Matte Varnish

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Goosefeather

New member
Hi again folks,

may i tap into your omnipotent knowledge again and ask what matte varnish is recommended for gaming figures (UK).

Thanks in advance,

Goose.
 
Zab

Zab

New member
Most use Testors Dullcoat. It's fairly durable. I use vallejo as they can be brushed on or sprayed with the air brush. I do one pass with gloss and 2 thin passes with matte for gaming minis.
 
B

brib4169

New member
Ditto on the testors, I'm finishing up a pot of old GW varnish before I switch to a spray. Shiny varnishes protect better than matte, but look shiny, thus the overcoat of matte. Brush on gives a thicker layer and better control and coverage. Spray is faster and if using multiple layers, can be almost as good with a little practice. Make sure each layer is completely dry before adding the next or it can look cloudy. Not sure what brands of spray are good, but I'm sure someone else out there has some recommendations.
 
Chrispy

Chrispy

Active member
I just wish Testors came in bigger cans. The only place that carries them around here is far on the other side of town and has a policy of limiting cans per person since it sells out when/ if it is in stock. I've also used generic Krylon art sealer, which is for pencils and stuff but works on paintings.
 
V

Vathaar

New member
I would strongly recommend Vallejo polyurethane varnish (27.651). It coats nicely, its quite strong and there is no risk of 'frosting'.
Just got it and used on my Duke. Works great in my opinion.
 
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Einion

Einion

New member
Search is your friend Goose - many, many prior threads on matt varnishing and varnish choices. Even with this thread it's still worth hunting back through old threads on the subject and having a quick read through since there is lots of additional info.

For the toughest coating for gaming many people recommend a two-stage approach, gloss varnishing first (often using polyurethane varnish) then a matt coat on top. Dullcote is one of the best matt varnishes you can get, but there are some options for the UK that are easier to get.

If you want to go with poly by the way I highly recommend a normal polyurethane varnish as from a DIY centre or paint shop, not one packaged for the hobby. The quality will be as good or better, but importantly it'll be for a small fraction of what you'd pay for it buying a small hobby-sized bottle.

Einion
 
Wyrmypops

Wyrmypops

New member
Testors Dull Cote. Wasn't the easiest to find, small cans too, but it's a good un. Army Painter do a regular sized can of a splendidly dry matt cote too. Either of those for the matt finish over a more durable, glossier varnish like the GW ard cote is my go to process.
 
G

Goosefeather

New member
Hi all,

thanks for the replies. Einion, your advice is sound, but i always do my research first, and as such told me to steer clear of GW varnish among others. However, Dullcoat and Vallejo seem to be popular choices but for the price and sze of can, i decided that Dullcoat was not worth my hard earned pennies, so i went with Vallejo and will coat with gloss first and then matte (as recommended).

Also my searches came up with a lot of 4-5 year old threads, so i actually came to you friendly folk for some more recent advice, so thanks again for that.

Goose.
 
RuneBrush

RuneBrush

New member
GW varnish is OK for providing a protective layer or for sealing things prior to applying weathering, washes, transfers etc. I use Daler Rowney Soluable Matte Varnish through an airbrush and find the result fantasic, plus its a big bottle so goes a really long way.
 
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