Using a hair dryer to accelerate drying time?

[terrycafie]

I need some advice...I applied linseed oil to all over my oil painting , in a process I read would help to prevent any unevenness of shine, before Damar retouch varnish would be applied....Only problem is the oil is not drying fast enough ...I have already done some damage to a large painting I want to exhibit THIS WEEKEND...Help please with your advice....Thanks...Terry

[Freesail]

Wipe it off ..... try and use a lint free cloth. BTW, Retouching varnish is used to even out the shine while adding a little protection.

[lt_scout]

I'm pretty sure the hair dryer won't work, the heat could make it worse by separating the pigments from the oil binders but I'm not sure of that. The paint will dry by oxidization not evaporation like acrylics.

[Carcharhinus]

Heat will only dry water based paints. Hair dryer will only do more damage than good.

[DECiNERGY]

That is ALL true, BUT why is it in summer faster 'dry' as in winter ... OR the oilpaint is longer workable when its cooler ... ???!!!??? ;-)

[Adriantmax]

The sun produces a different kind of heat to a hairdryer. If your going to use oil or something to even out the gloss of your painting it needs to very thin or it won't dry properly like your experiencing. You pretty much have to wipe it all off so there is only the lightest sheen like slightly oily skin.

When I do oil painting I sometimes use a little of my alkyd medium wiped on first as a couch, but not as a final protective layer. If you can i'd wipe as much off as you can, assuming you don't have any wet paint underneath.

I haven't tried it with linseed but my walnut alkyd medium is usually dry to the touch the next day and can be painted over without a mild solvent medium picking up the underlying layer within 3 days.

[terrycafie]

Thanks all...I won't use a hair dryer..I will us a lint free cloth...It is getting warmer outdoors...maybe an option to air it outdoors...or a fan?? ...The last time I used the spray can with damar retouch varnish the painting was spotty in places...so I thought the oiling{Google it} was the answer..How soon can one use the spray??/Can it be semi-dry when using the spray??? I so apreciate you all for taking the time to respond to me....I feel so supported....Terry....

Oiling out should be applied thinly, but with the knowledge that it will
still take linseed oil a relatively long time to dry (maybe a couple of
weeks, but it depends upon many factors). In the past, I have noticed
(or maybe just imagined that I noticed) that putting it in a sunny
room will help speed the drying. A fan, unlike a heat source, at least
couldn't do any harm, except maybe if it were blowing in a dusty
room or such.

[dirtysteev]

In the future you should not apply oil, retouch varnish will even out sunken areas on it's own.

[lovin art]

my hairdryer works fab on my hair, just not so sure Id be wanting to put it on my Oils ...although I am of the blonde nature so Ive been known to try things at least once ... even when I know its not right ~human nature I guess

[Alan P. in OC]

On a sunny day (in Socal it's almost every day) I take paintings out on my porch. I put them on a table in the sun and put a clear plastic drawer (from a place like The Container Store) upside-down over it.

The drawer keeps bugs, dust, etc. from getting in the paint, and it's clear so the sun's light/heat get to it. It speeds up drying immensely.

[Freesail]

Originally Posted by terrycafie

Thanks all...I won't use a hair dryer..I will us a lint free cloth...It is getting warmer outdoors...maybe an option to air it outdoors...or a fan?? ...The last time I used the spray can with damar retouch varnish the painting was spotty in places...so I thought the oiling{Google it} was the answer..How soon can one use the spray??/Can it be semi-dry when using the spray??? I so apreciate you all for taking the time to respond to me....I feel so supported....Terry....

The spray retouching varnish becoming spotty after it drys simply means that you need to apply another coat ( layer ) of varnish from a different direction. You should always alternate the direction you apply the varnish in with each coat ( layer ) of varnish. Gives much better coverage.

> I put them on a table in the sun and put a clear plastic drawer (from a place like The Container Store) upside-down over it.


This seems like a very good trick! I find myself now looking for
a 16 x 20 transparent drawer.

[Alan P. in OC]

Originally Posted by plog

> I put them on a table in the sun and put a clear plastic drawer (from a place like The Container Store) upside-down over it.


This seems like a very good trick! I find myself now looking for
a 16 x 20 transparent drawer.

Try Target. Mine's about 20"x24" and about 5" deep. Look in the closet-storage area of the store, you'll find plenty.

[sidbledsoe]

i guess a curling iron isn't a good idea either.