Ep. 62: Preparing spirit varnish

[@violinpairsendejas]

This is a very interesting and very illustrative video, thank you friend Edgar for sharing

[@guillermogreen3295]

Always informative, and "common sensical" - thank you Edgar!

[@ceciliaruizmusica]

Hi Edgar! Regards from Argentina! Will try this recipe for sure!! Thanks for shearing!

[@イエンスヨハンセン]

Thanks Edgar - I’ve really been looking forward to this video. I’m generally after a completely uncoloured varnish, so I will go for a much whiter shellac and will leave out the turmeric (that’s curcuma in English, by the way).

[@pascalbruder6620]

Do you use Ethanol or Isopropyl alcohol as a solvent. Ethanol seems to be the common choice, but Isopropyl isn't as aggressive on the already hardened layers which may be an advantage. Solving the resins in Isopropyl will probably be a bit harder though. If anyone has tried both or just either of them i'd love to know about your experiences. Thanks a lot for your videos, Edgar!

[@milkomonaco109]

Ciao Edgard ...seguo i tuoi video dalla Puglia dove vivo ora (quanto tempo da quando Nina e Federico erano bambini!) 😉

[@sandyblond20]

: ) Violin making is just so much fun and accomplishment. Thankx

[@EdgarRuss]

Thank you so much ER

[@emanuelbudiyuwono2463]

now am just waiting for the oil varnish making. thank you for sharing!

[@tzeentchauseebacher1302]

Thanks, just made my first batch.

[@mkdijkstra4855]

all ingredients received, so i made your varnish today Edgar, thanks, i am curious and can't wait for the result

[@EdgarRuss]

How is it working? Let me know [e-mail] Edgar

[@mkdijkstra4855]

Hi Edgar, didn't had the time to inform you, but i like the recipe!!!, but as you already know, and i think you know who i am, because we had contact by mail (my real name sin't mkdijkstra), but think i have to learn on how to apply because within a second of 6, i can't correct my visible brush strokes :) , but that is my mistake!!. I used The indian yellow gumi guty (which is toxic) instead of curcuma@@EdgarRuss

[@Mandolin1944]

Very well done video -- just the information I was looking for! Thanks!

[@Qwerty8]

After watching your videos twice... well, I should try building one by myself. Should be possible for a toolmaker.... let’s do this 🤔☕️☕️☕️🤓

[@EdgarRuss]

Great! Get started! 👍🏼

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

In my opinion, Varnish works is the the most complicated part of violin making. And there's a lot of different kinds of Varnish, Varnishing method/techniques, recipes, and so on

[@brolnt]

Good afternoon Edgar, how are you? my name is Bruno, I really admire his work and I would first like to thank him for the videos and guidelines posted on his channel, and I confess that he always helps me in my simple work that I do around here. I would love to buy a Varnish made by you, how do I buy it? I'm waiting. Thank you very much

[@sergiodamian2147]

Congrats you are great! It Would be interesting you make a video varnishing with this one

[@EdgarRuss]

fore sure I am going to do that soon er or later. Thank you for your support ER

[@FAZX1104]

Many thanks Edgar, you giving us always the best information 👍 There is no more any secret about varnish, except secret garden😉

[@EdgarRuss]

You are welcome! 🤣 ER

[@wmhemphill8642]

This is so rad, thank you.

[@itdock]

Thanks for the amazing video Edgar. I appreciate the information. I'll try the recipe!

[@EdgarRuss]

Thank you so much. I am looking forward to hear how you like the varnish. all the best ER

[@itdock]

It's dissolving now! Can't wait to try it!

[@mkdijkstra4855]

@@EdgarRuss 3 liter of varnish for me is to much, if i want one liter of varnish, do i have to divide all ingredients with 3?,so 1 liter of alcohol, 133gr shellac,66 gram of sandarac, etc etc? please let me know.thank you

[@arashamed]

Thanks for this great video, can you show us how to prepare Spirit Primer (Ground)? we appreciate all that you do, thanks Edgar

[@joshuam2154]

So sad I missed you at NAMM 😭How was it and where are the videos!? I came down with a cold and decided not to go. But hopefully it was successful and will see you back in California next year!

[@EdgarRuss]

I am so sorry to hear that you couldn't come.It has been nice to meet to many in Anaheim, lots of compliments and they all appreciated the instruments I brought to show off. For sure I will come soon again to the US. all the best and hope you are of great heath again now. ER

[@brahmsbratsche]

Thanks again Edgar. While more of your videos I watch, more questions I have. But let me ask you only one: the shellac (gomma Lacca) I have seen in the market are Lemon Shellac, Blonde Shellac, Orange Shellac. And Waxed and dewaxed. Which one would be similar to Gomma Lacca Angelo. Thanks !!

