How to thin varnish?

[roll cast]

O.k. bit of a stupid question but whats best to thin fly tying, left the lid slightly off the bottle last night and it has thickened too much to be usable so whats should I use the I should find in the house, thinking either white spirits or acetone nail varnish remover.

Thanks
AL

[ikilledflipper]

Sqeeze it between your palms?

Or your feet!

Sorry

[cubera]

Assuming you're using "normal" varnish, then your wife's nail varnish remover will work o.k. Only, don't tell her I said so! The slight drawback is that nail varnish remover often has a little oil in it, to prevent the boss's nails becoming de-oiled, but I've never found that to be a problem. I have also, on occasions, got away with a little thinners used for vehicle paint - cellulose or 2K; both seem to work. I've assumed you have a wife; if not, substitute whatever title the owner of the n.v.r. travels under.

[palindromic_bob]

Or you could just buy a bottle of thinner specificly for fly tying varnish.

[stevekale]

Add acetone

[braidedbutt]

Originally Posted by roll cast

O.k. bit of a stupid question but whats best to thin fly tying, left the lid slightly off the bottle last night and it has thickened too much to be usable so whats should I use the I should find in the house, thinking either white spirits or acetone nail varnish remover.

Thanks
AL

If you go to Boots dipensary counter they will sell you a small bottle of acetone,costs very little. Not usually on display,hidden away in the lower drawers behind the counter.

[roll cast]

Asked my dad and he's says that he has a bottle of pure acetone out in the shed somewhere so I'll go out and try and find it.

Whats the best way to add the acetone into the varnish to thin?

Thanks for your help.
AL

[shrek]

I would add it using a dubbing needle on similar RC, so to add very small amounts at a time, just dip the needle in the thinner then into the varnish, best way to control the amount

[weight_forward]

Acetone is the stuff, just for reference Boots won't sell you it now, it's on their banned chemicals list. You need to get it from a fibreglass supplier or somewhere similar.

[arkle]

Acetone, is far better than mail varnish remover which often has "conditioning oils" in it that will discolour/turn it white. There are other chemicals that will do the same, but acetone should be available in small qty's from chemist's other than Boot's. White spirit etc will either have no effect or ruin it.