How to Get a Yellowed Varnish Finish

Oil-Based Varnish

• An oil-based or alkyd varnish will impart a yellow cast to lighter-colored woods, which becomes apparent even while the varnish is being applied. On darker woods such as mahogany, the yellowing takes on a simple warming quality. The oil in the varnish is naturally amber-colored, and over time, an oil-based varnish film tends to become increasingly yellow and darker as it ages. This can be an attractive quality with lighter woods, but may obscure the wood grain on darker woods. In recent years, tung oil varnish has gained popularity because it ages much more slowly than other oil-based finishes. Oil-based varnishes are an excellent choice for use on furniture, walls and cabinetry. For best results, an oil-based varnish should be applied with a natural bristle brush or wiped on with a soft, lint-free cotton cloth.

Oil-Based Polyurethane

• Like other oil-based varnishes, an oil-based polyurethane will go on yellow and naturally become more yellow over time. This family of finishes is factory applied to wood flooring and wood cabinetry, but there are many varieties of polyurethane designed for do-it-yourself application. Polyurethanes are the most moisture-resistant varnish, which makes them quite suitable for use on tabletops and kitchen cabinets. This family of finishes should be applied with a natural bristle brush or high-density foam mini-roller to minimize the risk of bubbles forming in the finish.

Shellac Varnish

• Amber shellac is a traditional wood finish valued for the yellow-orange cast it contributes to lighter shades of wood. You can lower the intensity of that color by mixing the amber shellac with a clear shellac. A half-and-half blend will add a warm yellow ambiance to oak, pine, hickory and maple, and soften the contrast between the highlight and knotty portions of character woods. Shellac is best applied with a China bristle brush in two to three thin coats. Once applied, a shellac varnish will not become darker or more yellow over time.

Tinted Water-Based Varnish

• Most water-based varnishes are crystal clear and will not yellow over time, which is good if you want to keep your wood looking natural, or if the wood has previously been stained to the color of your choice. A pigmented finish, however, helps keep wood from being damaged by UV, and many water-based varnishes allow you to mix in a wood-toned pigment, with colors ranging from yellow, to tan, to brown. Water-based varnishes are best applied using a China bristle brush or high-density foam mini-roller.