Winsor & Newton Galeria Matt Varnish...

[Harry Faversham]

I've heard very good reports about this product drying to a very flat finish. But we all know the fifty seven thousand dollar question... as and when the fancy takes it will it dry with the dreaded whitespot!!!???  
Anybody used it long enough to find out?

[mellis1644]

I use this for paint on some of the time and have had no issues with it so far - after a few years. The only time I did was I believe when I put it on too thick and the house was really too cold to do it. I have used various varnish brands and W&N are pretty good ones.

[gnomehome]

The only issues I've had were with 'stickyness' developing on soft plastic figures. It's removable with white spirit if you should run into this problem. I could save most of the paintjob since I painted the figures with acrylics.

[JollyBob]

I use it all the time. Great flat finish. Top tips from Bob would be:

1. Store it upside down and only use what collects in the cap or neck if the bottle.
2. Don't use too much, and don't over work it. Just slap it on and leave it.
3. Try to avoid extremes of temperature when using it.
4. Don't shake it like it says on the bottle. If you move it, let it rest and settle again before using.
5. Be prepared to lose about a third of the bottle. If you only use the settled stuff as above, the Matting agent will get used up before the carrier liquid.

That said, it lasts for ages as you don't need much and compared to "proper" miniature varnish it's as cheap as my sister.

In short, I really like it. 

[Momotaro]

I'd have agreed with Bob - I usually let it settle then tip out the top, clear bit before I use the varnish.  But the last one I got (a couple of months back) has been brilliant straight from the bottle.

Now tell me more about your sister...

[FramFramson]

Just wish I could get some around here to try. I'm currently trying the Vallejo polyurethane stuff, but it's extremely difficult to keep it from pooling at the cracks and crevices. Not sure if the Vallejo acrylic might be better? (I got the polyurethane because they were out of the acrylic).

[Captain Blood]

I use it all the time. Great flat finish. Top tips from Bob would be:

1. Store it upside down and only use what collects in the cap or neck if the bottle.
2. Don't use too much, and don't over work it. Just slap it on and leave it.
3. Try to avoid extremes of temperature when using it.
4. Don't shake it like it says on the bottle. If you move it, let it rest and settle again before using.
5. Be prepared to lose about a third of the bottle. If you only use the settled stuff as above, the Matting agent will get used up before the carrier liquid.

That said, it lasts for ages as you don't need much and compared to "proper" miniature varnish it's as cheap as my sister.

In short, I really like it. 

+1 to all of the above.
Excellent summary there Rob 

[dampfpanzerwagon]

I have been using it for years and have had good results.

I mix some Tamiya X21 into the bottle and shake well.

See this post for details;
http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/matt-varnish-my-latest-recipe.html

Tony

[theoldschool]

I used it for years and got some very nice results with it. Changed to Winsor and Newton Artists' Oil Colour Matt Varnish.  Give the bottle a good shake and slap it on. It's dry to the touch in about half an hour, but I tend to leave it for 24 hours. It's the flattest finish I have ever had. Tougher than acrylic varnishes and works like a gloss varnish to smooth out the painting.

There is a water soluble version for those who prefer not to have to clean their brushes in white spirit.