Acrylic - compatible varnish

[SWO]

I'm using Admiralty acrylics on my Pegasus build, and I bought some water-based Admiralty matte varnish at the same time. Has anyone else used this to good result, or have a better recommendation?

 

My concerns are compatibility and longevity.

 

Thanks.

[wefalck]

The old painter's rule is fat over lean, meaning never use water-based paints or varnishes on oil-based paints or enamels. In other words, you can use almost anything on acrylics. I don't know anything about the brand of the varnish you mentioned, but presume that it is acrylics-based.

 

Acrylics may need a certain time, some days, to fully harden. They may de-swell, giving off excess water during this time. So it would be a good idea to postpone varnishing a few days or even weeks to avoid tensions between the layers. If, however, paint and varnish are similar products, it may be a good idea to apply the varnish layers quickly, as they would better key into the fresh paint.

 

wefalck

[wefalck]

Right - acrylics are not resistant against ethanol/methanol, which is the solvent in traditional shellac (... a lot of cabinet-makers in the old days were alocoholics ) ... For same reason one should be cautious with alcohol-based varnishes that are sold in spray-cans e.g. for water-colours or pastels.

 

wefalck

Edited September 16, 2013 by wefalck

[wefalck]

Nothing is 'permanent' in life ... except stains on your favourite trousers 

 

Actually, sometimes(!) incompatible paints and varnishes can be used when applied by airbrush. The respective solvent evaporates before any dissolution and diffusion of the underlying paint can occur - provided one applies thin coats only.

This is also a method to applly several layers of the same paint or varnish that would dissolve previous layers when applied by brush.

 

In any case, I would try it out on a test piece.

 

wefalck