Varnish drying times.

[Guest]

Afternoon guys, done the first oil wash and weathering I've left it over night, how long should I leave before re varnishing.
Seems dry but I can't remember how long its suggested to wait.
Thank you .
John.

[Jim R]

Hi John
In my limited experience oils take longer than you think to dry completely. They seem dry but ..... :rolling: It does depend on whether you use a light box and what dilutant you use but personnally I would not put on a varnish coats for a couple of days.
Jim

[Guest]

Thanks Jim I'd used Daler Rowney
Thus is what it looks like now.

I'd given the surface a good dreaching with a weak mix of the oil wash , as water would have been flowing over the front esp. Going in time do a second coat on places of gloss time look like wetness, and a mat else where.
John

[Steve Jones]

If you have applied oil "neat" then you are looking at weeks for it to dry completely. However within a week it would be dry enough to apply a varnish. If you have done oil washes with thinner then it could well be dry enough to apply a varnish within a day (24hrs - not overnight). I personally allow my builds to "cure " for two days before applying a varnish as I no longer apply oil neat and thus reduce the drying time of the model.

In the future add a little of the oil / oil wash to the underside of the model. Then once finished and when you think its dry enough for a varnish, touch the underside of the model and if you leave a mark on your finger than it still needs to dry a bit longer.

Nice work by the way

[Guest]

If you have applied oil "neat" then you are looking at weeks for it to dry completely. However within a week it would be dry enough to apply a varnish. If you have done oil washes with thinner then it could well be dry enough to apply a varnish within a day (24hrs - not overnight). I personally allow my builds to "cure " for two days before applying a varnish as I no longer apply oil neat and thus reduce the drying time of the model.

In the future add a little of the oil / oil wash to the underside of the model. Then once finished and when you think its dry enough for a varnish, touch the underside of the model and if you leave a mark on your finger than it still needs to dry a bit longer.

Nice work by the way

Thanks mate glad you approve.
This wash as very weak , but will leave it for another there day, I shall embed it tomorrow in the river !
JR

[colin m]

I'm a bit new to the world of oils, but one tip I picked up on, was to place the oil onto a bit of cardboard first, as this draws some of the oil out. This helps speed up the drying process.

[Guest]

I'm a bit new to the world of oils, but one tip I picked up on, was to place the oil onto a bit of cardboard first, as this draws some of the oil out. This helps speed up the drying process.

Colin thank you, I shall try to remember all these hints and tips.:thumb2: