Painting Help Please

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alatariel-silimaure

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Hi everyone, I'm new to the site, and hopefully someone out there might have some help for me. I recently got into making custom ponies, and I've made a few...

I paint mine with acrylic paints, as that's about all I can afford to do right now, and I'm allergic to enamel paints. I was using a spray sealer on the ponies so the acrylic paint wouldn't chip off or scratch... but I noticed over time the pony became sticky. I've also tried a paint on acrylic sealer with the same effect... my ponies end up sticky!

Does anyone know how I can effectively seal a pony without them becoming sticky over time? Or is there maybe a different sort of paint I can use that doesn't have to be sealed while remaining inexpensive?

help would be very appreciated!
 
Is your sealer a gloss and do you live in an area plagued by humidity?
 
yes I believe I've used both gloss and matte, if I remember right the spray on was a gloss, and the paint on was a matte/satin

and no, it's not really humid around this area except in the summer sometimes, and I was doing these in the cooler months, I actually sprayed them in my basement over a ventilation fan.
 
I live in Portland (cold and damp) and I had this problem with even the matte spray paints. Then I tried the Testor's dullcoat and it smells a lot when it's wet (definitely spray outside) but it works like a dream. It was like $2 for a small can of it in the model car paint section of Michaels. (I use acrylics too). Good luck!
 
awesome, thanks for the info! I may have to try that, Do you just do one coat or multiple coats?
 
I never could find testers dulle coat, but so far modge podge has been the best thing I've used, someone else gave me the tip when I first started :)
 
Yes, becoming sticky does happen to vinyl when you use most spray sealants.


The Testors Dullcote is a good option and it rarely becomes sticky. Another good spray sealant that's usually very reliable, even on vinyl is 'Volks Zoukei Mura Finishing Powder spray.' (Go to Volksusa in the 'tools and supplies section) Many people swear by MSC (Mister Super Clear) but it's very expensive.

For paint on sealants, usually it's not a problem of becoming tacky, if you put a small amount on. (Just one coat, very thin.) The best sealant is the Liquitex Matte clear, but even the FolkArt kind never became tacky for me if applied lightly. (It's just that the only true 'matte' paint on sealer is the Liquitex.).


Good luck!

Setsuna
 
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awesome! thanks for the information, I have so many different ones to try out now and several sticky ponies, so hopefully at least one of them will work out well
 
SetsunaKou said:
(It's just that the only true 'matte' paint on sealer is the Liquitex.).
Click to expand...

I did not know that. TO HOBBY LOBBY!! ::whoosh!:: :super:
 
Yep, it's the ONLY sealant I use for faceups on doll heads, or any vinyl item.

Just make sure you shake it REALLY well before applying. (If you don't shake the varnish well enough, it ends up 'glossy')
 
I went out and got some of the liquitex last night, and it seems to be working out great. I fixed the Hellboy custom that had gotten horribly sticky and he's doing much better now. I just have to wait for my new hairing tool (decided to try hairing with a hairing tool cause doing it with a needle is way too time consuming) and then he'll be finished :3
 
alatariel-silimaure said:
I went out and got some of the liquitex last night, and it seems to be working out great. I fixed the Hellboy custom that had gotten horribly sticky and he's doing much better now. I just have to wait for my new hairing tool (decided to try hairing with a hairing tool cause doing it with a needle is way too time consuming) and then he'll be finished :3
Click to expand...

I do one coat with Testors Dull Coat, I will definitely try the other one, though and compare. The rehairing tool is a life-saver! I can rehair a pony during 1 movie (I always measure tedious-hand-craft time in movie lengths :eek:k:
 
I couldn't find the testors dull coat at my craft store, but they had the liquitex, I also prefer the brush on because I can do it inside. I live in an apartment complex and I think I'd get a lot of weird looks if I was outside my doors spraying varnish on a plastic pony <.<

God the rehairing tool worked out so amazingly well O.O I was able to rehair a pony in like a half hour when it used to take me 3 hours!
 
I've used Delta Ceramcoat matte brush-on sealant to good effect. You do have to use thin coats, and let them dry in between if you want to add another coat (I usually do 2-3). I've noticed that the glossy version can be sticky it you put it directly on top of your painting; however, if you add a single matte coating first before the glossy then it turns out very nice. I haven't tried Testors yet, but I'd like to.
 
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