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ctviolin
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Joined: 07 May 2009
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Location: Roswell
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 Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: Violin Varnish - exactly what is it? Does it exist? |
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| pmccombs wrote: | | ctviolin wrote: | I will still tell anyone who wants to know, exactly what I use.
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Is it hard to make your own varnish? I usually just buy whatever Intl. Violin Co. sells, though I've used shellac and even guitar lacquer too.
Someday I want to try making some, just for fun. I haven't gotten into the deep theory and drama of proper varnish yet. |
The only varnishes I have made from scratch, (that I remember) are the famous Darnton/oil/mastic varnish (did I remember that name correctly?) and a Luscombe spirit varnish.
Mostly I still use the Ace spar oil varn. ( I still have most of that first gallon - if I recall, it was from 7 - 9 dollars <g>)
I've gotten used to it, and can make it do pretty much whatever I want it to do.
While I consider myself a violin maker, I do not kid myself that I'll ever be a varnish maker...
Such a desire is just not in me, though, I'll experiment around with anything out there. (Usually, only if it is reasonably priced)
But I understand the desire to branch into different areas - like I'm slowly branching into bow making...
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Last edited by ctviolin on Sun Jun 09, 2013 12:04 am; edited 1 time in total |
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ctviolin
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| Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry - dup answer.
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MWard
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Joined: 19 Oct 2010
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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Not to be too off topic, but yes, banjo necks are varnished. I grew up with a banjo in my hands, and as an ex, high-speed Bluegrasser, the finish did not slow me down at all. (Then again, I got good the old fashioned way-- I practiced 6-8 hours a day for 10+ years....I have a thing for repetition.)
But everybody needs a gimmick. There is now a "speed neck" finish that some bluegrassers like. Essentially they do what you mentioned-- varnish a neck, then rub the varnish off and polish the wood. Having played those necks, I find no difference in them, because if your left hand is right, you are not grabbing the neck like a pool cue but hardly holding it at all--- your fingertips do the work and actually very little of your hand touches the neck.
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pmccombs
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Location: Utah
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| Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 11:03 pm Post subject: Re: Violin Varnish - exactly what is it? Does it exist? |
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| ctviolin wrote: | Mostly I still use the Ace spar oil varn. ( I still have most of that first gallon - if I recall, it was from 7 - 9 dollars <g>)
I've gotten used to it, and can make it do pretty much whatever I want it to do.
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I applaud your thrift! Maybe I'll have to get me a gallon of spar oil varnish. You say the original Ace formula is no longer available? Was it special? |
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ctviolin
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Posts: 961
Location: Roswell
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| Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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| MWard wrote: | Not to be too off topic, but yes, banjo necks are varnished. I grew up with a banjo in my hands, and as an ex, high-speed Bluegrasser, the finish did not slow me down at all. (Then again, I got good the old fashioned way-- I practiced 6-8 hours a day for 10+ years....I have a thing for repetition.)
But everybody needs a gimmick. There is now a "speed neck" finish that some bluegrassers like. Essentially they do what you mentioned-- varnish a neck, then rub the varnish off and polish the wood. Having played those necks, I find no difference in them, because if your left hand is right, you are not grabbing the neck like a pool cue but hardly holding it at all--- your fingertips do the work and actually very little of your hand touches the neck. |
Very interesting!
Am I mistaken, or do banjo players routinely also use a strap around the back of the neck? to hold the banjo there in space, for them to have at it?
ahh yes, I like to know this stuff - you never know when it will come in handy - I have a Gibson F-5 model Mandolin that's half done (for the last five years...) and I forgot already what is done to the neck on that bad boy.
Thanks for the answer, now I understand why you wanted to know exactly what you wanted to know - I feel like I'd probably just take the gloss down a bit then, with an abrasive - of which wet micro mesh would probably do well. Once it s not glossy anymore it will not really re gloss itself just from playing...
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ctviolin
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| Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:46 am Post subject: Re: Violin Varnish - exactly what is it? Does it exist? |
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| pmccombs wrote: | | ctviolin wrote: | Mostly I still use the Ace spar oil varn. ( I still have most of that first gallon - if I recall, it was from 7 - 9 dollars <g>)
I've gotten used to it, and can make it do pretty much whatever I want it to do.
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I applaud your thrift! Maybe I'll have to get me a gallon of spar oil varnish. You say the original Ace formula is no longer available? Was it special? |
Yes, they no longer make it. They stopped making it as soon as I found it and started using it. Figures don't it?
Special? well, I'm not sure that that designation is applicable - they decided to discontinue it after all. Probably because they want all their varnishes to be artificial (what's that "poly" crap they use now ?? I forget)
Special to me - yes, in the fact that it works as well as any violin varnish I've ever used.
If you want to try some, e-mail me and we'll work something out.
On the other hand - if I didn't have this "almost a gal." left, I'd simply go out and find something else I liked - see what I mean, there is simply no way I'm going to ever be a "violin varnish" sucke.. er, I mean, customer, again...
Why would I?
I know I'd find something available somewhere, that would satisfy me - an oil varn. of some sort - perhaps an oil exerior boat varn...???
email me if you'd like;
xxxctviolin@gmail.comxxx
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Chet Bishop
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Joined: 23 Mar 2007
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Location: Forest Grove, Oregon
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| Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 10:34 am Post subject: |
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I was on a road-trip this weekend, and happened through an area where the (pine) trees had been heavily pruned-- all the branches to about head-height were gone. They had oozed a lot of pitch, of course, which, in some places had accumulated an inch or more of the sticky gunk.
So I sharpened a stick into a make-shift spoon, and got busy. In about 30 minutes I collected 2-3 pounds of the stuff (three zip-lock sandwich bags, bulging full). I could have gotten more, but those were all the bags I had. 
Looking forward to trying my hand at varnish making.
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ctviolin
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| Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 11:24 am Post subject: |
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| Chet Bishop wrote: |
Looking forward to trying my hand at varnish making.
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Chet, I also live in an area where (two or three hours away - up on the "hill" - Ruidoso, where the Indian (Mescalero) gaming casinos are!) is a beautiful dense pine forest.
If you have some good results, please post them here, as this would be a great outdoor project for me right now, also.
I'd copy this, simply because it would get me back out and moving around - which I must start doing soon - never mind the idea making and of using ENTIRELY homemade varnish...
Cool idea,
ct
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Chet Bishop
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Location: Forest Grove, Oregon
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| Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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OK, will do. For now, be aware, wherever they have pruned a pine tree, it will ooze sap for a loooonng time. It can make a real mess. My first sight was of what looked like a large, white, rough-looking mushroom in the grass. Of course, it turned out to be a mass of pure pitch, mostly dry.
When I turned my eyes upward, to the tree itself, I realized that virtually every limb-scar had a similar mound of pitch. Some were an inch deep. Some were so dry they came off in a big chunk, some were about like a stiff marmelade, or something, in consistency. I was completely indiscriminate, and gathered everything I could fit into the three ziplock bags I had at my disposal. We'll see how it turns out.
I figure for now I can at least dissolve and filter the goop, and get it as clean as possible, then research the best way to cook it, how to wash the linseed oil, etc, and get the best start I can hope for.
Finally, I have a 200' driveway, with a large, open, gravel area, and I hope to position the hot plate out in the middle of that so as to not risk starting a fire. (Use a sand-bath, deep pot, all the other precautions...)
"Ye Olde Alchemie for ye Funn ande Profit" Sounds like a good book title!
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Chet Bishop
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