Toff
Well-Known Member
I am starting this thread as a place to assemble our information about the differences between "The New Improved" and previously effective products. And, I would hope, a place to find workarounds for the sadly lacking qualities of the newer products.
As a starter I submit the following:
I have found that an engineered product is not the same as a natural product, especially in the qualities needed for artists' paints. I have used natural walnut oil and found it a good varnish and natural extender/brightener of oil paints. I have also used it for finishing oily woods. I have purchased a supposedly good grade of artists' walnut oil and found it, with the driers and such added, is nowhere near the effectiveness of the natural product, refined by boiling at a temperature to drive out impurities and water.
Nor, is the modern boiled linseed oil containing chemical drying agents as good as the formerly available natural "Boiled Linseed Oil" which was processed by long hours boiling at 240ºF.
Both the above materials were formerly processed to allow them to serve as a varnish through their being able to polymerize, eg. harden when exposed to air and light. That is to say they would harden on the surface they were applied to. As such they were used as a varnish and weather seal on many surfaces; home, nautical, and marshal.
The new petrochemical terps as it is sometimes called is according to the seller's site is not to be used with some other artists' preparations. That being different than common usage of the real product; turpentine.
Another product that has been improved beyond its former usefulness is shellac. Driers have been added to replace the former alcohol which was used to dissolve the shellac resin. These driers cause the product to be almost unusable in older processes which call for shellac, such as "French Finishing" and furniture and gun-stock finishing.
And, some Neetsfoot/ Neatsfoot oils are not natural products but are hydrocarbon based oils. According to one source, True Neetsfoot oils are made from rendering shin and ankle bones of cattle. Neet being an old English word for cattle.
Some of the real materials are still available but at higher prices and reduced local availability.
White lead as a cutting compound has barely been replaced by "Anchorlube®" and Sulpherated lard cutting oil is almost unavailable. Red lead and Chromium Oxide green have been replaced by newer, and if I may say so, less effective long term, primers.
Now for your findings!
Respectfully
~Richard
As a starter I submit the following:
I have found that an engineered product is not the same as a natural product, especially in the qualities needed for artists' paints. I have used natural walnut oil and found it a good varnish and natural extender/brightener of oil paints. I have also used it for finishing oily woods. I have purchased a supposedly good grade of artists' walnut oil and found it, with the driers and such added, is nowhere near the effectiveness of the natural product, refined by boiling at a temperature to drive out impurities and water.
Nor, is the modern boiled linseed oil containing chemical drying agents as good as the formerly available natural "Boiled Linseed Oil" which was processed by long hours boiling at 240ºF.
Both the above materials were formerly processed to allow them to serve as a varnish through their being able to polymerize, eg. harden when exposed to air and light. That is to say they would harden on the surface they were applied to. As such they were used as a varnish and weather seal on many surfaces; home, nautical, and marshal.
The new petrochemical terps as it is sometimes called is according to the seller's site is not to be used with some other artists' preparations. That being different than common usage of the real product; turpentine.
Another product that has been improved beyond its former usefulness is shellac. Driers have been added to replace the former alcohol which was used to dissolve the shellac resin. These driers cause the product to be almost unusable in older processes which call for shellac, such as "French Finishing" and furniture and gun-stock finishing.
And, some Neetsfoot/ Neatsfoot oils are not natural products but are hydrocarbon based oils. According to one source, True Neetsfoot oils are made from rendering shin and ankle bones of cattle. Neet being an old English word for cattle.
Some of the real materials are still available but at higher prices and reduced local availability.
White lead as a cutting compound has barely been replaced by "Anchorlube®" and Sulpherated lard cutting oil is almost unavailable. Red lead and Chromium Oxide green have been replaced by newer, and if I may say so, less effective long term, primers.
Now for your findings!
Respectfully
~Richard