Bondall Monocel Clear Timber Varnish
Verified19 reviews
- See all
I recently purchased this product for varnishing an old 70yo work table, it did an absolute fantastic job, lm very pleased with the result Show details
So disappointed,and how long till smell goes – It changed my table that I had worked on for a while,I used clear but timber still darkened more than I wanted and the smell even after 48 hours is shocking ☹️ Show details
won't cure – Won't cure. Simple as that. Buy another brand like Cabot's . Show details
Rubbish – Product is the worst i have ever used.having had a yacht i have used a few different varnishes.this is by far the most disgraceful excuse for a varnish. Show details
What a Nightmare, I should have read reveiws before hand – I had bubbling, orange pealing and did not dry after 7 days. I sanded back my Oregon table back 5 times and started again each time not drying after having fans on the table day and night for a week, after 1 coat. I tried roller to start with, terrible finish and Bubbling, then a good brush still left streaks and then after sanding back again I… Read more
tried spraying on the varnish, to get orange pealing and not drying. Absolutely peeved with this product. I wish I had read the reviews before hand will never go near this Brand again. BONDALL NO GOOD.
Never use it again – I've been using ultra gloss oil base for years using a brush and spray gun and I couldn't rate it high enough, but the last 2 tins I bought are rubbish, if I brush it on it leaves brush marks and if I spray it on it leaves orange peel finish, im going to find another product, no more Monocel ever Show details
Terrible! Ruined our furniture, complete waste of time and money, still stinks after weeks and isn't fully hardened – I followed the instructions applying to previously sanded pine bedroom furniture, even giving longer time to dry between coats. Weeks later the drawers still smell so strongly we've had to move them out of the bedroom, and the finish is still slightly tacky to touch. Wish I'd read reviews but just assumed ti would be fine. Shocking. Show details
- +1
Great product, excellent finish, no problems – Second small project with this product both with excellent results, pics are four coats, recoats are after 24 hours, wood is mango slab. Seems to me that people are confusing this varnish with resin type thick applications, only apply this product as you would with an oil based house paint, no thicker or it will not cure. There is a short video… Read more
from the manufacturer which shows the application process, thin coats. I finished this bench top over seven days (top and underside) in Cairns tropical climate during our wet season so I don't believe that environmental issues are a factor in poor outcomes either.
Long drying time – Much longer drying time than stated. Waited 24 hours between coats. I only ended up doing two coats as i was having respiratory problems and couldnt go on. Fumes were completely overpowering and lasted days. Show details
It worked very well for me! – I'm a female who loves well made solid timber. I purchased a pre-loved tv cabinet with dove-tail joints etc. I had previously used Cabots Cabothane clear satin on a raw pine piece and it was amazing. As Bondall Monocel Waterbased clear wood varnish was much cheaper I tried the Bondall Monocel Satin finish. My project was a very dark stained,… Read more
varnished and polished pine piece which took a lot of stripper and sanding to get it lighter. (Apart from bleaching I don't believe I could have got it any lighter). I did everything advised on the tin. I live in the tropics and the temperature was 32 degrees, and I was in the shade, with a light breeze. Coat no. 1 went on well, it was thinner than I expected, but a thin first coat is good. It was touch dry in a short time, and very well dry when I checked a few hours later. I left it for 24 hrs, sanded and re-applied - same thing, dried well. I decided 2 coats were enough for a tv to sit on top. As I applied the Bondall the grain came out, and although the finished look is darker than I had envisaged it has a really nice finish, and I think the product is good.
Just won't cure - still tacky after weeks – Monocel - Clear Wood Varnish - Satin (Water Based) As per everyone here - I followed the instructions - stirred like a mofo to get the stuff 'off the bottom' before starting... Applied within the specs of temperature - probably around 15-20' as it was late winded and indoors. Allowed 2-3 days to set between coats - as I was busy - can says dry… Read more
within 2 hrs, and allow form optimum drying within 24hrs.
I have applied 4 coats on Architectural Ply (30mm thick, 21 ply) so expensive and very well finished.
After 3 weeks - things kind of 'stick' to the surface such as a pen, cup, mouse - anything that lays on it - when you pick it up it feels like its grabbing - you hears a little click as it releases. This product is rubbish - advised to buy it by a 'paint specialist' at Bunnings... (if there is such a thing...)
DONT BUY IT - spend money on a better product.
Australian made – Bought the spray version.... used it touch up a thin piece of jarrah on my rear drawer slideout on 4WD. Shook it for a couple of minutes.....I was careful to remove any 'droplets' that formed. In my opinion it was a quick dry. Product says it shouldn't be used in direct sun and on hot days. Not only is this Australian made but at around $10 quite… Read more
a bit cheaper than competitors. I can only say I'm happy with it. I've used Cabothane for pine ceilings and would always be prepared to 'smooth off' varnish-type products with a rag or brush to give a good consistent finish. A solid 3 out of 5.
- +2
My Teak Table Top & Bunnings NON-SUPPORT – Man, I wish I had come to this site B4 I bought this stuff and used it on my beautiful Teak TableTop. Wanting to support Australian Products, I purchased this at Bunnings, Coffs Harbour. I followed the instructions on the can exactly for three coats, 25C, no humidity, had a catastrophic outcome on my poor table and took it back to Bunnings Pain… Read more
Section for their help and support. I got neither from Bunnings Paid Section who merely contacted Bondall and blamed me for only waiting 24hours between coats rather than the 6hours specified on the can - go figure! After getting the call from Bunnings Pain Section with the opinion they wanted to conveyed to me from Bondall, I advised Bunnings Paint to just dump the remainder of the $155 Bondall Monocel Varnish which I had left with them since I would never use this product. My work continues to strip my table (Citrus STRIP), resand and start again from the beginning with a different reputable product. What a sad reward for me in wanting to support this Australian Product and to purchase it at Bunnings Coffs Harbour. Thank you Daniel Simpson Bonville NSW
Find out how Bondall Monocel Clear Timber Varnish compares to other Paints & Varnishes
Know better, choose better.
Don't buy this crap, it doesn't set its crap – This bondall monocell clear timber varnish is 100 percent crap shouldn't be aloud to be sold. i did everything it said on the can. it said stirred it for 5 mins so i did. and the crap wont even set. ill buy some paint stripper to get it off my rimu tabe. I'm really upset all my hard work and for what. It's been 3 weeks and still not dry Show details
Poor performance – Pretty much the same as Greg's review. The varnish didn't harden even after a few days. Worst varnish I have ever used. Stirred thoroughly in fact I shook the can vigorously, turned it upside down and shook it vigorously, used a stick and stirred it around then I thinned the first coat, left to dry for over 24 hours but still tacky... Show details
Doesn't perform as per the instructions – I bought this product from Bunnings. I followed the instructions on the tin stirring for 5 mins, slightly diluted first coat, 2 days later it was still sticky. I removed as much as I could and repeated, this time stirring for 7 mins, same result. Tried a third time, same result. All coats were thinly applied in a dry, warm workshop where I do all… Read more
of my furniture finishing using shellac, polyurethane, varnishes etc and have had no problems with any other product. wouldn't buy again.
January 8th 2019 Update: Won't harden
Following on from my last post it is now the seventh of Jan and it still hasn't hardened properly. It's ruining my project!
Great product when used as per the instructions – This is a great varnish when used as per the instructions, meaning you need to shake or stir it for several minutes to disperse the flatting and drying agents throughout the varnish. If you don't do this, which I did on a test piece of wood, it can take several days in the sun to cure. Some general hints on use, apply a first coat thinned 50/50… Read more
with turps so it'll penetrate into the timber, a second coat thinned by maybe 1/3, and a final top coat at full strength.
Adding a comment based on a PM I received: The previous reviewer didn't mention how they prepped the jarrah or applied the varnish, but if it was just two thick coats one on top of the other I'd expect blistering at least, and probably worse. Here's why:
Polyurethane "dries" in two stages, first the solvents evaporate leaving the resin behind which normally takes a few hours but depends on the temperature, humidity, and thickness of the finish. When the solvent has evaporated the finish will still be sticky. The second stage of drying is cross-linking, where the molecules react in the presence of oxygen to bond with one another. Cross-linking is what makes polyurethane finishes more durable than other finishes, and takes a little longer.
The cross-linking occurs when the varnishes react with oxygen and curing is top-down, once the top skins it tends to seal out oxygen so it's important to keep coats thin. Subsequent coats don't re-soften underlying coats, so it's important to not apply fresh coats until the previous coat has thoroughly cured.
Also, since the coats are independent, you need to rough up the previous coat so the current coat can adhere to it by giving it a good burnishing with 000 steel wool or the nylon equivalent, a Chux pad.
Finally, since the varnish has a fairly thick consistency, you need to thin the earlier coats to get penetration into the timber, otherwise it'll just sit on the surface as a plastic skin, see my initial review.
Given the description of "2 really thick coats on brand new jarrah", it sounds like the previous reviewer kinda did everything wrong you can do wrong with polyurethane varnish. Not meant as a criticism, just a comment on an unfortunate experience...
Do not buy it!!! – I did 2 really thick coats on brand new jarrah. After 6 months... it has totally distroyed my Jarrah!!! I wish I could upload a photo to show you the horrible damage!! Will never buy this stuff again, beware! I wish I could get a refund on this rubbish stuff!! Show details
Poor quality varnish – This Bondall Monocell Varnish is rated as an exterior Varnish. After 2 years of Half sun exposure the varnish is blistering and flaking. Do not use this product if you do not want to repaint every year. Better to buy a better quality brand and save your self a lot of work. They didnt return my calls but eventually did offer another tin of the same sub standard varnish. Show details
ProductReview.com.au has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence our content moderation policies in any way, though ProductReview.com.au may earn commissions for products/services purchased via affiliate links.