Orange Peel

[bobsart]

I used a can of damar gloss spray varnish on an oil painting that was painted on a gessoed masonite panel. I followed the directions on the can. The first coat went on well but the second coat orange peeled. Anyone know what happened?

[bruin70]

how long did you wait for the first coat to dry? was it humid? what peeled,,,,the paint or the varnish? is there thinner or turp in the ingredients? if so, did you shake well?

[paintfool]

what brand did you use? I use Grumbacher, with excellent results. Did you make sure to apply VERY thin coats? As the owner of a Janitorial service, with many years of floor waxing experience, i can tell you that many thin coats of any finish will net a much smoother finish that one or two thick coats.If it's just the varnish that is affected & not your painting itself, you may be able to do a VERY light sand & re-varnish. Cheryl

[paintfool]

Bobsart, i went back & re-read your original post in which you said that you used a CAN of spay varnish. Say it isn't so! I mean you didn't use the ENTIRE can did you? haha http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/wink.gif Cheryl

[bobsart]

I used Blair 800 gloss varnish. I put on three thin coats. I waited about 20 minutes between coats. I don't think humidity was a factor because I did it on a cold dry January day. I have used this product for many projects and have never had a problem. I originally thought I might have shaken the can too much and generated a lot of foam but I didn't do anything different than I had done in the past. My next plan is to get in touch with the manufacture if I didn't get any answers from you all...thanx guys

[paintfool]

Bob, i live in Florida, where the humidity can easily reach 90% or higher & have never had this problem, so yes, you probably would get more satisfying answers from the manufacturer. I hope you're able to save your painting by removing the varnish & starting over. I've never done that & understand that it's a tedious process. Good luck Cheryl

[bruin70]

if the paint peeled i would think there was something wrong with the varnish. if it was more humid than you thought, the turp ingredient could've cut thru the paint. spray varnishes "melt" a bit of the top layer , i think. so if you keep adding layers before the previous is thoroughly dry, the varnishes will cut thru the paint. why don't you paint a small canvas( just coat it) and duplicate the same situation. ....milt

[bobsart]

I think I might have confused the issue. There is no peeling of varnish or paint. Orange peeling is when the varnish you apply causes the surface to look like the surface of an orange peel. That's the best way to discribe it. As long as light does not fall on it in away that would high light the bumpy surface, you can't tell that there is anything wrong. If I get an answer from the manufacturer, I'll share it with you all.

bob

[bobsart]

Cheryl,

I would think, since you live in Florida, orange peeling would be your expertise. Isn't that where most orange peels are manufactured?......bob

[paintfool]

yes Bob. Orange peel, Florida, hehe. I know what you are talking about when you say you have orange peel on your painting. Yes please do share any info you may get from the manufacturer of the varnish. Although i've never encountered this, it would be good to have the info in order to prevent it. I think Milts idea of doing a demo peice is a good idea. If the circumstances were duplicated & you end up with the same results at least you'd have a test board with which you could experiment with a few different techniques to be used to salvage your painting. Cheryl

[bruin70]

that's something you get when it's too thick. you get that with fast driers. they dry so fast that the top "skin" dries quicker than the rest and you get a wrinkle effect. i get this when i leave out some cobalt drier. this is very handy when one paints old people,,,,,,or orange peels. ps,,,,i like california navels, especially on 20 year old blondes.....milt

[This message has been edited by bruin70 (edited May 13, 2000).]

[paintfool]

Milt, any tips on type of paint that adhere best to old people? Cheryl

[bobsart]

Milt,

I'm familiar with the "wrinkle effect" and what causes it. I've had that problem too. This is different. The company that makes this stuff is Loctite Co. I'm going to email them with this question.

I too prefer 20 yr old Calif navels. I find them very "apeeling"....bob

[sandyartist]

Bob..when you email Loctite, I would leave out the part about the 20 yr. old blondes' navels..they may not take you seriously. You and Milt are a hoot! Sandy

[bobsart]

Ok guys here is the manufacturer's answer to my question, "Gee, I don't know what the problem could be."

I called them instead of emailing so that I could have an indepth one on one dialog. They got very defensive with their product, especially when I told them that it damaged a work of art. They opined that it might be a shelf life problem or an atmospheric anomally. They told me to use 2 parts alcohol and 3 parts terpentine and to dab gently but to quit if the paint starts lifting. They asked if I used terp when I mixed the colors, and I did, and they said then there is nothing you can do about it. Fortunately, this wasn't a commission and I painted it for the sole intention of making family note cards out of them....bob

[paintfool]

sorry to hear that Bob, although not surprised. considering that, i would suggest my original thought, give the work a very light sand & re-varnish, using a different product, of course! Milt? Cheryl

[AIGottlieb]

Earlier I wrote that liquin was made by the devil. I guess the little bugger is pretty productive cause he also had the time to make spray varnish. I used it once, and yup, I got that orange peel effect. And the smell...I couldn't identify anything in that chemical smell I'd want within a thousand miles of my painting. You know, it's only the new and improved technological stuff that gives me problems. Whenever I use the old masters' techniques and materials, I never have a single problem.