Nuln Oil gloss

[Castle Wolfenstein]

I bought a new pot of nuln oil a while back and after the first time I used it I noticed it dried to a glossy finish, very noticeably different than the old pot I had just finished using. I double checked the new pot and it definitely was labeled as nuln oil, not the gloss version. I figured it was just a mistake or whatever so I bought another pot of nuln oil from a different FLGS, just used it last night and got the same glossy finish. Has anyone else noticed this? Did something change with nuln oil so that it is now glossy by default?

[Robbienw]

I'm not sure of the exact scientific explanation, but what's happening is separation of parts of the paint i think.  You need to shake nuln oil a lot before use so it will be properly matt.  Then you need to keep shaking it regularly whilst it is in use to stop it going glossy.  When in use, i normally stop, close the pot and give it a good shake every 20 minutes or so.

[Grotsmasha]

Shaking thoroughly will help to mitigate this issue. Additionally, applying the wash thickly will also leave a glossier finish once dried.

[Castle Wolfenstein]

Ok, I did give it a good shake but maybe not enough, I'll keep it mind, Thanks!

[Arkhanist]

Nuln oil does seem fairly prone to the matting agent coming out of solution. Basically, it's like veeery fine talc that should be in suspension in the paint, that makes the paint well, matt.

 

Acrylic paint is naturally quite glossy, so with the matting agent in a layer at the bottom of the pot, you'll get a much glossier finish - but in an opaque or dark paint, you can't really see if it's happened!

 

So - add a paint mixing ball/shaker or two (one example) and well, shake the living bejesus out of it. Also a good idea to do before use. (This is why I bought a vortex shaker - middle aged wrists!)

 

To correct a coat that has gone on too glossy after the fact, you can paint a thin layer of a transparent matt paint over the top e.g. Lahmian medium is basically GW paint, including the matting agent, but with no pigment. Works great for thinning paint, or you can use it on its own as a matt coat. Or finish off with a matt varnish spray at the end of painting as usual.