UNH Course: A Varnisher’s Toolbox, the Basics of Varnishing a Violin​ - Tools and Materials
Instructor: Michael Anthony Daddona, michael.a.daddona@gmail.com

One to three completed violins 'in the white’ will be needed, ideally with fingerboards removed. Various pieces of maple rib stock will also be extremely useful for experimentation, along with various 'off cuts’ of both spruce and maple. Due to the nature of oil based materials, the more pieces students have to work on, the less likely they will be halted due to drying considerations. UV cabinets will be provided to minimize dry time but cannot guarantee perfect results.

A note from the instructor:

Students should be aware that varnish supplies can be quite expensive. A basic “clear” varnish will be needed, as stated in the “Tools and Materials” list. Your choice of varnish material can be made based on any number of reasons, including price. I’ve listed some decent commercially available varnishes having various price points. Do not feel as though you need to purchase the most expensive material to have success in class. Having a good process (which I hope to teach you) will better determine your success than any material in a jar, however expensive. A 30ml jar of material will be enough for the class, allowing you to varnish several violins. If any student has some experience and wishes to bring more expensive violins or perhaps one they have made, that is great. But those students with limited experience or are new should not feel they have to have the finest of materials to begin with. The same holds for choosing pigments. I've made some recommendations for basic colors, but, again, students should feel free to make choices based on experience. Choose pigments you like, but it is important that they are 'transparent’. There will be trial and error, hopefully not too much error, in learning to varnish a violin. I hope to make it as fun and affordable as possible.

Tools and Materials:

Item	Source	Example
Roll of paper towel	Supermarket	N/A
Various jars and small cups	N/A	N/A
1/8' plate glass	Hardware store	6" X 6" or similar
4- 1" foam brushes	Hardware store	N/A
Hair dryer	N/A	N/A
Small scraps of linen	Fabric store	N/A
Grain alcohol	Liquor store	Graves or Everclear
Small tweezers	Hardware store or equivalent	N/A
Roll of Saran wrap	Supermarket	N/A
Apron (optional)	N/A	N/A
Nitrile gloves	Supermarket/pharmacy	N/A
Respirator	Hardware store	3M "half face" or similar
Scrapers (sharp/ready to use)	Tool supply	International Violin #T23 or equivalent
Micro mesh	Tool supply	Assorted grits 2000-6000 International Violin #M2000-M6000
Varnish brushes 1 lg 1 1/4" 1sm 1/2"	Tool supply	International Violin #103715 & #10360 or equivalent
Stiff bristle brush	Tool supply	International Violin #10345 or equivalent
3" porcelain dishes	Art supply	Dick Blick #03071-1005 or equivalent
2 Palette knives	Art supply	Dick Blick #03115-1003 or equivalent
Tripoli	Art supply	Kremer Pigments #599920 or equivalent
Turpentine	Art supply	Dick Blick #Y01563-1005 or equivalent
Mineral spirits	Art supply/hardware store	N/A
Ammonia (small jar)	Supermarket	N/A
Potassium nitrite	Specialty supply	Woodfinishing Enterprises 1oz #01-0180-2
Commercial varnish choices: (see notes)
Joha (clear varnish)	Tool supply	International Violin #1010C
Holtier (clear varnish)	Tool supply	Woodfinishing Enterprises #25-2950-1
Old Wood ( "italian varnish')	oldwood1700.com	Old Wood #13023
DR J G McIntosh (transparent rosinate oil)	Tool supply	Woodfinishing Enterprises #25-2958-1
Pigment choices: (see notes)
Alizarin Crimson	Art supply	Windsor Newton #1214004
Purple Madder	Art supply	Windsor Newton #1214543
Brown Madder	Art supply	Windsor Newton #1214056
"Lake Pigment" (optional/experienced student)	Art supply	Kremer Pigments #37202 or #372141
Materials
2-4 trial violins "in the white"	Violin/instrument supply	International Violin #3695 or #3712
Various scrap pieces of maple and spruce	N/A	N/A
Maple rib stock	Violin/instrument supply	N/A

Suggested Reading:

Violin Varnish notes and articles from the workshop of Koen Padding ISBN 978-0-9933075-0-8.