CoolMiniOrNot - How to make your own satin gloss and matt varnishes

How to make your own satin gloss and matt varnishes Intermediate Return to article index	Rating: 7.50 Votes: 8 Views: 7021	By: dennis.
Category: Painting Subcategory: Miscellaneous		Date: 2006-03-14 10:18:31

Reading through the forums i notice a lot of questions are being asked about varnishing the figure, which to use etc. As an artist i have been making my own varnishes for the last few years to protect oil paintings but these same recipes can equally be applied to a minature painted in oil or acrylic. The major advantage is it is very cheap and with the exception, perhaps, of testors dullcoat, no synthetic is as yet as matt as the traditional wax varnish.If you are interested in experimenting with making your own varnish, read on. The first varnish you will need is a pure dammar varnish, no additives to yellow or obscure the finish. Using this satin-gloss varnish will enhance the colour prior to matting with the wax varnish. To make Dammar Varnish; 100grams Dammar Resin (available at most art supplies stores) 300ml Double Rectified Turpentine. Double rectified means there will be no gum residue Place the resin crystals in an improvised bag made from nylon tights, tie securely and immerse in the turpentine. Leave covered for 2-3 days to completely dissolve transfer to a clean jar. To make this medium suitable for miniature varnishing take a small amount and dilute further with more turpentine, approx 1 part dammar medium to 10 parts turps. The varnish should now be thin enough not to effect the miniature. Dammar varnish which is too thick will remain sticky and soft, the turps is the catalyst. After applying leave in a dust free area, high if possible to dry for atleast 1week, depending on conditions. You can repeat if necessary, but too many coats will soften the effect of your beloved mini!! Next you can apply the matt varnish, for this you will need; 100ml of your Dammar medium (before further thinned!!) 25grams natural beeswax 75 ml turpentine Dissolve the beeswax to a soft paste in the turpentine, normally 1-2 days, in a covered jar. Once ready, immerse jar in a warm water bath until fluid and then mix to the 100ml of dammar medium. Take a small amount of the mix and further dilute, again to approx. 1part to 10 parts turps. It is now ready to apply to the figure. PLEASE NOTE. It is important before each time you use this varnish that you immerse it in a warm water bath first as the wax will settle to the bottom and that you mix it thoroughly. Leave to dry in a dust free zone for up to 1week, reapply as necessary. Applying many coats will soften colour relationships. I hope this is of use out there!! a few hours work for a lifetime supply of varnish!! Menace.

dennis. 25 April 07		I wait 12 months before i varnish my paintings, i dont see a few weeks as impractable, just impatient, if you want quality from this product you have to adhere to it's properties, if you don't want to wait buy TESTORS, for a medial finish
lparigi 23 April 07		Rating: 5 One week drying time? not too practical!
dennis. 29 March 06		How da feck can i edit this!! OK, the materials used here are volatile and toxic!! CHILDREN BEWARE, can be harmful to skin and definitely, unless your an alcoholic, should not be injested. Contact a Doctor or perhaps a shrink if you feel the need to drink turpentine.
Valerius 28 March 06		Rating: 7 A very good qrticle, but please in the future do not forget to mention the toxicity of the chemicals you use. Just for the sake of the more adventurous kids reading this
dennis. 25 March 06		@ fellblade. You are right to ask, i should have highlighted the fact that this would primarily be for display use. I have been using it and have as yet have not noticed any significant wear, however not in a gaming situation. That said it is easy to touch up and the dammar first coat is very unlikely to wear at all, it sets as a resin.
fellblade 23 March 06		Rating: 7 I like the information- always cool to learn new old tricks. My question is, how durable is a beeswax-based varnish in a tabletop gaming situation. As opposed to a flat surface hanging on a wall, that is.
No Such Agency 22 March 06		Rating: 8 A lot of work... I doubt anyone here would actually DO this. But that doesn't mean it's not a neat article! With the ubiquitousness of commercially available artists' supplies, many of us don't really know where our materials originate, or how they are made. Whereas back in the old days an artist would probably make many materials themself! Synthetic pigments and binders are a recent invention, as are ready-to-use paints
Avelorn 22 March 06		Rating: 9 Well cool!! I'm going to try this.. I like to do things myself. And it does bring a bit of old fashioned mystery to the entire process. however the article would be enhanced with some sort of picture example of the matt finish! Nice tip!
kinjesus 22 March 06		Rating: 6 Or,alternatively,you could use Humbrol Matt Cote,which is much better than Testors,and use the time you have saved having a life.

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