Can you varnish a violin?
Varnishing. Your violin should now be the yellow/brown/honey color, the ground properly dry and cured. Generally, when varnishing, you should watch out for the following qualities: color, darkness, thinness, transparency.
What kind of varnish is used for violins?
oil varnish
Varnishes for violins tend to be either oil varnish, or sprit based varnish (also known as shellac) and in this post, we’ll take a look at oil varnish. We know how good some old oil-based varnish recipes are because some renowned violin makers have been using varnishes based on centuries-old recipes.
Does violin varnish affect the sound?
Varnish not only protects a violin, it also influences the instrument’s sound. Summary: Varnish does more than just provide a protective sheen to a violin. It influences the vibrations and impulses that the wood absorbs and therefore the quality of sound the instrument produces, says an expert.
How do you make oil varnish?
The standard mixture is 1/3 Boiled Linseed Oil or Tung Oil, 1/3 thinner (mineral spirits, paint thinner, turpentine, naptha), and 1/3 varnish (poly, spar, etc..). Now the blend mentioned in Brian’s question involved using both linseed oil and tung oil.
How do you restore a varnish on a violin?
To restore the wood finish of your violin, you must first wipe off all dust and dirt with a microfiber cloth. Then, using a small amount of violin polish on a different cloth, wipe the body of the violin along the grain of the wood, using long strokes. Follow this up by cleaning your strings.
How long does it take to varnish a violin?
The varnish itself takes another two weeks, with one thin coat a day; it requires total concentration, because each new coat can dissolve the ones already applied. The completed varnish then needs to cure for another week or so before I can polish out the instrument and set it up.
What is the importance of varnish on acoustic violins?
The wood lacks durability, so violin makers protect it from environmental damage using a varnish. It is this protective coating that gives the violin its elegant dark brown colour. Violin makers pass their varnish recipes down from one generation to the next.
Can you use wood polish on violin?
Never, ever use household wood polish on your violin. They can leave deposits that negatively impact the sound of your instrument. Therefore, the best way to polish your instrument is to use your own breath, or have a luthier perform it. Keeping your violin clean and looking great really just requires regular wiping.
Is it worth restoring old violin?
Many times, string replacements and cleaning, refitting the bridge, Soundpost, or other small fixes can make a huge difference in the look and sound of an older violin. If you can glimpse a paper label, even one that is yellowed and curled, the violin may indeed be an exceptional instrument, worthy or repair.
What’s the best way to varnish a violin?
Brush on a coat of this varnish strongly colored with a brown “extract.”. Oil varnish dries faster in the sun. Rub carefully with a good rubbing compound on a felt pad. Polish with a “creme” violin polish on a paper towel. The back of the new violin. We all agree it’s a good one.
What’s the difference between oil varnish and spirit varnish?
An oil varnish soaks down thoroughly into the slender crevices and pores between the fibres of the wood. On the other hand a spirit varnish simply overlies it, and adheres like a skin which can be peeled off. The oil becomes practically an integral part of the wood; both welding together, as it were.
What kind of pigment is used for violin varnish?
Pigments used in violin varnishing are the same as used for artist’s colors. Many pigments are earth materials ground up and used direct or treated. For example, burning some kinds of early material gives a nice dark brown. Thus burnt umber arises as a pigment and as a name for the associated color.
What kind of solvent is used for oil varnish?
In the most ancient types of oil varnishes, the solvent is the oil; the most common oil varnish solvent, turpentine, is more recent, and functions more as a diluent to improve working characteristics of oil varnishes than as the primary solvent.