Livering Varnish

¶ Livering Varnish. When varnish coagulates into a thick mass like liver you have the condition described by this term. It also occurs with paint when it is mixed with cheap varnishes which contain considerable rosin. Livering of varnish occurs when it is mixed with certain lands of paints and certain other varnishes. The cause usually is separation of some of the varnish constituents and the formation of new chemical combinations. In other words it is not always safe to mix varnishes and paints indiscriminately in large batches until small trial mixes have been made first to determine what reactions may be expected. Not all varnishes are good mixing varnishes. The special mixing varnishes are made with a view to overcoming any bad reactions when it is mixed with the common materials in use. Occasionally varnish which has been subjected to extremely cold weather for some time and those which are not completely sealed in the can will liver, due to separation of the varnish constituents and chemical reactions when the varnish is again warmed up.

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