Your video is indeed very satysfying. As for the varnish, I use sandarac, mastiha Chios with lavender spike oil and clarified shellac. I put the ingredients into a tall, 500ci bottle and pour in alcohol. Resins at the bottom have to be thoroughly mixed at least twice a day. After a week or so everything is dissolved into spirit at room temperature. I use 99,97% medical ethanol, which is much safer to your nose and airways if accidentially inhaled. Then I boil the varnish and filter it through a double-layer cellulose cloth used as a surgical dressing. This has to be repeated 5-7 times until the varnish is crystal clear. Yes, I work at a hospital. Cheers!
Just tried the recipe and its definitely great, many thanks for sharing and teaching, by the way, i just realised that applying a little of turpentine to the varnish make it much better to apply ( but used flaked lacca and absolute alcohol (99.5%) ) and maybe doing the recipe like the video teach it wont need turpentine at all, but turpentine allow to aplly a much thick varnish coat with very thin brush strokes and without tangling.
Getting ready to do my first varnish. If I use a simple solution of waxed shellac buttons and alcohol, applied thinly, what can I expect? BTW, this was recommended to me as a newbie.
I love fiddles, I love working on them, but I was wondering about what does the school cost as for as learning a little bit of knowledge, I have learned a lot off of videos, well that's all for now so keep up the good work. Thanks alot, Gary
Thank you very much for posting the video. I’m about to start making my first violin, I may as well make the Varnish as well. How long will the varnish keep? In other words does it need to be used within a few weeks or months? Thanks again 👍
Questa vernice è molto usata la faccio anch'io quando devo verniciare grandi superfici perchè costa poco e si stende bene. Una cosa però devo dire, gli americani riescono a togliere la poesia a tutto quello che fanno, macina caffè. sacchetti di plastica, bicchieri di plastica stagne, bilancia elettronica.......
I made the spirit varnish in Ed-Herron Allen's book of powdered benzoin and "pure spirits of wine" (190 grain alcohol, from the liquor store sold as Everclear). I filtered it, and it worked well. I didn't add the saffron. Too expensive to play with.
+Arkansas Red This varnish has the yellow/amber/brown color because of the seedlac - which is the main ingredient. Without the seedlac it would not be "1704 Varnish". It does not come clear with no color.
+Arkansas Red Substitute the seedlac with a blonde or platina shellac. You'll probably have to reduce the proportion of shellac a little as seedlac contains stuff that gets filtered out. It won't be 1704 but it will be a lighter coloured version. Not the same though. It will be a little harder to brush as the refined shellacs have the wax content removed.
I use the 1704 recipe but I don't grind the ingredients. Nor do I heat the varnish. Apart from getting things to dissolve quicker I'm not sure what the heating achieves. Perhaps someone can tell me. I have substituted Shellac flakes for the seedlac. It probably won't make that much difference but lower the Shellac weight by 10 to 20 grams (from 180) as seedlac contains debris.
Yes but only 2 or 3 days. Prepare in advance and just put the whole lot into a jar and forget about it for a few days. Filter it or alternately place everything in cotton t-shirt material (tea bag method) and suspend it in alcohol.
David, the music is what I like, feel free to just turn the volume off. There actually is an inside joke for those of us who were at the Oberlin Bass Workshops (sorry to exclude you on that) with the last song. As for "garbage," please feel free to post your own violin videos sometime - use Kate Bush for background music - that would be great!
Stunning "How to Video" on making #1704 varnish. Appreciate all the magnificent efforts Dustin. Be well!
Merci pour cette vidéo ! J'ai suivi vos conseils, et réussi à la perfection la restauration d'un violon de 1892.
Nice Stührling. Also an Oberlin alum! Always good to see the Alma mater mentioned.
I enjoyed very much! Thanks!
I enjoyed very much the presentation. Where can I find Elemi and Sandarac?
www.kremerpigments.com/
Your video is indeed very satysfying. As for the varnish, I use sandarac, mastiha Chios with lavender spike oil and clarified shellac. I put the ingredients into a tall, 500ci bottle and pour in alcohol. Resins at the bottom have to be thoroughly mixed at least twice a day. After a week or so everything is dissolved into spirit at room temperature. I use 99,97% medical ethanol, which is much safer to your nose and airways if accidentially inhaled. Then I boil the varnish and filter it through a double-layer cellulose cloth used as a surgical dressing. This has to be repeated 5-7 times until the varnish is crystal clear. Yes, I work at a hospital. Cheers!
What temperature of water shoud be?
Just tried the recipe and its definitely great, many thanks for sharing and teaching, by the way, i just realised that applying a little of turpentine to the varnish make it much better to apply ( but used flaked lacca and absolute alcohol (99.5%) ) and maybe doing the recipe like the video teach it wont need turpentine at all, but turpentine allow to aplly a much thick varnish coat with very thin brush strokes and without tangling.
well done, easy to follow, inspires me to try it too. Were that all RUclips "how to" videos were this clear!
