How to Add Borax to Varnish

Borax is used to create a varnish for negatives.

Borax is a naturally occurring substance most often used in cleaning laundry and other household items. But Borax can also be mixed with other substances to create varnish. Borax varnish, which is often called water varnish, can be applied to photographs, film negatives and paper products to protect them from deterioration. Although borax-based varnish can also be applied to items such as furniture, it is not very durable and flakes off easily.

Things You'll Need

• Enameled pan
• 1 pint water
• 4 oz. flaked shellac
• Stove
• Candy thermometer
• Spoon
• 2 oz. borax
• Pot
• Empty paint can
• Strainer

Instructions

1. Pour 1 pint of water into an enameled pan and add 4 oz. of shellac flakes to it.

2. Place the pan on top of a stove burner and turn the burner to high. Insert a candy thermometer into the pan. Allow the pan to remain on the burner until the internal temperature reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The solution will be boiling when it is at the proper temperature; however, the flakes will not dissolve.

3. Pour 12 oz. of water into another pan and add 1 oz. of borax. Place the solution on top of anther stove burner and turn the burner to high. Wait until the solution boils, stirring it occasionally with a spoon to dissolve the borax. Turn off the stove burner.

4. Place 1 to 2 drops of the borax solution into the boiling shellac mixture. Stir the shellac mixture immediately with a spoon to mix. The purpose of adding the borax is to dissolve the shellac flakes. If flakes are still visible after adding the borax, add an additional 1 to 2 drops of borax to the shellac. Continue adding drops of borax until the shellac flakes are completely dissolved.

5. Remove the shellac solution from the stove burner and turn off the burner.

6. Place a fine mesh strainer over an empty paint can or other container and pour the shellac solution through the strainer to remove any remaining flakes of shellac that did not dissolve. Allow the solution to cool before applying it to photographs, negatives or paper.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean all pots, spoons, and strainers with hot water immediately after preparing the varnish to prevent it from drying on the items.

• Shellac flakes are available at hardware stores and home improvement stores.

• Borax is available in the cleaning or laundry aisle of supermarkets and home improvement stores.

References

• Chest of Books: Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas Recipes Processes
• "Manual of Formulas - Recipes, Methods & Secret Processes"; Raymond B. Wailes; 2007