How to make Varnish for oil paintings???

[jawnn]

A year ago I had a thread going Flexible Alkyd Varnish Recipe’ but now I cannot find it.

Polyester resins for varnish?

I am thinking about this again after spending $20 on the Epoxide oil. And looking through the Kremmer catalog I spotted this 79097 black oil [walnut oil with lead] and realized that I could probably make the same thing with cobalt dryer inplace of the lead powder. But I will want to use the Epoxide inplace of the much cheaper walnut oil? What is the difference in yellowing?

What can I use to make clear varnish that will not turn yellow? Is it possible to get polyester resin and add some kind of drying oil that is not plant made? Or is it only possible to use distillates with a synthetic resin?

OK I better just buy ready made Gamvar varnish even though it has to a way over priced way to do this. the crystals I want to use are less than 1mm [found some even smaller ones], I can’t even see the dark blue on dark blue paint until the light hits them just right. It is impossible to scrape off vanish and glue them.

Or should I use the Epoxide oil with pure Alkyd resin? No solvents except what is in Cobalt dryer. That would be easy and safe to melt together in a jar in a double boiler. But I should get some Cozica dryer if it does not have distillates already mixed in.

So what is “magic” about Copal? Copal needs a little lead powder for a dryer? Not used on oil paint?

Well there is no way that I am going to mess with lead powder.

Zirconium dryer?

I would NOT want to use Aluminum powder for anything. I made paint out of it once and it was airborne before I knew it. I had to back away form the cloud of sparkling aluminum dust.

I can buy some of this Eco-House 921 Cozica Drier Blend and some of this Gamblin Gamvar Varnish, but I have no idea what to do with them other than make a test canvas. But how fast will they yellow?

How fast will the Epoxide linseed oil yellow? Maybe if I put it in the sun?

Mixing it with the alkyd sounds interesting. How much should I use of the Epoxide to how much Alkyd?? 50%?

Why is it that people want me to buy a a factory made varnish. Am I the only person in the world that enjoys inventing?

[Author]

Posts