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Adhesives, Paints, and Varnishes: Varnish

Ingredients of Varnish. - Varnish is a solution of various gums, as the resins amber, copal, dragon's blood, mastic, lac, rosin, and sandarac, in various solvents, as alcohol, wood spirit, oil of turpentine, linseed, and other drying oils. It is used as a decoration to produce a hard, transparent, or glossy surface, and also as a protection against moisture and air. Resins. Resins in general are substances that occur in various plants, and which flow from trees of different species when the bark is cut. They are usually yellow and do not crystallize, but form in drops like gum. They are not, however, the same as gum, although the two words are often used interchangeably.