Abstract: Moisture-hardening varnishes which have an isocyanate resin base of adducts of a mixture of diisocyanates, wherein the diisocyanate mixture has 88 to 99% by weight of 2-methyl-1,5-diisocyanatopentane and 12 to 1% by weight of 2-ethyl-1,4-diisocyanatobutane.These varnishes exhibit excellent thermal and oxidative stability and have excellent storage stability. They also exhibit excellent compatibility with solvents, pigments and other auxiliary materials.