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Pine Pitch Varnish

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neuse:
I made some with clean purified pine sap and denatuered alcohol.
But it is very sticky, not drying.
I am supposed to cook the pine sap until it is completly brittle before I use it?

I expeiremented with making pine pitch and I think I did ok with that.
It is a little less hard and super shiny like some I have seen.

Pat B:
If you use sticky pitch you will get sticky varnish. You have to have hard, brittle pitch to get varnish that is not sticky.

neuse:
Ok, thank you Pat for the info. I knew you where the person for the answer.

So do I need to cook the pitch longer?

How about the varnish, do I need to cook that also?

Pat B:
You will have to cook out the turps before the pitch will get hard. Be careful because it is very volatile. Once you've done that, dissolve it in alcohol, strain it and seal it in an air tight jar. You don't have to cook the alcohol mixture.

neuse:
Thank you again Pat.
I will be busy making varnish and pitch, and then onward to arrows.

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