The Framers Forum

Hi. I am looking to varnish some frames in clear varnish but want to get a really really thick textured finish.

Does anybody know how i can thicken varnish (using clear gloss yachting varnish) without discolouring it

Thanks

Yacht varnish is a usually a clear oil based varnish and it dries quite slowly, which usually means that any texture created during the varnish drying will allow the texture to self level as it dries and any texture will simply self level as it dries. Creatng texture by adding some solid matter to the varnish, runs the risk that the varnish will no longer be particularly clear. So sorry, but You can't always have your cake and eat it. As far as I know, it is much easier to add texture to paint, rather than to a clear varnish.

Is there any particular reason why it has to be yacht varnish?

Instead use a 'heavy-gel' acrylic medium first to create the texture and when dry, spay on some varnish.

Look on the Jacksons Art website - acrylic gel mediums.

You could try Dammar crystals which you leave in Turpentine (Not White Spirit) overnight. Then strain it to get any
bits out. Normally you would make the turps/crystals ratio so the varnish was quite thin, but you could make it
thicker. I've made it 'thin' but never tried to make it thicker. Worth a shot to see if it works. The resultant
varnish is tough as old boots and dries fast. Better than water-based proprietary brands as it is soluble in turps
when it is dry. If you use it over an acrylic paint you can strip off the varnish without stripping the paint.