's excellent application qualities. Good stuff!

I haven't met a Total Boat product I haven't liked. Deep and shiny.

I have been looking for an easy-use outdoor varnish for a while now and came upon this one. What I love the most about this varnish is it's self-leveling, dries in 2 hours which is a plus in my book, has a beautiful glossy finish, easy to sand and durable to the outdoor environment. Only dislike I have is the can it comes in, after many use the cover doesn't fit properly because of the old dried-up residue from before, so it's difficult to get a proper seal on the lid. I think a plastic container would be best instead of a metal can.

Well...the ingredients list on the side of the can do not list "Tung Oil" as one of the ingredients. But the front of the can does say, "Tung Oil Formula." Whatever that means. I just wonder why "Tung Oil" is not listed as one of the ingredients. Could it be like Homer Formby's "Tung Oil Finish" which does not have, never has had, actual Tung Oil in it but just prices it like it does? The description here on Amazon says "Tung Oil Based" but, who knows what that means? It is clear what they want you to think it means. Maybe it does have some in it? I don't know. Anyway, I've only completed 2 coats so far and, I've thinned them more than the 10% recommend here. So far, I like the way it looks and the way it goes on. But I don't think it would be thin enough at 10:1 product to mineral spirits to make a good penetrating sealer coat. Your experience may vary. BTW, if anybody does know if this product does actually contain actual Tung Oil. Please lemme know. OK, I just found links on another distributors site, not this one, to a Tech Data sheet & the MSDS Data sheet for this product. No mention of "Tung Oil" is made in either one. The only oil I could find mentioned in one was Linseed Oil. A "How To" video on the site states it is 'based on a Chinese Tung Oil formula' but does not say it contains any Tung Oil. If this is the case it is clearly meant to be misleading. OMG ! ! ! It should only cost half as much, or less, if it just has Linseed Oil in it! ! ! Jeeze. BUYER BEWARE? UPDATE: I posted this question on the distributor's site that claims they are "exclusive" for this product. I finally got a reply flagged as "STAFF" that said 'it has Tung Oil in it.' That's all. But after applying it for week now, sunny everyday, no rain, low humitdity, highs near 90, I believe it is mostly urethane based. This is not scientific but just based on having used urethane products in past. If that is the case then it is over priced. Linseed Oil & urethane are the cheapest ingredients they could use. I am not saying it's crap or anything, only time will tell that and, it does look good. Also, unless it's listed by some chemical name I do not recognize urethane is not on the ingredients list or in either data sheet. But right now I am convinced based on empirical observation that's what it mostly is, urethane based, with maybe a little Tung Oil thrown in for advertising purposes. If anyone out there convinces me I am wrong on this then I will retract it.

First time user. Very good result with ox hair brush on outdoor large wicker chairs and footrest.