Varnish
Varnish is a transparent, hard, protective finish or film primarily used in wood finishing but also for other materials. Varnish is traditionally a combination of a drying oil, a resin, and a solvent.
Resin
[change | change source]Most resin or "gum" varnishes are made of a natural substance dissolved in a solvent. The two main types of natural varnishes are spirit varnish (which uses alcohol as a solvent) and turpentine or petroleum-based varnish. Some resins are soluble in both alcohol and turpentine.
Shellac is a very widely used single component resin varnish that is dissolved in alcohol. It is not used outdoors or where it will touch water several times, such as around a sink or bathtub. insects in South Asia make it.
References
[change | change source]- Bob Flexner (1993). Understanding Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish. Rodale Press: Emmaus, PA. ISBN 0-87596-566-0
Other websites
[change | change source]- The 17th century varnish of Lorenz Mizler Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine
- Tung and Linseed Oils Archived 2015-05-15 at the Wayback Machine by Steven D. Russel
