Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: DC on November 20, 2014, 08:26:39 pm

Title: Pitch Varnish
Post by: DC on November 20, 2014, 08:26:39 pm

I've made pitch varnish using paint reducers and lacquer thinner. I thought I would try it with methyl hydrate(methanol,wood alcohol). I put a lump of pitch in the MH and after a few hours it turned white. It looks like it's not completely dissolving. Does anyone know if this is normal.

Title: Re: Pitch Varnish
Post by: JoJoDapyro on November 20, 2014, 09:41:27 pm

Mine did the same in Alcohol when I made it. It took awhile to completely dissolve.

Title: Re: Pitch Varnish
Post by: DC on November 20, 2014, 10:10:28 pm

Thanks Jo. I'm just to impatient I guess.

Title: Re: Pitch Varnish
Post by: Pat B on November 21, 2014, 11:54:57 am

I use denatured alcohol and it always dissolves to different shades of amber(depending on the pitch) from dark to light but never turns white or milky.

Title: Re: Pitch Varnish
Post by: DC on November 21, 2014, 12:50:26 pm

It's just the surface of the pitch lump that turned white. The part that's dissolved is a nice American beer ;) ;) color. If I scrape the white stuff off the pitch lump it seems to dissolve eventually. I just never noticed this when using mineral spirits and wondered if maybe I shouldn't use methyl hydrate. I think it will be fine in a few more days.