What kind of varnish/glaze do you use?

[SaraFeiss]

Hello! I have some pieces that I've painted with acrylic and then coated in varnish but the varnish usually rubs the acrylic paint off a little. Is there a matte glaze that doesn't remove the paint? What kind do you use and which one is the best?

Thanks!
Sara

[playsculptlive]

First I make sure the paint is really dry before I varnish and I dunk my piece in the varnish and let it drip. I usually let the most of it drip back in my varnish container and pick up the drips with a q-tip. works fine. I use Varathane glossy or satin, bake that for 10 min after it is dry at 250. Works for me.
I never got the hang of brushing my varnish on, always streaked everything.

[Former_Member]

I just recently started using Future furniture polish. I have not tried it on a painted polymer clay surface yet, only on baked unpainted clay.

Have you tried baking the acrylic paint to help "set" it? I find that applying the paint before baking makes it adhere to the polymer clay surface quite well.

[Former_Member]

Right now I'm using DuraClear gloss varnish. I like it, it doesn't go on too thick and it dries quickly.
I've been wanting to try the varathane, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[WhysperFairy]

I didn't know you could paint the pieces before baking. :) I always assumed it would smoke or burn or change the color of the paint. I will have to try this. :)

[Former_Member]

Hello whysperfairy,

Let me know how you like the result after you've tried it.

:)

[Former_Member]

I'm going to try glazing before I bake... good idea!

[playsculptlive]

Remember to bake at 250 and not at 275.

[Former_Member]

I usually bake at a lower temp anyway. :)

[Former_Member]

I prefer my pieces without any finishing glaze at all. Just natural polymer with a good quality paste wax and hand buffed to a soft shine on a piece of denim. You have to get some heat and friction going to bring out the shine, but I like the feel and beauty of cured polymer on it's own. No artificial finish to yellow and crack with age.

[Former_Member]

I use kato liquid polymer clay as a glaze/sealer/varnish. It works on everything, including acrylic paint. I don't like the way other glazes make the clay feel, plus, liquid polymer clay fills in any fine lines that would be visible after curing (and before sanding). Future floor wax makes any fine lines more visible.

[Former_Member]

DON'T paint your creations and then bake them: they will bubble up, pop, and deform whatever you make. Plus, the fumes. It's horrible.

Anyway, I paint my stuff and I used to use Sculpey Glaze... the new formula sucks though, it cracks everything. I've heard floor finish works really well, but I haven't tried it.
I've also tried nail polish, and it works for some things... depends on the brand of paint you use, stuff like that. But it does get the work done.

[Former_Member]

Perlex forever! After baking and sanded.
@rivervalleydesign: do you bake your pieces, then you glaze them with kato, and bake them again? Or maybe do you use it with the heat gun? Thanx for reply!

[HippieChicJewelz]

I use Flecto Varathane... I think they renamed it as Diamond Varathane, LOVE IT!!! You can even Rebake your piece after it has been applied! It is a water based acrylic FINISH (not a varnish, polish or floorwax) for wood, paper, fabric, and other media (like our polymer clay!) that is found in many hardware stores.

There is also a retail source finder section on the official Flecto website http://www.flecto.com/. If you want to know about availablity in your area, ask them. The effectiveness of this product as a longterm finish for polymer clay has opened the way to exploring making my own stains by adding just a touch of colored acrylic paint.

[Former_Member]

I usually bake pieces with the acrylic on it. To me it sets and hardens nice. Then I use a soft brush (white brushes used for acrylic painting) to brush on satin glaze. If you're getting streaks chances are you're using the wrong brush that is too hard and resulting in streaks.

[Former_Member]

I just started glazing before I bake the other day, and I have to say it is the best thing ever!
It's like magic, I swear.

[PattysPrettyThings]

I've baked pieces with acrylic paint on them before - I've never had anything weird happen, LOL! I even stamp color onto uncured clay and then bake. I suspect maybe you need to let your paint dry longer, though...

