Warning! Don't use damar as a final picture varish

[Allan Rahbek]

Originally Posted by Virgil Elliott

Allan,

Yes, I am familiar with egg white as a varnish. It's a terrible idea.

Of course there are alternatives to Gamvar. Golden's MSA Varnish is a good one, which I had forgotten about until Valentino mentioned it, and Liquitex Soluvar. Winsor & Newton's Winton Picture Varnish is also pretty good. Gamvar is my personal first choice, however. It was developed by conservation scientist Rene De La Rie, of the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Virgil Elliott

Virgil,
thank you for your reply,
I remember trying the Egg White Varnish many years ago on a couple of paintings. I washed the painting with hand soap before varnishing with White + water and I thought that it was fine, but I don

[Tricia Migdoll]

Hi Virgil,
How would you rate Blockx Varnish.?

[Virgil Elliott]

Originally Posted by Tricia Migdoll

Hi Virgil,
How would you rate Blockx Varnish.?

Tricia,

I believe Blockx has more than one varnish, so I'd need to know which one you meant. If it's their amber varnish, I wouldn't recommend it because it is quite difficult to remove, and because it is too dark, and will get darker still, and mainly because there are better varnishes available that have none of those faults.

Virgil Elliott

[Tricia Migdoll]

Thanks, I was referring to the "Blockx Picture Varnish" and the "Blockx Retouch Varnish", not the Amber.
The reason I ask, is because I do not think I can get Gamvar in Australia.

[Virgil Elliott]

Originally Posted by Tricia Migdoll

Thanks, I was referring to the "Blockx Picture Varnish" and the "Blockx Retouch Varnish", not the Amber.
The reason I ask, is because I do not think I can get Gamvar in Australia.

Tricia,

I don't know what it is, so I can't give you an answer. Try to find out what resin it's made of, and if it's damar, I wouldn't recommend it. If it's an acrylic, it's probably all right. The other possibility is it might be a cyclohexane resin, which would still be better than damar. I've never tried Blockx Picture Varnish.

Sorry I can't help.

Virgil

[Tricia Migdoll]

Thanks anyway, Virgil.
I have made a list of the ones you recommend. I am sure i will find something suitable. I am in a hurry now to throw out the Damar.

[Virgil Elliott]

[QUOTE=Allan Rahbek]Virgil,
thank you for your reply,
I remember trying the Egg White Varnish many years ago on a couple of paintings. I washed the painting with hand soap before varnishing with White + water and I thought that it was fine, but I don

[Allan Rahbek]

Thanks Virgil,
it was a her and she is dead now, lucky for her.......sort of.
I won