Linseed oil varnish is a traditional treatment that gives a beautiful, glossy and durable surface. It is excellent for both indoor and outdoor use, especially on wooden floors, furniture, front doors, windows and boats.
We sell varnish from:
- Smile Tonkinois
- Chilling varnish
Le Tonkinois has a matting agent called Gelomat if you want a matt surface.
Traditionally, varnish contains:
It may differ slightly in content between different manufacturers.
Pigment linseed oil varnish
Historically, linseed oil varnish has often been broken into a warm, amber shade. This is done by adding brown color pigments or linseed oil paint to the varnish. The aim is to create a laser effect that highlights, rather than hides, the natural structure and variations of the wood.
To pigment your linseed oil varnish, we recommend pigments:
- Burnt terra 5876 for a red-brown tone
- Brown Umbra No. 711 for a brown color with hints of red
- Unburnt Umbra No. 710 for a pure brown color with a hint of yellow
- See our full range of pigments >
Carefully mix small amounts of pigment into balsamic turpentine into a paste and then into the varnish until you achieve the desired shade. Always test on a separate board or a less visible surface first to ensure the result is what you intended.
If you want to pigment the varnish with linseed oil paint, it is fine to add linseed oil paint to the varnish. Common colors are:
- Brown umber 103
- Burnt terra 44
By pigmenting your linseed oil varnish, you can create a beautiful and durable finish that both protects and highlights the natural beauty of the wood.
