Polishing an egg tempera paintingApproveRejectUn-ApproveSubscribeUn-Unsubscribe
Question asked 2019-05-08 17:19:48 ...
Most recent comment 2019-05-24 23:03:02
Egg Tempera
Hello! and thank you for this wonderful forum!
Many ET painters find themselves painting smaller and smaller works but I am the opposite. My paintings tend to get larger and larger. I just completed an 8'x4' ET and it "only" took 2 years! Ordinarily I would polish my painting with a soft cloth: silk, flannel or T-shirt material has been recommended and I have not found much difference between them. Due to the large size, and some physical limitations, I am experimenting with power tools. I've tried a "polishing bonnet" attached to my corded electric drill but am interested in purchasing a dedicated buffer. A Dual Action Random Orbital Polisher (DA) seems to be the safest option, in terms of not harming the surface, but I don't want to invest in it unless I feel it will be more effective or safer than my drill buffer or hand polishing. The "bonnets" I am using now are what came with the conversion kit- one is lamb's wool and the other an unknown synthetic. If I get the DA there seem to be endless options in polishing pads. Of course they are meant for automotive polishing. I love traditional methods/ materials but am not one to scoff at high tech improvements. Perhaps the old saw about ET developing a gentle egg shell gloss will be proven a myth once more effective polishers are employed and a higher gloss will be achieved (not that I necessariy want that.) Obviously if I see any paint on my bonnet I'll know the machine is too aggressive or the paint surface inadequately polymerized. So far I have tried it on the edges of my monster ET panel and no paint has come up, nor have I achieved any more shine than with elbow grease. Hoping you might have some experience with this. Perhaps conservators use electric buffers with a variety of pads? If not my path would be clear: buy the DA and try different pads on castaway paintings or trial paintings and see what the effect is. Thanks much for your great work!
Lora Arbrador
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Moderator Answer
(brian baade)
Lora and Koo
So sorry to see that this question slipped past us. I
probably would have forwarded it to Koo anyway so it is great that she caught
our dropped ball.
I think that you are In safe enough territory if you do not
see any pigment on the material/fabric you are using to hand polish, but wow, I
do worry about introducing spinning polishers used for enamel paints/automotive
finishes. In addition to the risk for over abrasion there is also real
potential for damage from the heat created by the rather extreme friction.
Despite adding another material to the paint I would be more
comfortable with varnishing the work rather than resorting to power tools. If
you do decide to follow your plans. please tell us the results
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