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Looking for a source to buy Pratt & Lambert #38 gloss. I thought I read somewhere here that it is the same product as Sherwin Williams fast dry oil varnish, but I can't find the post. Anyone know if they are the same or where to buy the P&L?
Thanks, Wendy

I use Sherwin Williams Fast Dry Oil Varnish. I haven't used Pratt & Lambert #38, but was told (by a kid at SW) they're the same product. Sherwin Williams owns Pratt & Lambert. I believe you can get P & L #38 online from Pondcove Paint. http://www.pondcovepaint.com/content/page/catalog_product/id/2090/38_Clear_Alkyd_Varnish_Quart.html

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Wendy - I don't know whether they are the same product, but I was able to find P&L at a local paint store. If it is P&L you're after it may be worth your time to call around town and see if anyone has it, or can order it for you.

By strange coincidence I wanted to try P&L #38 as well so this is a very timely thread for me too. I found this: http://www.prattandlambert.com/store-locator/search

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Thanks Andy, but I already used that store locator and don't feel like making the drive to the only store even remotely nearby.
Hey, thanks Woody, I will give Pondcove a try. Have you ordered from them? I have a Sherwin Williams nearby and, if they own Pratt & Lambert, I wonder why Sherwin Williams can't order it? Maybe I should just try their version.
Wendy

In case it means anything, I`ve used P&L 38 and its a very good varnish. I'm all out, but I'd buy more if I saw it. I've been using Epiphanes recently, but mostly on my boats!

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In my town was a Murphy Paint store that carried P&L, but they didn't keep #38 in stock.
They went out of business & a Sherwin Williams opened up in the same store.
A coincidence?
I would like them to be the same product, I like Sherwin Williams products.

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Doug, or anyone else using P&L #38 to finish guitars, do you varnish the back of the neck as well, or do you use a different finish on the neck?
Wendy

I've actually used the varnish as a pore fill then shellac over. Any number of options are valid. Try out the varnish on various pieces of wood and try various approaches to see what results you like.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

I've used P&L #38 on a couple of necks and been happy with the results. I would be pleased to learn that Sherwin-Williams Fast Dry Oil is the same product in a different can.

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George :-)

I've ordered the P&L #38 from Pond Cove several times. No problems.

I finally found a local source though!

-Mark

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Pullman, WA

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P&L #38 was my favorite all-around varnish for a good while, but the one shop that carried it closed a few years ago. We do have a Sherwin-Williams dealer nearby, though, so if someone can confirm that their 'fast dry oil varnish' is indeed the exact same product, I'd be delighted! So, is it merely hearsay, maybe a salesman trying to score a sale by pushing some BS, or are they in fact the same?

Been using various Epiphanes varnishes since, but despite their being much pricier and highly touted, I still prefer the P&L #38....

Sherwin Williams stores carry all kinds of stuff, not just SW branded products. I suspect any SW store can get P&L #38. I used to use ML Campbell catalyzed urethane on necks. I ordered it from my local SW store. (Sherwin Williams owns ML Campbell too)

(I'll go ahead an answer before anyone asks. I now use Polyester on necks.)

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I just got off the phone with someone at my local Sherwin Williams store and I was told that they can not order Pratt & Lambert products. She is going to do some research into whether the Sherwin Williams Fast Dry Oil Varnish is actually the same product. She'll get back to me one way or the other tomorrow and I'll let you know what she finds out, if anything.
Wendy

Thanks for the effort! Look forward to the response...

I'll give that an ever-popular "+1."

Hey, Mark, care to share the source local to Olympia?

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George :-)

Hey George,

There's a store in Lakewood that carries it:

Lakewood Hardware & Paint Inc
9020 Lakewood Drive SW Tacoma, WA, 98499
253-581-1010

Now to add a bit more confusion to the conversation. I just got off the phone with the store listed above, checking to make sure they had it in stock as I need some more. The gentleman I was speaking to informed me that P&L has changed the label and name of the #38 to P&L R10. Same product, new look. Who knows why. So if you go looking for #38, unless it is older stock, it should be labeled R10.

Mind, this is one salesperson, in one store, so the explanation may not be completely definitive. More research is needed.

-Mark

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If you haven't done it, join the S&W Preferred Customer program. You get discounts in addition to their perpetual sale prices.

I've never used this before, but after reading this thread, I decided to give it a try. I have two dulcimers to get finished for a show in a couple of weeks, so I need someting fairly simple that will dry fast.

So today I went by my local SW store and picked up a quart, it was on sale for 40% off so it only cost $10.50. I got satin finish.

My question is, are there any tricks to using this stuff? How much surface prep do you do to raise the grain, sand, etc? Wipe with water, wait overnight and sand? Use a shellac seal coat? Or just sand down and apply the varnish? And how many coats do you use?

Sorry abotu all the questions, but everything I've done instrument wise so far has been hand rubbed shellac, so any kind of varnish is new to me.

Thanks!

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Phil

http://www.oleninstruments.com

"Those who tilt at windmills are only considered insane by those who can't see the dragon."

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
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Mark - Thanks for the lead and possible new labeling info.

Spyder - Woody's got your back. :-)

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George :-)

If you go to the Pratt & Lambert website and search for R10, you get nothing. If you search for #38, you get the right product, so I don't know about the name or label change. I have not heard back from the woman at Sherwin Williams and haven't had time to try to get back to her. Wendy

Hey Grumpy. If I remember right, you're down near Cornwall On. If this is correct, you can probably get P&L #38 across the border in Massena NY at Triple A Building Center. I hear it's readily available in the US . If they don't have it, I'm sure they can order it for you.

Cornwall!?!



I'm about 8-10 hours -north- of Cornwall. You've got me mixed-up with someone else, I'm afraid.

Hey Kids. I did our homework on the internet and found out that they're different products.
And if it says so on the internet it must be true.

It looks like:
-Pratt & Lambert #38 - Alkyd resin varnish made with Soya oil
-Sherwin Williams Wood Classics® FastDry Varnish - Alkyd varnish made from Linseed oil

MSDS safety Data is quite different:
http://whatsinproducts.com/msds.php?brandId=7583
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=ca ... Cv9nkfbCbA

Other places I looked and pulled "information".

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/archive/ind ... 82267.html
http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f8/mixin ... blo-42872/

Dunno. It's what I found. cheers