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Are two coats of Spar Varnish still the recommended waterproofing for wood/babiche (rawhide) snowshoes? Urethane or not? It's been about 10 years since I did this last, when I was still a ranger at Lake Maria. The cost of a pint of varnish has gone up by about 400% since then.
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I always use multiple coats and my shoes are over 50 years old, my babiche has only started to look frayed and tired in the last couple of years, my method to ensure complete coverage is to make a frame out of 2x4's cover it with an industrial- strength garbage bag, pour in a 50/50 mix of varnish and solvent, and lay the shoes in it, using a sponge (scrap of foam rubber) to drizzle varnish over the high spots, I then hang the shoes over the tray to let them drip and set up some, then I do it again, repeat 2-3 times, then let them hang while I pour the remaining varnish back in the can for next year.
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