[Former_Member]

How long do you let your paint dry before baking?

[Former_Member]

i;m experiencing the same problem with the acrylic coming off from the baked pieces.There's no Diamond Varathane supply in my area and my only alt is gloss enamel.But this product is milky tick..I don't like the effect :(

sigh* any other brands suggestion? wouldn't floor varnish turns yellowish over time?

[Former_Member]

I use Liquitex gloss varnish. I think it's a floor polish, a larger bottle. Water based. It dries very clear and silky. I haven't tried baking it though, so that's going to be a new experiment.

My only complaint is that it takes a long time to dry.

[Former_Member]

To klw1278
That's a great idea I want to try that!

[Former_Member]

I've been using hoof High Gloss Nail Laquer for glaze and its worked pretty well. But i recently read something saying some nail polishes are bad for polymer clay and now I'm kind of worried. :( Is there a certain popular polish i should know about? Please help I'm only a beginner.

[Former_Member]

I use Varathane water based triple thick polyurethane it's absolutely amazing. You can place your glazed pieces back in the oven after applying one coat of Varathane. Then after your first coat of Varathane glaze dries, you can add another coat of Varathane glaze, let it air dry a second time and rebake it in the oven. This process allows the glaze to cure nicely. The Varathane I use also has an advanced self-leveling formula so the glaze looks even when it dries, you can also thin the glaze with a little water if needed. It also completes projects 3 times faster and has ultimate durability in one coat. You can find Varathane in your local hardware store like Home Depot. Please make sure to use only the water based Varathane not oil the based. Hope this helps. Also when baking your clay pieces put your pieces in a baking pan made out of aluminum foil (get two aluminum foil baking pans of the same size, one for the top and one for the bottom) essentially you want to create a sealed container from two aluminum foil baking pans. Then get a ceramic tile from your local hardware store and place it on the bottom of your aluminum foil baking pan, this will act as a heat sink. Then put a piece of white paper on top of your tile and place your polymer clay piece on top of the white paper (be sure to cut the white paper to fit the size of the tile or a little smaller) make sure the shiny side of the tile is facing down when you place it inside the aluminum foil baking pan, otherwise your polymer clay piece will be shiny where it contacts the tile. You always want your polymer clay piece to rest on the bottom side of the tile, the side of the tile that is not glazed. Don't worry the white paper will not burn inside the aluminum foil container. Cover the aluminum foil baking pan with your second aluminum foil baking pan to create a sealed container (make sure your aluminum foil pans are the same size otherwise it will be difficult to create a sealed container) then clip them together with metal clips from the school supply section of your local Wal-Mart store. This process keeps air circulating evenly inside your container to insure that your work doesn't burn or heat too quickly. You will be very happy with the results every time, because your clay will bake evenly. Finally when your piece is finished baking, turn off the oven and let it cool down with your work still inside the container sitting in the oven. Letting the container cool inside the oven with the oven turned off allows for a gradual temperature reduction and also protects your piece form a rapid temperature change. Rapid temperature change may cause your work to crack or chip and the results would not be as desirable. I hope all this information helps you create beautiful work to share with all of us. Good Luck to you and best wishes. - Mariana Roberts

[Craftegui]

I will repost what I answered to another threat:
what I actually do it's to use fimo liquid gel as a varnish! It has been the best to me, I just apply one layer with and bake for 20 min (just be sure it doesn't touch --anything-- it has to be hanging in the oven) and the item lasts longer and stays mate... I have tried other varnishes and with the time the item gets dirty or gets sticky or peels off, so the fimo gel for me it's the best until now

[Former_Member]

I used kato liquid clay to my piece and it becomes yellow. I wonder what could happened. I hear that kato works very well. Someoene can give me a suggestion, and if is better to use epoxe resin okkk. I'll wait for any respond. Thanks😃😃😃