Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Varnish of any kind should not loosen old paint... but thats only what I know!

 Thorn678 wrote:
Do matt varnishes reactivate paint? The last few models that I have sprayed with matte after gloss varnishing has left paint on my fingers!

They can. Especially if you are talking about things like Testor's Dullcote or paints like inks...

Dullcote is a lacquer, and lacquer thinner which is used to keep it fluid in the can and out to your figure when you spray or brush it on is a pretty good paint stripper. While it doesn't "reactivate" the paint in a conventional sense...it can lift a bit of the surface paint just as a result of the strength of the chemicals involved. A lot of inks use a different binder as well which is less permanent than a traditional acrylic binder. Quite often with alcohol based inks varnishes can float them a bit.

Neither case will be a problem under normal circumstances, however you will want to take care not to touch the painted portions of the miniature just as a matter of good practices. Unless you douse the figure with varnish - it will normally settle back down in the time it takes to set the figure back down on your work bench. If you are seeing more happen then that - you may be holding the can too close or applying too much at one time.

If you're using Testors, it contains a few types of alcohol which can soften up your acrylics. So as you already realized, you don't hold your models and spray it. It's sticky And will lift paint as if you put paint thinner on your model.

It's suggested you spray a gloss on prior to the dullcoat.

I use Tamiya Gloss Clear then Testors Dullcoat. Never had issues with either.

So does varnish "seal" the paint, so it doesn't scratch off? I have problems with GW paints on edges, corners, and places I have to touch.

Yep , 2 coats from a rattle can of Testors and you'll have diamond tough models.