Sticky, need help!

[Former_Member]

The weirdest thing has happened and I have no idea how to fix it. Any advice would really help.

I've been using Sculpey brand glaze for over a year with no problem. Last week I bought a new bottle and a sticker on the cap said "new formula."

Well what's weird is when I glazed 100 pieces of jewelry in one day, half were fine and the other half were incredibly sticky. I tried rinsing them with water, no luck. I even tried rebaking them as someone on Craftster suggested but it didn't do a thing to fix it, it's the exact same sticky consistency.

I don't know if it's the new formula, or how friggin' hot it is in the house or what but everything is a mess. And how half are fine is beyond me...

I want to salvage these pieces, it's over a month of work and they still look perfect. Anyone know what to do about this? I'll try anything, please!?!

[BeeZeeArt]

I have had problems with stuff being sticky in the past, especially when it's humid out.

Have you tried removing the sticky finish? With something like isopropyl alcohol or something like it? I've heard that will work, but I haven't tested it since it would also remove the paint from my pieces.

[DandiBeadsCo]

I have never tried this, so just consider it a suggestion... but try to add a layer of liquid polymer clay over one of your pieces and re-cure for 10- 20 minutes. Instead of "glazes" I protect all of my items with liquid Kato- it can go on as thin or thick as you want. If you want it shiny- zap it with a heat gun after it comes out of the oven. For 3D items, you can use a makeup sponge and cure in a few coats, so it does not run before it has time to set up in the oven. Good luck!!

[BlueTurtleCrafts]

Yup, I used to love sculpey glaze but I will never use it again. I had this happen to several boxes I made recently. I fixed it by reglazing them with verathane and re-baking them ( at 200degrees for 20 min or so). They are better now except for having some fuzzies that got sucked into the sculpey glaze, that I couldn't get out.

Hopefully you can save your items, good luck.

[Former_Member]

Ahh. I've had the same problem! >_< I find that brushing over the glaze with a bit of water while it's still wet, helps a lot!

But I need to find a new gloss/glaze finisher. /: My whole bottle has gone really thick and I'm not liking it...

Any suggestions on any affordable yet good finishing glaze?

[playsculptlive]

I had the same thing happen with varathane varnish. some got sticky in the summer heat. some pieces went back to normal others never did. I stay away from varnishing as much as I can but alcohol will remove the varnish but it is alot of work. I'd try to recoat with the kato.

[averilpam]

I've always used Fimo gloss varnish and have never had problems with it. For most things I don't glaze, I use Renaissance wax and buff with a cloth which gives a nice soft finish. I use the varnish when I've used paint or metal powder just to be sure it's sealed.

[valenstar]

For removing the sticky Sculpey glaze, try rubbing alcohol or acetone with a qtip. I would test it out on a sample piece first though (the acetone also worked for me to remove a bit of resin from a pendant).

My finish of choice is still Pledge with Future Shine. It's an acrylic finish. I think I've had the same bottle for 3 years or so now.

If you use Varathane or another polyurethane, make sure it is water-based and NOT oil-based or it will react badly with your clay.

[Former_Member]

Thanks to all of you for the help, I'm definitely going to look into a new glaze.

Well I tried baking them over, rubbing alcohol, mod podge (another forum suggested that), nothing worked. Surprisingly, just reapplying the glaze another time worked! It took over 3+ hours to reglaze everything, but none of them are sticky anymore. I don't know what happened in the first place but I'm so glad they were able to be fixed.

Thanks again for the tips everyone! :)

[Former_Member]

I cannot afford liquid Kato, but that seems like a great alternative to glaze...I've NEVER had any issues with Future (Pledge Floor Shine) getting sticky, so I stick to that! :)

[FredaK]

I'm with Jackie Fisher. I use Future. With just one coat it is a mellow look and with more it gets shinier.

[Former_Member]

I used sculpy to fashion the body of a prehistoric dragonfly (wingspan 30" made of clear plastic). Without knowing any better I spray painted the body black in preparation to adding a color pattern later, and it was sticky as hell.
What to do?
After letting it sit for a month I spray painted over it with automotive gray primer. Let that dry, and later gave it another coat.
It seemed to take care of the sticky problem.
I repainted it with black acrylic artists' paint using a brush.
So far, so good. It was dry enough to put a green pattern over the black.
Now, I wanted a gloss finish to I spray painted it again with Damar varnish.
Guess what. Sticky. Again.
I couldn't understand why it got sticky if I used Damar over an acrylic. After letting it set for another four months I covered it with that plastic resin you mix up used to embed coins or coat log slices with. A month later . . . still sticky.
I tried something else later. A liberal coating of a water-based polyurethane.
I left it alone for an entire week before picking it up, and it was dry! Finally.

[Former_Member]

I am here to say DO NOT use Mod Podge Gloss Lustre or KRYLON MATTE FINISH. THEY WILL RUIN YOUR PIECES!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE HAGGLED WITH THSES LAQUERS SO MUCH. LUCKILY I COULD SAVE THEM THOUGH.
USE Rust-Oleum Varathane 200061H 1/2-Pint Interior Crystal Clear Water-Based Polyurethane, Gloss Finish. Seriously this is what the pros use. No stickiness even in hot weather. Acetone will take old, troublesome glazes right off. ;)

[ThisLittleKittenShop]

I use a water based varathane. I got quite a bit for 10$ at my hardware store. it comes in a mini paint can. I just dip my pieces now, so much easier and gets a nice even coat on everything .

[Former_Member]

Just curious, do I need to take the old glaze off before using the varathane? Or will it be okay if I put it over top of the old glaze?