Getting ready to do my first varnish. If I use a simple solution of waxed shellac buttons and alcohol, applied thinly, what can I expect? BTW, this was recommended to me as a newbie.
Great video. I'm going to make some today. Hopefully I won't burn my hair off.
Dustin, enjoyed your video!!! I've been making my own oil-varnish today, and looking on line for varnish recipes and ran across your video. CHEERS.
Hi, I am currently trying to make some 1704. Out of interest, can this be applied in the same manner as French polish using a rubber?
It is very very very gout, Thanks
What else can Spirit Varnish be used on other than Voilins? Can white spirit be added 50-50% for a sanding sealer? Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Andy
1:26 - 'Darling, my coffee tastes a bit funny. What did you put in it?'
That music was great. What did they do before panty hose? Cheesecloth maybe?
Its a great work, congratulations. What is the songs? can you tell me the names please?
Can the varnish be sanded once dried to remove the lap marks from brushing? Also, can the varnish be buffed to a sheen when dried? Thank you Dustin.
If you like - with high grit micromesh. Or rub it down with an old cloth, some alcohol, bleached shellac, and benzoin.
I love fiddles, I love working on them, but I was wondering about what does the school cost as for as learning a little bit of knowledge, I have learned a lot off of videos, well that's all for now so keep up the good work.
Thanks alot,
Gary
Will it work the same if I substitute the denatured alcohol with everclear? Thanks
Everclear works even better!
Thank you very much for posting the video. I’m about to start making my first violin, I may as well make the Varnish as well. How long will the varnish keep? In other words does it need to be used within a few weeks or months? Thanks again 👍
Q for nashvilleluthier: can shellac flakes be subbed for seedlac and if so, what weight is equivalent? thx!
Hi. Thanks for the video. I have a consultation, have you had problems with drying the lavender oil?
None at all. The lavender oil is for brush-ability.
Great information thank you so much
Questa vernice è molto usata la faccio anch'io quando devo verniciare grandi superfici perchè costa poco e si stende bene. Una cosa però devo dire, gli americani riescono a togliere la poesia a tutto quello che fanno, macina caffè. sacchetti di plastica, bicchieri di plastica stagne, bilancia elettronica.......
dai, almeno i sacchetti di plastica si possono perdonare, per praticità
And so, what do you do with the other 9 1/2 pair of hose?
I made the spirit varnish in Ed-Herron Allen's book of powdered benzoin and "pure spirits of wine" (190 grain alcohol, from the liquor store sold as Everclear). I filtered it, and it worked well. I didn't add the saffron. Too expensive to play with.
This looks as though it has a brownish patina to it. How can you make it clear with no color?
+Arkansas Red This varnish has the yellow/amber/brown color because of the seedlac - which is the main ingredient. Without the seedlac it would not be "1704 Varnish". It does not come clear with no color.
+Arkansas Red
Substitute the seedlac with a blonde or platina shellac. You'll probably have to reduce the proportion of shellac a little as seedlac contains stuff that gets filtered out. It won't be 1704 but it will be a lighter coloured version. Not the same though. It will be a little harder to brush as the refined shellacs have the wax content removed.
@vihuelamig - thx for the info. I've heard the cold process takes days.
What is the function of lavender oil?
Mr Nashville, *I* appreciate the inside joke :-)
Great!
instead of denatured alcohol, Can I use methanol?
Never tried it.
any substitute of lavanda oil?
The lavender oil is for brush-ability.
Thank you!!!
What is the shelf life for this varnish?
I have to make a new batch every six months or so - I really don't know as I don't keep it around much longer than that.
I use the 1704 recipe but I don't grind the ingredients. Nor do I heat the varnish. Apart from getting things to dissolve quicker I'm not sure what the heating achieves. Perhaps someone can tell me.
I have substituted Shellac flakes for the seedlac. It probably won't make that much difference but lower the Shellac weight by 10 to 20 grams (from 180) as seedlac contains debris.
Yes but only 2 or 3 days. Prepare in advance and just put the whole lot into a jar and forget about it for a few days. Filter it or alternately place everything in cotton t-shirt material (tea bag method) and suspend it in alcohol.
Where can I buy the indigrients?
www.kremerpigments.com/
Uhh they didn't have pantyhose in 1704 LMAO many mix then heat then filter. Thanks for sharing.
Explaining would be better than music anytime.
Music speaks more languages than I do - hopefully easier to translate than just me talking.
That's an awful lot of varnish. I have heard that it doesn't last a long time....that it doesn't dry well after the batch is a few months old???
We go through it quickly enough.
I don't think is good reception
David, the music is what I like, feel free to just turn the volume off. There actually is an inside joke for those of us who were at the Oberlin Bass Workshops (sorry to exclude you on that) with the last song. As for "garbage," please feel free to post your own violin videos sometime - use Kate Bush for background music - that would be great!