Common Turpentine Varnish

This is merely clear pale resin dissolved in oil of turpentine; usually 5 lbs. of resin to 7 lbs. of turpentine.

Oil Varnishes

These consist of copal and other gums dissolved by heat in boiled linseed oil; generally with the addition of oil of turpentine.

Cabinet Varnish

Fuse 7 lbs. of African copal, and pour on it 4 pints of hot clarified linseed oil (see Oils); in 3 or 4 minutes, if it feels stringy, take it out of the building, where there is no fire near, and when it has cooled to 150° mix in 3 gallons of oil of turpentine of the same temperature, or sufficient to bring it to a due consistence. [Various qualities of copal varnish are made for different purposes; inferior gums are often substituted for, or mixed with copal.]

Amber Varnish

Amber 16 oz.; melt in an iron pot, and add 1/2 pint drying linseed oil, boiling hot, and then 3 oz. of resin and 3 oz. of asphalt, each in fine powder. Stir till they are thoroughly incorporated; remove from the fire, and add a pint of warm oil of turpentine.

Common Oil Varnish

Resin 3 lbs., drying oil 1/2 a gallon; melt together, and add, when removed from the fire, 2 quarts of warm oil of turpentine.

Varnish for Printers' Ink

To every 10 lbs. of clarified linseed oil (see further back) add 5 lbs. of clear black resin, and 1/2 lb. oil of turpentine. It is then ready for mixing with lamp black or other colouring matter. A twelfth part of Canada balsam is sometimes added for the finer sorts.

A few miscellaneous varnishes are added.

Varnish for Engraving on Copper

Yellow wax 1 oz., mastic 1 oz., asphaltum 1/2 oz.; melt, pour into water, and form into balls for use. A softer varnish for engravers is made with 1 part of tallow and 2 of yellow wax; or with 2 oz. of wax, 1 dr. of common turpentine, and 1 dr. olive oil. See Etching Varnishes, further back.

Varnish for Engraving on Glass

1. Wax 1 oz., mastic 1/2 oz., asphaltum 1/4 oz., turpentine 1/2 dr.

2. Mastic 15 parts, turpentine 7, oil of spike 4 parts.

Le Blond's Varnish

Keep 4 lbs. of balsam of copaivi warm in a sand or water-bath, and add 16 oz. of copal, previously fused and coarsely powdered, by single ounces daily, and stir it frequently; when dissolved add a little Chio turpentine.

Bessemer's Varnish, for metallic paint

This is made with 8 lbs. of copal, 2 1/2 gallons of drying oil, and 25 gallons of oil of turpentine. These are made into a varnish nearly as directed for Cabinet Varnish; and afterwards mixed with a gallon of slaked lime, and left for 3 days to settle. The clear portion is then drawn off, and 5 parts of varnish mixed with 4 parts of bronze powder.

Macintosh's Caoutchouc Varnish

Dissolve 1 lb. of India rubber cut in shreds in a quarter of a pint of rectified coal naphtha. [Caoutchouc varnishes may be made with any one of the solvents for it, noticed before. The following are also used:]

India

Rubber Varnish, for boots. Dissolve 1/4 oz. of caoutchouc in 2 oz. of mineral naphtha. Dissolve also 1/2 oz. of asphaltum in 1 oz. of oil of turpentine. Mix the solutions.

Balloon Varnish

Melt India rubber in small pieces with its weight of boiled linseed oil, and thin it with oil of turpentine.