How to Use

When used as varnishes for bowed musical instruments, it is suggested that the musical instrument maker add 8 to 10 drops of cobalt dryer to every 15 ml of dark amber varnish and use a drying cabinet to aid in the drying of the varnish. Since these varnishes do not contain dryers, drying time will vary; exposure to the sun will greatly aid in the drying as suggested by 16th-century painters. Cobalt dryers of no more than 2% can be added if the artist chooses to quicken the drying time. This fact should be taken into consideration by artists painting in damp climates or in basement studios.

Step-by-step Instructions

Due to the oil content of the varnish, these mediums should not be applied to the soundboards of musical instruments such as guitars, harpsichords, lutes, and pianos where if varnish is required it should be spirit based rather than oil. This rule does not apply to soundboards and bodies of violins and bowed musical instruments.

Our Dark Amber Varnishes make excellent coatings for harpsichords outer cases piano bodies and all types of wooden furniture. Oil-based mediums have historically been applied to violin and bowed instruments in general.

Translations of this and other recipes for amber and non-amber varnishes along with the directions can be found in our book Lost Secrets of Flemish Painting .

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