Editing Varnish (section)

{{short description|Transparent hard protective finish or film}}
{{Other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
[[File:Varnish.jpg|thumb|right|Varnish on wood stairs]]
[[File:Oak flooring.jpg|thumb|Varnished oak floor]]

'''Varnish''' is a clear [[Transparency (optics)|transparent]] hard protective coating or film. It is not to be confused with [[wood stain]]. It usually has a yellowish shade due to the manufacturing process and materials used, but it may also be [[pigment]]ed as desired. It is sold commercially in various shades.

Varnish is primarily used as a [[wood finishing|wood finish]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Söğütlü |first1=Cevdet |last2=Nzokou |first2=Pascal |last3=Koc |first3=Ismail |last4=Tutgun |first4=Rahmi |last5=Döngel |first5=Nihat |date=2016-09-01 |title=The effects of surface roughness on varnish adhesion strength of wood materials |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-016-9805-5 |journal=Journal of Coatings Technology and Research |language=en |volume=13 |issue=5 |pages=863–870 |doi=10.1007/s11998-016-9805-5 |s2cid=138416281 |issn=1935-3804|url-access=subscription }}</ref> where, stained or not, the distinctive tones and grains in the wood are intended to be visible. Varnish finishes are naturally [[Gloss (material appearance)|glossy]], but satin/semi-gloss and flat sheens are available.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-05-04|title=The Many Faces of Varnish|url=https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/the_many_faces_of_varnish/|access-date=2021-05-14|website=Popular Woodworking Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2005|title=Sherwin Williams varnish Technical Data Sheet|url=https://www.sherwin-ksa.com/PDFFile/PDS/TDS%20-%20Alkyd%20Varnish.pdf}}</ref>