[@michel_leblanc]

Hi Edgar, How does that recipe compare to the 1704 recipe? o 45 g seedlac o 7.5 g gum elemi o 200 ml alcohol o 9 ml Lavender Oil Spike

[@luiszkm3206]

hello say hi to brazil.would you like to know how i darken the varnish in a dark brown or black color? thanks for sharing this knowledge with us, keep doing this beautiful job

[@bluehoo0]

Thank you I like the video and I like your sense of humour 👍👍👍 What would the shelf life be? I assume you put it into small containers and fill to the top so there’s no air inside. If I wonted to make half the amount do I half the ingredients? Once again thank you very much for making the videos

[@EdgarRuss]

I like my sense of humor as well!!!!! 😂 Spirit varnish dries by evaporation. Therefore you just need to close the jar tight. that's all. Never mind how much varnish is in the jar. Oil varnish is the one you need to pay attention that there is less air as possible in the jar...!!!!! I'll make a video about this matter since I use ´both kinds of varnish. thank you for your interest and support all the best ER

[@bluehoo0]

Edgar Russ Distinguished Violinmaker Thanks Edgar I didn’t realise that the spirit varnish would be ok with air in the jar. I was placing glass marbles in the container to keep the varnish at the top as I used it.

[@dinot5991]

Hello dear Edgar !hope u and your family are safe in this unusual pandemic. i recently starting making greek lyra , and i have little problem finishing the instrument. i buy oil varnish, spirit varnish , but not good results! i will fallow your recipe and i already feel positive that i will have better results. how can i make the recipe u give us above reddish?? what should i substitute the kourkouma with?? thank u very much for sharing!!looking forward for your new videos!!

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

Maybe woodfast earth pigment Red? That pigments is usually used in retouching varnish

[@michaelmcnamara7292]

Hello Edgar, the juniper you added appears to be a white powder…. Is this powder derived from the juniper berries, or another part of the tree?

[@chrisanderson2984]

When you say Juniper...do you mean what the 'ancients' call juniper? Because today that is called "Sandarac resin". While Juniperus trees do make resinous tears...those are much more expensive and are used for burning incense. Just trying to buy the compnents to make the recipe...and i cant find juniper tears at any varnish suppliers in the USA...

[@wilson9213]

great video! very interesting .. just wondering how i would get a more red brown colour in the varnish :) would appreciate the help

[@caspervandalen5584]

you do need to add more dyes/pigment afterwards if you want more colour.

[@JulianDulo]

Hi Edgar, What is the shelf life for this varnish 🤔

[@tpistor]

How do you color your varnish? I am assuming you use synthetic aniline dyes?

[@EdgarRuss]

Sometimes, But I prefer mainly to use woodextract which I make myself from Paduca, Sandolo and Ratania with my Soxleth. Once you have something like that it s easy to use. not a big effort and costs very little and makes fun to know that you made your own color.

[@jz441]

Hello Edgar. Do you prefer dewaxed shellac flakes, or is it ok to use flakes with wax in it?

[@istvanstojko2072]

dewaxed

[@somebodyfixmyinternet]

A friend linked me to yoyr video. Can you use this recipe to French polish?

[@ositoCastro]

Benzoin in english. Thanks Edgar

[@ibnhashim]

I'm a guitar maker and often finish with just shellac. What do these other ingredients add to your spirit varnish?

[@EdgarRuss]

It makes the varnish a little more softer. Benzoe makes it more shiny. And all together it is easier to apply with a brush compared to only shellack. But I think on guitars use Shellack and benzoe only. Keep things as easy as possible. all the best ER

[@przybyla420]

I have found that adding propolis to shellac/grain alcohol (don’t use denatured) reduces the urgency of oiling your rag/pad and produces a softer to the touch, more “waxy” sheen. Like the appearance of a new car (plain shellac) vs a buffed apple (+ propolis). Propolis also leaves a very nice “musty bookstore filled with flowers” smell which lingers for months.

[@przybyla420]

And it’s darker, more brown. Straight propolis is strangely similar to shellac/propolis, but darker still, slightly more fragrant and no oil is needed on the pad. I haven’t tried brushing spirits. I believe thinner coats using the French polish method is much more durable (but perhaps additional ingredients or precise ratios compensate for this).

[@ssp5324]

Thank you for your information. But I want to know how to prepare an easy varnish such as fake shallac and cohol.

[@remonnazeer7185]

Thank you Edgar but please what is Benzot is there another name for it ?

[@jansvoboda8940]

Benzoe is Benzoin in english.

[@bluehoo0]

Hello Edgar to make half the amount of this varnish would using half the ingredients work.

[@bachsound711]

With out rosen?

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

Spirit Varnish is mainly Made out of Lac flakes, and Oil Varnish is Made out of Rosin and Oil.

[@mkdijkstra4855]

Hi Edgar, question, 3 liters amount for me is a big to much, can i divide it with 3 if i want 1 liter?, so that all ingredients should be also divided by 3?

[@mkdijkstra4855]

I always dissolve my spirit varnish (schellac, and the other ingredients) in een big jar, and put the jar in a pan of warm water on a electric plate, goes very quickly