Comments about Golden MSA Acrylic Varnish:

This is a very expensive varnish, from my point of view, but I am glad I put out the money for it. I had been using a water-based varnish. This MSA UVLS varnish is in a whole different world from that! Brought out brilliant colors, allows for beautiful definition of any brush strokes or physical details (I use this on mixed-media sculpture). The fumes are considerably less horrible than the headache-causing fumes from the water-based varnish; I could work inside in front of an open window and still be fairly comfortable. The manufacturer advises using a 50/50 dilution with mineral spirits for brush work: I used that recipe and was very happy with it. If you mix and work with it right away, just be darned sure to mix it for a good long time. Better to let it sit a bit; mixing a couple of hours before you work makes sure that the two elements do not separate while you're working. I failed to mix thoroughly and stir occasionally, and the varnish all went to the bottom of my pot; I ended up using nothing but mineral spirits and didn't know it had happened until I poured the mix into a jar and saw that the varnish was sitting in the bottom. Great stuff, all in all!