Lumps in Varnish.

Alpha22

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Hi

I have been using a tin of Epifanes varnish since January and now I am getting lumps in it.

I am about halfway down the tin. Are these bits formed from stiring the 'skin' into the varnish?

How can I remove it from the rest of the tin?

Should I filter it through one of SWMBOs best stockings?

Many thanks.


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AndrewB

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The rest of the varnish will have thickened too, so even after straining it cannot be used for top-quality work. Any you do strain must be used immediately.

You have to keep the air away from unused varnish, to prolongue its shelf-life. This means decanting the amount you need for each job and getting the lid back on quick, making sure the lid is making an air-tight seal etc. Even then, once open it won't last forever.

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TheCount

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I usually strain the amount of varnish I am going to use into a bowl with one of `er indoors's popsocks over it. This gets all the lumps out and the popsocks are easy to steal one at a time!!
If you pour a small amount of thinners into the tin when you have finished using it, preferably before you put the lid back on, it stops all these lumps and replaces the lost solvents in the varnish.

Cheers Andy

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tcm

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yiou have to chuck it away yer tight git. Use smaller tins, and more quickly. Pour out the amount you need into a smaller container and reseal asap - never dip the brush directly into the tin if you want a decent finish. Alternatively, carry on with the gunky rubbish and varnish something cheap that nobody can see.

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hwkeene

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try putting the strained varnish into a wine bottle and use a wine stopper that can be pumped to remove the air from the bottle. Works for me!

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