Etching grounds and covering varnishes Charbonnel

Traditional etching grounds and retouch grounds can contain the following ingredients: Bitumen from Judea (asphalt), terpentine, wax, dammarresin, petrol, colofonium and tar. It is used to cover the etching plate, making it resistent during etching. After covering the plate with the ground (by roller or brush), the drawing in made in the ground. Covering varnishes are made to cover the non image side of the plate, but some sorts are also used to cover parts of the image side during fased etching.
For more information about Charbonnel or related subjects; the following links:
Charbonnel's history
A summary about Charbonnel grounds and varnishes
Removal of grounds and varnished (Beguin's dictionary)
Etching grounds (Beguin's dictionary)

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Charbonnel hard black ball ground #331178

Charbonnel
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026300
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CHARBONNEL Hard black ball ground.

Wrapped in a piece of taffeta which serves as a filter, the ball is rubbed on the pre-heated metal plate. Dab on the ground to obtain an even surface before smoking. The matt black finish obtained makes etching work very clear. Once the ground is applied and dry, the picture is drawn with a hard point in order to expose the metal beneath the ground. The plate is then placed in a bath of acid to erode the exposed metal. Once the required bite depth has been attained, the plate should be taken out of the acid bath solution and dried and the ground removed with the appropriate thinner:

  • Judea bitumen, wax
  • Dry extract: 100%
  • Hardness: very hard
  • Finish: opaque matt
  • Consistency: paste
Dimensions: diam. 4 cm, 1.6", height, 3 cm, 1.2". weight 20 gram, .

Carbonnel, Lamour black ball etching ground. #331289

Charbonnel
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026301
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Lamour Harde etching ground, black ball.

This ground is slightly less hard a the Charbonnel Hard Black Ball Ground, but use the same method to apply the ground to the plate. Wrapped in a piece of taffeta which serves as a filter, the ball is rubbed on the pre-heated metal plate. Dab on the ground to obtain an even surface before smoking. The matt black finish obtained makes etching work very clear. Once the ground is applied and dry, the picture is drawn with a hard point in order to expose the metal beneath the ground. The plate is then placed in a bath of acid to erode the exposed metal. Once the required bite depth has been attained, the plate should be taken out of the acid bath solution and dried and the ground removed with the appropriate thinner:

  • Judea bitumen, Dammar resin, wax.
  • Dry extract: 100%
  • Hardness: hard
  • Finish: opaque matt
  • Consistency: paste
Dimensions: diam. 4 cm, 1.6", height, 3 cm, 1.2". weight 20 gram.

Charbonnel soft black etching ball ground, #331179

Charbonnel
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026302
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CHARBONNEL Soft black ball etching ground

A painting dabber is recommended for application. It is applied hot. Soft grounds protect the plate. They are non-drying grounds, applied with a painting dabber or roller: Textures and materials pressed into their non-drying surface will lift off, leaving the metal bared, ready for the bite of the acid. The plate must be heated before application. The "Pencil Method" consists of drawing with a hard point on "laid" paper applied over the soft ground. The paper sticks to the drawn parts. After the bite of the acid, a pencil stroke effect is obtained.

  • Judea bitumen, pitch resin, tallow, beeswax
  • Dry extract: 52%
  • Hardness: supple
  • Finish: opaque matt
  • Consistency: paste
Dimensions: diam. 4 cm, 1.6", height, 3 cm, 1.2". weight 20 gram.

Charbonnel vernis liquide siccatif (liquid siccative vernish), 75 ml, #332176

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026142
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The amount of time you leave the plate in the acid depends on the acid's strength (mesured using an acetometer), the room temperature and the depth you wish to give the stroke. The etching is then ready and only the finishing touches need to be applied. A retouching ground can be applied to the plate which may then be retouched as required following the lines of the previous etching.

Liquid siccative ground. A liquid retouching ground, to cover the image locally. It is applied cold using a paint brush.

dimensions and weight
length 5,5 cm, 2.2"
width 3,5 cm, 1.4"
height 9,5 cm, 3.8"
weight 120 gram, 0.3 lb.
The bottle is fitted with a safety cap.

  • Beeswax, bitumen, ketone thinner
  • Dry extract: 26%
  • Hardness: hard
  • Finish: satin opaque
  • Consistency: liquid

Charbonnel Vernis lamour noir mou (rebiting varnish), #331290 pot 20 ml

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026146
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These are used to rework a plate that has been etched deep enough by the acid. They protect the surface of the plate without flowing into the recesses. They are, therefore, used to give the etched lines greater depth due to a fresh exposure to acid.

It dries slowly and remains supple for a long time. It is applied hot. It can be used for soft ground. "vernis mou"

dimensions and weight
diameter 3 cm, 1.2"
height 5 cm 2"
weight 30 gram, 0.07 lb

  • Judea bitumesn, mastic resin, wax.
  • Dry extract: 93%
  • Hardness: supple
  • Finish: satin opaque
  • Consistency: paste

Charbonnel, Transparent liquid retouching ground, 75 ml, #332175

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026149
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After leaving the plate in acid for the required time, remove the plate from the acid bath solution and remove the ground using the appropriate thinner. The amount of time you leave the plate in the acid depends on the acid's strength (mesured using an acetometer), the room temperature and the depth you wish to give the stroke. The etching is then ready and only the finishing touches need to be applied. A retouching ground can be applied to the plate which may then be retouched as required following the lines of the previous etching.

