New Varnish not clear but White?

[Wildman]

I bought some clear extra hard floor varnish back last year "Ever Build", is the brand and it is a clear gloss floor varnish so why when I open the tin is it white.I tried a bit on some scrap wood to see if it cleared when it dried, it did not so whats the problem. It was an ebay buy so yes could have been ancient stock but never seen that happen before, any ideas please

 

[ED65]

Water-bourne varnishes are white when liquid and dry clear, presume that's it.

 

[custard]

There are a few oils and varnishes that contain a fine white powder, they're either intended to give a liming type effect (not very well IMO) or to resist the tendency of oils and varnishes to yellow paler timbers (Osmo have a version of this).

Incidentally, it's a myth that floor varnishes are materially harder than other varnishes, floor varnishes are generally formulated to be faster drying and to offer some slip resistant properties. Unless it's a two pack finish then it'll be in the same general hardness league as most regular varnishes.

 

[Alexam]

My Ronseal 'SATIN' finish varnish was white in the tin and cleared when dry, but the GLOSS Ronseal is clear in the tin.
Malcolm

 

[Beau]

All the acrylic water based varnishes I have tried have looked milky in the tin. OK on paler woods but find that the pale look does show when used on darker woods especially on end grain.

Are there water based varnishes that don't do this?

 

[YoungSalt]

I was going to say, it is the problem with water based and single component floor varnishes I have used. I am a traditional boatbuilder, repairing and restoring woodeb boats. Most of the timber I work with is teak and mahogany....when using these varnishes for the likes of floorboards, no only are they seriously low build, but they often seen to dry with a white look to the film, so if someone has a solution to this, I am all ears!

 

[Keith 66]

I also am a boatbuilder, i have done quite a bit of restoration & new stuff over the years. I would not use water based varnish anywhere near a boat. Virtually all the wooden boatbuilders i know prefer to use Epifanes oil based. Once opened it has a short shelf life & must be used up, but it simply is the best.