Re: Behlen Violin Varnish with TransTint Dyes
Old shellac does not dry well, especially if it's applied heavily, and since the Behlen product is mostly shellac, that would apply for it too. Sandarac is a hard resin, but mastic is a relatively soft one and should make the varnish more elastic. I think I'd be careful to follow Michael's advice and thin it well, then give each coat plenty of time to dry. Normally with a spirit varnish you don't have to wait long to recoat--maybe an hour--but with the mastic in this varnish, I'd wait several hours, maybe overnight, between coats. If you apply it thinly, this means many days spent in the varnish process, then a couple of weeks to a month after the last coat before polishing. That's a normal time for an oil varnish. Usually a spirit varnish is quicker to apply.
Jack C.
non illegitimati carborundum
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