Rob Rossington Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Hi! I recently bought a bottle of Humbrol Satin Varnish which I spray using an airbrush. It’s mostly pretty good, however I’m getting a small areas where it has turned white. Is it something I’m doing wrong? I.e. putting it on too thick/drying it too quickly or slowly etc. Or is it just a limitation of the product itself? Cheers Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 The white will be the flatting agent. The cure may be to make sure that the varnish is stirred really thoroughly (or find a better satin varnish). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forester Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Dreadful stuff. Throw it away. But if you are determined to use it - put on a movie, start stirring - and don't stop stirring until the final credits. It might then be suitable for use , or not. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted January 4, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 4, 2018 Several previous discussions about various Humbrol paints and varnishes, usually about Chinese production. Matt drying gloss, gloss not drying, varnish drying white, (cue violins) ......... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyC Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 (edited) If I remember correctly in previous discussions of this there was a concensus that doing varnishing in damp conditions was one factor causing this to occur. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/97852-why-would-varnish-white/ It seems to a common problem, do an internet search and you'll find it being discussed in forums as diverse as woodworking, modelling or yachting and I doubt they're all using Humbrol. Edited January 4, 2018 by JeremyC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigherb Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 It is most likely blooming (do a search for causes) if you are spraying this time of year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caradoc Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I had a bottle of Humbrol matt varnish which turned white after brush painting, despite plenty of stirring. It went in the bin and I would never buy it again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Fatadder Posted January 5, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 5, 2018 If you are looking for an alternative, Halfords Satin Varnish is worth a look in a rattle can. I have varnished a couple of bits this winter (the latest being a resprayed County (Halfords green and Hunbrol Enamal black) and a Virgin mk3 (Phoenix Paints Enamal), both of which have come out with a very good finish (and no white!) In both cases I put the spray can on a shelf near to a radiator to warm up for a couple of hours before I sprayed, took the model outside the back door, varnished, then back into the warm to dry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RexAshton Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Having had the same problems with Humbrol I've started using Railmatch through an airbrush with (up to now) 100% success. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted January 5, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 5, 2018 It is most likely blooming (do a search for causes) if you are spraying this time of year.I've had Humbrol turn white in a centrally heated room using brush application. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul-H Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Matt and satin varnishes turn white for 2 reasons 1 blooming due to painting in a damp atmosphere 2 the most common, it's common for makers to use pumiss as a matting agent, which is fine in colour paints but not in clears. The best flattest flatt namel I have ever used and still do is the one by Xtracolor, dont know if their Acrylic version is as good though. Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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