Slight cloudiness in varnish after polishing

[liang7079]

Hello all:

   Has anyone had a slight cloudiness in the varnish after polishing with tripoli (rose) and mineral oil ? 

The final layer of varnish has definitely dried

Please advise how to polish it out (or if this is normal). Many thanks..

[Elias Schwartzman]

What kind of varnish?

[liang7079]

Hi it's oil (copal/colophony) varnish.

[ernym]

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Marine-Finesse-Glaze-35928/dp/B000XBJ61U

[Mike_Danielson]

Probably surface scratches.  French polish to fill in the scratches and get the correct shine.

[David Burgess]

If the varnish was not cloudy prior to using an abrasive, only after, then the abrasive is probably to course for the look you are going for.

I use French polishing (which Mike Danielson alluded to) for my final finish. Using this to spiff up older instruments, and ones you did not make is highly frowned upon, but on ones own instruments, one can do whatever one wants, and it will still be original.

I've learned a heck of a lot from automotive paint products and tech, but the bottom line is that an automotive paint finish is not quite what we are looking for on a violin.

[liang7079]

Thanks to all the replies everyone! (And no I did not sift the tropli powder... probably the cause of that slight cloudiness..)

[joerobson]

On 11/5/2024 at 5:01 PM, liang7079 said:

Hello all:

   Has anyone had a slight cloudiness in the varnish after polishing with tripoli (rose) and mineral oil ? 

The final layer of varnish has definitely dried

Please advise how to polish it out (or if this is normal). Many thanks..

What is your oil to resin ratio?