The Framers Forum

Hi all,

This might be slightly off-topic, but hopefully you can help me. I've just painted a couple of previously painted table lamps with some little greene oil paint that I added some powdered pigment to. It's not adhered wonderfully well - it scratches off quite easily. Can anyone recommend a good varnish I could put on top? My favourite wax finish varnish isn't suitable over oil paint, so I'm not quite sure what to use. Shellac? Oil-based varnish?

Also, I've tried, as an experiment to paint a lampshade with the same oil paint. Presumably, once it's totally dry, it shouldn't be any more (in)flammable than any other paint? I assume the flammable thing is the oil which evaporates on drying?...

Looking forward to your collective wisdom!

Graham

Whatever varnish you put on will not make the paint stick better. You need a special primer to form a solid base that the paint will grip onto. Or use a paint designed to stick to whatever material the lamp are made of. If it's a ceramic then Owatrol ESP is supposed to be the magic primer. Doesn't work too well of picture frames though.....