Varnish

[kustenjaeger]

Greetings

So I've now got my French SYW painted and based (infantry standards being worked on).  Allies next. 

I want to varnish the stands for protection in due course.  What varnish would people recommend - spray or brush and any particular brand(s)?  I'm in the UK. 

I'm also not sure whether to gloss varnish then matt or just satin varnish.

Regards

Edward

[mad lemmey]

Vallejo matt acrylic spray, can cost the same as GW purity spray, smells better and lasts longer!  .

With all varnish sprays: Use in a well ventilated space, away from flammable objects, such as your wife!    At this time of year if you spray outside bring into the coldest room of the house to cure slowly, DO NOT bring into the warmest room as it will condense and form a white film over your figures and ruin them!

[goat major]

After a couple of accidents I am now very nervous of spray varnish. True, many people use  it for years with no problem - but if it does go wrong then its infuriating.

I now use a brush on technique - which hardly takes any more time than spraying

Coat 1 Gloss Varnish. Thin down Humbrol Gloss enamel varnish with white spirits and paint on (if you want extra toughness apply an extra coat - i dont bother usually). Let it dry for 24 hours.

Coat 2 Matt Varnish - i use Winsor & Newton Galeria acrylic matt. You can occasionally need a second coat to matt it down fully. I usually let it dry (an hour or so) and then touch up any shiny bits that i've missed.

not too much faff, doesnt run the risk of going wrong and as an added bonus in winter - you dont need to go outside!

If you are going to spray then Testor's dullcote is the mattest matt of all - but you would probably need a gloss coat underneath for protection

[NTM]

Winsor & Newton Acrylic Matt for me too, although I prefer the Artists one to the Galeria (find I get better & more consistent results with it) Don't bother with the gloss first either but my stuff does not get high use.

[goat major]

how is the Artists different to Galeria ? is it still water based ?

[NTM]

Still water based yes, generally speaking the Artists range are higher quality than Galeria (or supposed to be atleast), I just find it easier to get a consistent matt finish with the former rather than the latter, although in all likelihood it's just me!

[goat major]

i might just give it a go then. Finding the perfect matt varnish is a bit like the quest for the Grail

[Techno]

IF it still exists....And I've just looked it up and it DOES....Letracote...Which is really intended to protect flat artwork...Was always 100% reliable...Never ever had a duff can of that.....Used to 'dull down' figures that had been given a coating of gloss varnish for 'extra protection' as a first step..... perfectly.

Cheers - Phil. (And if any of you smutty boggers makes a comment about extra-protection....You'll get such a smack !! )

[mad lemmey]

Ohhh Phil! 

[Hertsblue]

I've always brushed on varnish - gloss first and then matt - as I've always understood that matt varnish could react with some paints. Started using Vallejo from FoW recently and much impressed. 

[wargamesbob]

Perhaps I'm just a cheapskate bur I have been using Ronseal Ultra Tough Mattcoat clear varnish (for interior woodwork) for many years now. It's as flat as anything I've come across over the years, it's cheap, a five quid tin will see me through a year or more of intensive use, and as it says on the tin its tough. Just remember to apply it sparingly as though you are drybrushing.
Bob