It is applied cold with a paintbrush. It is slow-drying and lets the previous etching show through.

Dimensions and weight
length 5,5 cm, 2.2"
width 3,5 cm 1.5"
height 9,5 cm. 4 "
weight 120 gram., 0.3 lbs
The bottle is fitted with a safety cap

  • Beeswax, pitch resin, essence of turpuntine
  • Dry extract: 18%
  • Hardness: supple
  • Finish: transparent
  • Consistency: liquid

Charbonnel vernis graveur Ultraflex liquid ground 500 ml, #331167

Charbonnel
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026153
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Apply it cold to the plate with a very supple brush, or plate coating device or pour it directly onto the inclined plate. Due to its transparency, it is suitable for a second application and reworking.

Dimensions: 10x4,5x17cm
4x2x7"
weight 0,6 kg. 1.3 lb

  • Judea bitumen, essence of turpentine, wax.
  • Dry extract: 25%
  • Hardness: hard
  • Finish: satin translucent
  • Consistency: liquid

Charbonnel vernis graveur Ultraflex (liquid ground) 1000 ml, #331168

Charbonnel
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026154
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Apply it cold to the plate with a very supple brush, or plate coating device or pour it directly onto the inclined plate. Due to its transparency, it is suitable for a second application and reworking.

Dimensions: 12x6x20cm
5x2x8"
weight 1,1 kg, 2.4 lb

  • Judea bitumen, essence of turpentine, wax.
  • Dry extract: 25%
  • Hardness: hard
  • Finish: satin translucent
  • Consistency: liquid

Charbonnel vernis graveur noir satiné lamour (lamour Black satin Hard Ground), 250 ml #331278

Charbonnel
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026157
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It is applied in the same way as Ultraflex liquid ground. It allows a long etching time with no risks of scaling.
It dries faster than Ultraflex due to the presence of quick drying petroleum. It is also harder than the Ultraflex ground and, therefore, allows finer lines.

Dimensions: 7x4x14cm
3x2x6"
weight 0,3 kg
0.7 lb

  • Judea bitumen, essence of turpentine, quick drying petroleum, wax
  • Dry extract: 25%
  • Hardness: hard
  • Finish: satin opaque
  • Consistency: liquid

Charbonnel, Vernis Graveur Noir Satiné Lamour (lamour black satin hard ground), 1000 ml #331279

Charbonnel
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026158
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It is applied in the same way as Ultraflex liquid ground. It allows a long etching time with no risks of scaling.
It dries faster than Ultraflex due to the presence of quick drying petroleum. It is also harder than the Ultraflex ground and, therefore, allows finer lines.

Dimensions: 12x6x20cm
5x2x8"
weight 1,1 kg
2.5 lb

  • Judea bitumen, essence of turpentine, quick drying petroleum, wax
  • Dry extract: 25%
  • Hardness: hard
  • Finish: satin opaque
  • Consistency: liquid

Charbonnel, Fluid black retouching ground Duroziez, 250 ml, #331287

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026161
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After leaving the plate in acid for the required time, remove the plate from the acid bath solution and remove the ground using the appropriate thinner. The amount of time you leave the plate in the acid depends on the acid's strength (mesured using an acetometer), the room temperature and the depth you wish to give the stroke. The etching is then ready and only the finishing touches need to be applied. A retouching ground can be applied to the plate which may then be retouched as required following the lines of the previous etching.

Fluid black retouching ground Duroziez : It should be applied in thin coats using a brush. It may also be used as ground for aquatint. It tends to become crumbly over time and should, therefore, be used as soon as it is dry.

dimensions and weight
length 8 cm, 3.2"
width 4 cm, 1.6"
height 14 cm, 5.5"
weight 400 gram, 0.9 lb.

  • Bitumen, quick drying petroleum, colophony
  • Dry extract: 50%
  • Hardness: very hard
  • Finish: very glossy opaque
  • Consistency: liquid

Charbonnel vernis noir à recouvrir Lamour (black covering varnish), 250 ml, #331281

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026166
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General information
Thes are applied cold with a paintbrush. Applied to the back and the edges of the plate, they serve to protect thes parts from the bite of the acid. They are extremely resistant. Also very suitable if an engraved plates must be stored away, protect the surface with Lamour protective varnish.

Specific information
Can be used for aquatint as well.

Dimensions, weight:
7,5x3,5x14cm , weight 0,3 kg
3x1.4x5,5", weight 0,7 lb

  • Bitumen, essence of turpentine
  • Dry extract: 25%
  • Hardness: hard
  • Finish: gloss opaque
  • Consistency: liquid

Charbonnel vernis noir à recouvrir Lamour, (black liquid covering varnish), 1000 ml, #331282

Charbonnel
A few days. If not in stock, a delivery time of several weeks is possible
026167
Weight: ..
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label

General information
Thes are applied cold with a paintbrush. Applied to the back and the edges of the plate, they serve to protect thes parts from the bite of the acid. They are extremely resistant. Also very suitable if an engraved plates must be stored away, protect the surface with Lamour protective varnish.

Specific information
Can be used for aquatint as well.

Dimensions, weight:
12x6x20cm , weight 1,1 kg
4.7x2.4x8", weight 2.4 lb

  • Bitumen, essence of turpentine
  • Dry extract: 25%
  • Hardness: hard
  • Finish: gloss opaque
  • Consistency: liquid