MITRA Forum Question Details

If you are worried that a future restorer might remove the varnish, just put a note on the stretcher bars saying that you are against that procedure. Additionally, choosing a non-yellowing varnish would negate the need for removal.

The Krylon has been stated to be composed of B-72. That is appropriate (if not exactly the most saturating of resins). I do wonder about what solvents it is in. Additionally, one can certainly learn to perfectly apply varnishes from a spray can, but it is more difficult than by brush. It would be a shame to apply an uneven varnish and be forced to remove it. B-72 requires xylene, acetone, or mixtures of acetone and ethanol. The first two are quite noxious and acetone could dissolve the underlying paint (so can ethanol to a lesser extent). If you are confident of your skills, this should work.

A Regalrez or an MSA varnish would work fine for this. We often have to varnish textured surfaces but it is more tricky. The MSA can be purchsed in a spray can as well.

Actually, if you wished and liked the sheen, a layer of acrylic dispersion medium would be irreversible and certainly low/no odor. It is not as coherent of a film nor and would not solve any surfactant migration issues.

If it were me I would opt for a brush applied Regalrez or a spray applied MSA varnish.

Regalrez is a stable, non-yellowing resin used for picture varnishes. Google it and you will find a number of suppliers. Gamblin also sells it under the name Gamvar.

The reason why I suggested solvent borne varnishes is that they do not contain surfactants and, therefore, there can be no surfactant migration. This is not a huge deal and an aqueous dispersion varnish would likely do what you desire.