Beefing up Zinser dewaxed shellac for a good enough violin varnish

[steveperry]

I have a bunch of the dewaxed shellac.  I have a bunch of resins and so on.  Any suggestions on additions with the goals of improving build-up, nice feel, brushing characteristics, and what not?  I have some violins in the white to do, and I used to have a decent spirit varnish application skill set.  No idea whether I still do!  But I intend to try it out, anyway.  

 

I was thinking a bit of sandarac and mastic, maybe some Venetian turpentine or something like that.  Any essential oils be useful?  I also have too much polymerized tung oil.  Not sure what to use it for.

 

Thanks all.

[joerobson]

I'd skip the Venice Turpentine.  The Sandarac will be a bit harder than the shellac.  The mastic will soften the varnish.

Joe