3/20/2017 AlchemistAmberResinVarnishesandOilPaintingMediums

InstructionsonusingAlchemistDarkAmberVarnishes

SinceAlchemistchoosesnottoincorprateanydriersinourproductsweareabletogivetheuser
thefreedomtousethevarnishinawayyoufeelcomfortablewithwhilesimultaneously
increasingtheshelflifeforthenonfrequentusers.Therearebasicallytwoapproachespossible.
AslowdryingapporoachwherebylessdriersareusedbutincludingtheuseofaUVlightbox
(dryingcabinet).SuchawayisdescribedbelowbyawardwinningluthierDavidChrapkiewcz.
Thesecondapproachresultsinafasterdryingtimebutwiththeuseofahigherratioofdriers
(preferredbymostusers).

Noteaboutoilvarnishes:
Duetotheoilcontentofthevarnish,thesemediumsshouldnotbeappliedtothesoundboardsofmusicalinstrumentssuch
asguitars,harpsichords,lutes,andpianoswhereifvarnishisrequireditshouldbespiritbasedratherthanoil.Thisrule
doesnotapplytosoundboardsandbodiesofviolinsandbowedmusicalinstruments.

OurDarkAmberVarnishesmakeexcellentcoatingsforharpsichordsoutercasespianobodiesandalltypesofwooden
furniture.Oilbasedmediumshavehistoricallybeenappliedtoviolinandbowedinstrumentsingeneral.

Stepbystepinstructions:PreparingtheVarnish

WithaDryingCabinet WithoutaDryingCabinet

Fortheuseonmusicalinstruments,withadrying Fortheuseonmusicalinstrumentswithouta
cabinet,add20dropsofcobaltorJapandrierto dryingcabinet,add32dropsofcobaltorJapan
every10mlofAmberVarnishDark(Linseedor driertoevery10mlofAmberVarnishDark
Walnut). (LinseedorWalnut).

Tothin,ifdesired,addnomorethan1part Tothin,ifdesired,addnomorethan1part
varnishtopartsolvent*. varnishtopartsolvent*.

*Alchemiststronglyadvisestheuseofoneofthe *Alchemiststronglyadvisestheuseofoneofthe
solventsmentionedbelow: solventsmentionedhere:

spiritsofturpentine(essenceof spiritsofturpentine(essenceof
turpentine)or turpentine)or
spikeoflavender spikeoflavender

Stepbystepinstructions:ApplyingtheVarnish

Step1
ApplyacoatofDarkAmberVarnishoveragroundofyourchoice.
Examplesofviolingroundsthatcanbeusedare:rosinoil,rosinoilemulsion(made
withrosinoil,eggandwater),gluesize,orliquin.
Afterallowingtocompletelydry(indryingcabinet)pumicethesurfacewith5xpumice

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3/20/2017 AlchemistAmberResinVarnishesandOilPaintingMediums
orneTripolipowder(includedwitheveryorderofAmberVarnish)justenoughto
dullthesurfaceofthevarnish.

Then,removeanydustspotswithagougeorbygoingoverthesurfacewithmicro
meshor1200wet/drysandpaperandmineraloil.

Step2(optional)
Applyathincoloredglazedcoatoftubepaintorcoloringmaergroundinoilanddry
itinadryingcabinet.
ColorssuchasIndianyellow,alizarincrimson,peryleneRedect.canbeused(See
Gamblinoilcolors)
Oilcolorscanbethinnedwithlinseedoilifthecoloristoointense.

Step3
ApplyasecondcoatofDarkAmberVarnish,andafterdryingitfor1day(usedrying
cabinet)removethedustspotswithagougeorbygoingoverthesurfacewith
micromeshor1200wet/drysandpaperandmineraloilagain.

Step4
Placeyourinstrumentinadryingcabinet,andallowthevarnishtodrycompletely.

Step5(2options)

Option1:
Whencompletelydry,polishwitharubbingcompound.Thanpolishwithaviolin
cleanerandcreampolish.

Option2:(RecommendedbytheAlchemist)
Thisisalilebitmoreworkbutwellworththeeort.

Sandwith1400grademicrowmeshwet/drysandpaperandsomewater.

ThenpolishwithNovosno.2FineScratchRemover(www.novuspolish.com)

Note:inordertoensurethedryingofyourvarnish,makesuretoadddriertotheDark
AmberVarnish.(seeabovePreparingtheVarnish)

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