- This topic has 10 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 5 years ago by
innes.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Home › Forums › Painting in Tabletop Gaming › Qucik Question about Varnishing Minis
I quick question to anyone with skills, how long for you leave you paint to settle down and dry before varnishing? I am thinking 24 hours but I really dont know why. Any views?
Clearly I have no skills as I tend to varnish pretty much when I finish a model so easily within an hour of the last brush stroke. I had no idea you was meant to wait beyond just drying time, that said thankfully I have never had or seen an issue.
@laughingboy that was what I was asking, how long to leave it before varnishing. I am thinking 24 hours but I might be way off base and was asking for views. It is good to hear you do it straight away and never had any issues.
Phew, I thought maybe I was making a mistake each time… yeah easily within the hour and I airbrush the AK Interactive Ultra Matt which I think works brilliantly
once the paint is cured you can go right away, for acrylics in a warm room that can be 15mins after you’ve finished. If you’re using washes, contrasts leave it an hour at least. Enamels and Oils require longer drying times. You just need to make sure you don’t seal the medium in leaving it no where to go otherwise you will see cracking in your future or sometimes rub paint off.
Much shorter time than I thought thanks there
Too many variables. Essentially you need to wait until all the medium evaporates, and then for the paint itself to harden. I know people who swear by a week. I generally make sure it’s 24 hours at least.
Thanks there @khusrau
I’m a 24hrs man as well. I do the bases last so I like to let that all dry overnight before I spray with dulcoat.
Cheers there @beccas
I usually varnish things the day after i finish them or the next dry day anyway. Rainy Scottish weather means that could be a while!
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Supported by (Turn Off)
1
Sieges & Strongholds Coming To Victrix & Noodle’s Pillage!
1
Battle It Out In The Early War With New Flames Of War Set
0
New British Miniatures Join Black Powder Epic Battles: Zulu
3
Warhammer 40K Ready Painted Terrain Up For Pre-Order This Week
0
Pre-Order Warhammer Age Of Sigmar’s Khazalite Holds This Weekend
1
BIG Halo: Campaign Evolved News & The Covenant Are Coming!
1
Delve Into The Discworld RPG With Modiphius’ Starter Set
2
Fight For The Falklands With Battlefront’s New Team Yankee Sets
0
Warcrow’s Best Faction? Red Caps For Corvus Belli’s Fantasy Wargame
8
Even More Characters Join The Silver Bayonet’s Venetian Adventure
1
Build Marius’ Roman Mules With Graal Miniatures On Kickstarter
2
Medbury Miniatures Surprise With Fantasy Barbarians For October
5
Kromlech Kick Off Orktober With DUNE-Inspired Vehicles & More
1
Unleash More Alien Invaders On Your 28mm Sci-Fi Battlefields
3
Reinforce Your 10mm Robot Legions In Hydra’s Atomic Tank
3
Play A Love Letter To Classic Mordheim With Black Death City
0
New Darkoath Warqueen Warhammer Day Miniature Previewed
2
Burn Down More Victrix Dark Age Huts In Games Of Pillage
3
Warp Miniatures & Malev Da Shinobi Collab On Greathelm Knights!
10
Secure The Stars & Seas With Crooked Dice’s New Pulp Miniatures
4
New Heroes Drop Into Warlord Games’ Weird Konflikt ’47
6
New Warhammer Tone Pro Paints Coming Next Week
2
Head To The Mediterranean With Warbases New Terrain!
6
Sneak About With Star Wars: Legion’s Guerilla Troopers & More [UPDATED]
0
Pre-Order The New 15mm British For World War III: Team Yankee
0
Pre-Order The New 15mm British For World War III: Team Yankee
3
Adeptus Custodes Pre-Orders Hit This Week For Warhammer 40,000
6
House Orlock Rev Their Engines For New Edition Of Necromunda
15
Dead Earth Miniatures’ Imperial Army Conquers Sci-Fi Worlds
5
The Chittering & Barking Mad Join TTCombat’s Carnevale
News, Rumours & General Discussion
News, Rumours & General Discussion
News, Rumours & General Discussion
Painting in Tabletop Gaming
Painting in Tabletop Gaming
3D Printing for Tabletop Gaming
Historical Tabletop Game Discussions
News, Rumours & General Discussion
Historical Tabletop Game Discussions
Painting in Tabletop Gaming
Science Fiction Tabletop Game Discussions
News, Rumours & General Discussion
Science Fiction Tabletop Game Discussions
Historical Tabletop Game Discussions
News, Rumours & General Discussion
News, Rumours & General Discussion
Science Fiction Tabletop Game Discussions
Painting in Tabletop Gaming
News, Rumours & General Discussion
Historical Tabletop Game Discussions
Copyright © 2026 Beasts of War Ltd.
All trademarks and images are copyright of their respective owners.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
Manage your cookie preferences below:
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
These cookies are needed for adding comments on this website.
These cookies are used for managing login functionality on this website.
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us understand how visitors use our website.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.
Service URL: policies.google.com (opens in a new window)