How can Dammar Varnish be safely removed from an oil painting?
Dammar varnish can be removed using any of our three oil colour solvents, Distilled Turpentine, Artists’ White Spirit and Sansodor. It is recommended to use Distilled Turpentine as this has the strongest solvency. Using a lint free cloth dipped in the turps rub the surface of the varnish. Dammar varnish can be slightly more difficult to remove than our other varnishes. The varnish should come off onto the cloth. If any colour also removes onto the cloth then it is time to stop. Work your way in patches across the entire surface of the painting. It is best to keep taking fresh pieces of cloth to aid with lifting the varnish rather than spreading it.
