Beaux Eau Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 I bought a (not-completely-hack-job) white Italian violin as a gift for my son (The Prodigy), which I'd like to finish myself (on the cheap) in clear varnish. Can anyone suggest over-the-counter finish alternatives for truly amateur application? Thanks, all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMM22 Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 Just a thought, despite the apparent novelty of a clear varnish, I have never seen a really light violin that was appealing. It is done from time to time by amateurs but it is always a mistake. If the violin is a good one, you will be much happier in the long run with a more traditional varnish color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean_Lapinel Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 I didn't know anyone sold white Italian violins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANFIO Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 Yes, unless you've got a white bench made violin from an Italian maestro, there are no violin factories in Italy anymore... but I may be wrong... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaux Eau Posted April 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 Into the valley of shadows rode Beaux Eau: the violin is unlabelled, but the seller (whom I believe to be reputable) represents it as a student instrument from a violin school in Italy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oded Kishony Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 Look up Darnton Mastic varnish, follow the directions but do not add any color. If you leave the insturment in the sun for a few weeks beforehand, it will turn a nice tawny color. Oded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Speers Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 GMM, When I was young, my cello teacher had an nstrument that was very light, and absolutely stunning. I remember it clearly to this day. The details of construction are a bit fuzzy in my brain, but I remember him telling me something about custom ordering it with only clear varnish, so it would age over time. It could have been made with a light amber, but I "remember" him saying it was done completely clear. At that time, I think the cello was around 10 years old. He said it had darkened a bit naturally, and would continue to do so for many more years. I dunno, but that's what he told me. Maybe only certain types of varnish will do this? Anyway, that cello looked amazing. That teacher has long since passed away, so there's no way for me to check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANFIO Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 An Amati like golden yellow (giallo-oro) is quite a good colour, fantastic, but difficult to achieve... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfjk Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 quote: Originally posted by: MANFIO An Amati like golden yellow (giallo-oro) is quite a good colour, fantastic, but difficult to achieve... Perhaps Amati used cler varnish on his violins? My experience is that all pine resins change colour in time (20-30 years) Some resins, especially what ouses out of larch can turn a very attractive red-brown colour. Spruce resin from northern Europe turn to light to darker amber colour. It happens to natural resins without any processing and over a long time. Cheers Wolfjk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANFIO Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 It may be... but that golden yellow is quite intense... I think there is a colour or pigment there... Beaux Eau: Varnishing is a rather complex subject... I think that you could try ready made varnish... For a light coloured varnish, I would reccomend sun tanning followed by Magister Products (Koen Padding) Vernice Liquida rubed with tripoli or very fine pumice over the wood (leave no residue over the wood) followed by "doratura Cremonese" till you get the desired colour. These varnishes are rather simple to apply (if varnishing can considered simple...) compared with other varnishes. Making your own varnish would make things much more difficult and complex to you, I think. Just my two cents... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colledge Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 Beaux Eau I thought I saw some application steps / tips in the International Violin Company catalog. If you buy some commercial oil varnish from them and follow their steps, you can achieve the amateur varnish job that you are looking. It will be very amateur, but sometimes you just have to do it and see what happens to learn something and have fun. It isn't necessary for you to make varnish just to do that. Most suppliers of varnish materials include some application tips. Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joerobson Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 Amber shellac, carefully aplied in thin coats, will do the job. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salieri Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 You can go to your local hardware store and buy a can of Bulls Eye Amber Shellac, and apply about six coats to the violin, and polish it a bit after it's dry. The Amber color is a nice golden yellow, it's very easy to apply, and it dries very quickly. This will be a very satisfactory finish for your son's violin. If you want a nicer, more professional finish, you could apply a few coats of diluted amber shellac (dilute it with de-natured alcohol), and then varnish it with a varnish available from one of the retailers I've linked to below, or do a search here for Michael Darnton's Mastic Varnish if you'd like to make your own (it's really very easy, although it takes a couple of weeks to dissolve the mastic). The shellac provides a very good ground for the varnish, and clear or colored varnish looks very good over the nice amber color. Violin Varnish (Joe Robson) "http://www.sinopia.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=violin&btnSearch=GO&Page=1"> Kremer, now Sinopia "http://www.internationalviolin.com/SearchByCategory.aspx?CategoryCode=57"> International Violin Luscombe "http://www.internationalluthiers.com/finish.php">International Luthiers Supply "http://ambervarnish.com/index.php?pr=instruments">Alchemist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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