Making Gum Sandarac Varnish

How to Protect a Tintype

We varnish our digital tintypes with a handmade sandarac resin obtained from the small cypress-like tree Tetraclinis articulata. The tree is native to the northwest of Africa with a notable presence in the Southern Morocco part of the Atlas mountains. The resin exudes naturally on the stems of the tree. It is also obtained by making cuts on the bark. It solidifies when exposed to the air. It comes to commerce in the form of small solid chips, translucent, and has a delicate yellow tinge. (definition is taken from Wikipedia)

Make your own tintype here.