Varnish skinning in the tin

mclark

mclark

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Ramsey, Isle of Man
www.white-heather-nobby.com
Forgive me if this question has been asked before.

Does anyone have any tips on how to prevent traditional linseed oil varnish from skinning up in the tin.

I always decant from the tin what I need on a particular day but even if I only open the tin for a moment to pour I am still faced with some amount of skinning the next time I open the same tin.

Any suggestions on techniques to prevent this would be much appreciated.

Mike
 
mclark said:
Does anyone have any tips on how to prevent traditional linseed oil varnish from skinning up in the tin.
Click to expand...

Yes.

I decant it into those small polythene that 250ml Carex handwash liquid refills comes in. I used some varnish recently that was a few years old.

They are also handy on the boat because if you knock one over the result is less catastrophic than knocking an opened tin over. Also they don't go rusty and, if you want to touch up a scratch or a bit you have missed you can put a few drops on a bit of rag and wipe it over the area
 
Add a few teaspoons of linseed oil to the surface of the varnish then put the lid on. Do not shake or stir, the oil will cover the surface and keep it fresh. Mix prior to use next time. ;)
 
A drop of halitosis?

For what it's worth, I got this tip from an American forum but I have never tried it.

Breathe into the tin just before closing the lid.

Presumably the fumes of stale beer, cheroots and curry drive out any remaining oxygen.

( H & S advice - breathe into the tin, do not inhale :D)
 
A solution I have used with conventional varnish and the need for multiple coats and hence opening of a can (2.5l) is to decant the entire contents into clean jam jars with good caps so that there is enough in each jar for one coat on the current 'project'. Fiddly, I know, but it does mean that I have clean non-oxidised varnish for every coat.
 
Conclusion. Varnish should be sold in a toothpaste tube to remain airless.

Meanwhile I am having some success by using clingfilm laid down into the tin level with the varnish before replacing the lid. In this way although there is air in the tin it is not in direct contact with the air-drying varnish.

I suspect however that over the longer term the clingfilm 'might' dissolve?
 
My Father used to placed large(ish) clean stones into the tin to displace the level of paint / varnish to the top. The resultant smaller air gap became more quickly saturated with the volatiles; the air being insufficient to cause a skin.
 
121 said:
My Father used to placed large(ish) clean stones into the tin to displace the level of paint / varnish to the top. The resultant smaller air gap became more quickly saturated with the volatiles; the air being insufficient to cause a skin.
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Now that is a bloody good Idea! Could even use bits of clean stainless steel or whatever!
 
Blueboatman said:
Conclusion. Varnish should be sold in a toothpaste tube to remain airless.

Meanwhile I am having some success by using clingfilm laid down into the tin level with the varnish before replacing the lid. In this way although there is air in the tin it is not in direct contact with the air-drying varnish.

I suspect however that over the longer term the clingfilm 'might' dissolve?
Click to expand...

Like this?

http://www.toplicht.de/shop/farben-...nd-lackoel/le-tonkinois/le-tonkinois-spachtel
 
Parsifal, me old Yorkybar, I am impressed.

Thank you.

You know I am going to have to try some of that, don't you ?

Regards, Tim
 
Blueboatman said:
Parsifal, me old Yorkybar, I am impressed.

Thank you.

You know I am going to have to try some of that, don't you ?

Regards, Tim
Click to expand...

Bit pricey though, ant it? :eek:

I'll look out for it when I go to France this summer. It might be cheaper there.

BTW1, the Tonkinois liquid varnish is very good. I have been using it for a couple of years and it withstands my neglect better than others I have tried.

BTW2, a few years ago I saw a deck hand on one of the P&O Cherbourg ferries using a French non-drip varnish. I thought I would try a tin of that but unfortunately I lost the bit of paper on which I had written down the name of it.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
121 said:
My Father used to placed large(ish) clean stones into the tin to displace the level of paint / varnish to the top. The resultant smaller air gap became more quickly saturated with the volatiles; the air being insufficient to cause a skin.
Click to expand...

I have seen glass marbles used that way.
 
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