VARNISH

(Fr. vernis.) A fluid which when spread VARVICITE. thin upon a solid surface becomes dry, and forms a coating hill in War wicks hire. Impervious to air and moisture. There are two kinds of var equivalents nish, namely, spirit and oil varnishes: rectified alcohol is with 1 of used for the former; and for the latter fixed and volatile VASCULAR oils, or mixtures of the two. The solid substances disthe ti ue solved in the above menstrua, and which constitute what of air. is termed the body of the varnish, are almost exclusively system occurs, IUS, and are chiefly the following: 1. Turpentine, all sels are the varieties of which are employed by the varnisher: VASE. they form an excellent body, and give strength and glosmented with at a small expense; but they do not dry without other VASES, additions. 2. Copal, a peculiar resin, very difficult to dis known and solve, but forming a hard and durable ingredient. It is generally melted over a gentle fire previous to use. 3. Lac, cient which gives great toughne and hardne ; but is often inare painted admisible,on account of its reddish brown colour. 4. Masand, indeed, tic, which yields a tough, hard, brilliant, and colourle var from Camp an i a nish.5.Ele.mi, a resin of a pale yellow green tint, and a trover ted valuable ingredient, on account of its toughne and durawas not bility.6.Sandarach, a resin which imparts splendour, but Gell. (Topography which alone is not durable. 7. Amber, a valuable ingregreat sources dient,on account of its hardne and durability; but difficult Five you sand of transparent solution, and hence chiefly used in opaque the ruins varnishes. 8. Benzoin, added on account of its fragrancy. erally 9. Anime, which gives brilliancy and some scent. 10. Gamcan;that boge, for yellow varnishes. 11. Dragon's blood, for red connected, varnish. These, together with turmeric, saffron, and annot- Egyptian ta, are chiefly used on account of their colour, and to cover were introduced bra and copper under the name of lacquers. 12. Caoutflourishing chouc. This extraordinary vegetable product has of late by this fact, been much employed in a variety of preparations used as Pompeii varnishes. It is invaluable where materials are to be ren those called dered air-tight, as balloons, for example, and where at the oured, same time flexibility, and even elasticity, are required; but vases, with its principal application in this way is in the manufacture lievo, are of various water-proof articles. 13. Asphaltum, the vafigures on rietiesofwhich are indispensable in black oil varnishes. modern are In making spirit varnishes, the strongest alcohol of comas depart merce should be used (of a specific gravity not exceeding more natural 820), and its solvent power over some of the more intrac- Magna Gracia table resins is sometimes improved by the addition of a little II. way. camphor; in order to prevent the agglutination of the resin, [s. 1309]