The basics of varnish

As the violin of the Making a Violin Series is approaching its final fase, I start talking a bit about Varnish. In this video we take a look at the basics.

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[Kubikirihochou]

Finally someone shared a reliable recipe for the varnish, I was really anticipating this video!! Thank you so much!

[Petroschristidis]

Bravo maestro Kimon ! Again another of your excellent tutorial videos ! Thanks

[pranayjain]

Thank you very much, Master. This series has really helped me appreciate all the work that goes into violin making and luthiers, and surely inspires me to become a better player. You, sir, are a true artist whose service helps players like me everyday!

[coltwarren]

Very informative Kimon. I plan to use French polishing for my violin, the same i will use for my acoustic guitars. Thank you for your nice videos .

[taldeus]

Great info, thank you for going into detail on the varnish process. All the books I have read now make more sense.

[williamh]

You're a good theater. Thank you!

[nickyork]

Great video, thank you. May I say, and your English is excellent, that the word 'solves' is not the same as 'dissolves', for future reference in making videos, although it is very clear what you meant. This is the only video I have seen which quickly and practically explains how to varnish a violin, for which I am eternally grateful. Regarding sealers, one option is egg white/gelatin, as noted by the fact that you use it in another video. I once tried high quality linseed oil, which looked great but is not a good option as it affects the sound too much and never dries!!

[Aecarvalho]

Finally! Thank you so much for the explanation and the recipe maestro, though I should say it's really difficult and expensive getting mastic and elemi here but I liked the technique of mixing the resins separately then adding the filtered varnishes together.

[djmrozinski]

Just a very quick question. Is the mastic desolved in alcohol a good sealer before using oil varnish?

[furmankl]

Hey Kimon, thank you for a great video. I have a question - how long would this alcohol varnish be useful, does it have some expiration time?

[JustiaFiat]

Dear Maestro,
I'm trying to make the varnish explained in this video, but the juniper does not dissolve in my 99.9% ethanol while the mastix, shellac and elemi have dissolved within 24h. Do you usually Heat the mixture up, or is my juniper of the wrong quality perhaps? Its resin from the sandarac tree not a conifer like juniper if that matters.
Thanks for your advice!

[michaelmcnamara]

Can you explain the Juniper….. what part of the juniper tree are you adding. Wood, sap, bark, berries. When I search for juniper, I can only find the berries for sale

[matthewharrison]

Hey Maestro, where do you buy the ingredients for your varnish?

[ahah]

I have two older violins from 1920's probably...one has very matte reddish color /w flamed maple back and the other one is very very glossy and smooth with spruce on both sides...tried to find some more about them but no luck...It says Adolf Benson, Attleboro 1926 in th f-hole, the glossy one has no label at all=)

[i.k.]

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[ilciavo]

Excellent! I want to apply a violin varnish on my guitar

[itiyagerbi]

Could you please make a video that shows how you actually do the varnishing?

[sfbirdclub]

Great videos. Where is the start of varnishing the instrument we "helped" you make? I feel post part or something not seeing it past the toddler stage. I'm a good parent *now I'll be quiet*

[pirathviolin]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Just one question, what type of alcohol has to be use for the recipe?

[joshuam]

Great information. Which Alcohol is best to use?