here are some things i used this varnish on. We would never think of varnishing or sealing a beach ball to protect it, right? They are notorious for absorbing humidity and becoming cloudy over time. Ive tried washing/scrubbing it off but it doesnt seem to workWondering if anyone also experienced this dilemma? All dimensional glazes are glossy there are not matte versions available. Just brush them on. Teresa Pandora Salgado sells her DeepShine Resin, read more about these liquid clays in my article on using them as a clearcoat here, read more about the process here on Tonis site, Heres where you learn more about the Sanding and Buffing eBook.

Mod Podge seemed okay at first but got real sticky later and looked weird.

Always stir these containers before use as the matting agent can settle in the bottom, leaving just the glossy varnish at the top of the bottle. Anyways, if anyone has advice or help, please comment! Applying varnish to heavily textured projects canresult in pooling and air bubbles. Open Your Etsy Shop Now Baked clay is water-resistant and durable, even without a glaze. Wait just a minute for the brush strokes to settle, then cure under a light. tested41 different glazes, sealers, and varnishes on five different brands of clay. Because UV resins cure before they can run off your piece, they can be used on curved surfaces. Some said they can get away with using clear nail polish (I have no idea what brand theyre using) but mostly it dissolve your polymer clay in the long run. Follow BellissimaCreation on WordPress.com.

Older resin may not cure, and it can yellow with age. You get the full scent, the scent can be changed, and theres no breakdown or loss of any materials. I have attempted to put my pieces in the fridge so they will dry and harden.

Matte particles can settle at the bottom of the container, leaving the glossier base liquid at the top. I use any combination of Fimo, Cosclay, Craftsmart, and some Sculpey. Once it cools, what comes next? I am not fond of using this class of products with polymer clay. So I dont hold much hope for using dimensional glazeswith polymer clay. Trust me on this. Polymer clay, when cured, is vinyl similar to a kiddie pool, tablecloth on your deck table, or beach ball. When you apply mica powders, chalks, glitter, or metal leaf to the surface of your polymer clay project, it will need to be protected if the item is subject to wear. The best way Ive found to add a lasting scent to the clay is by rubbing a drop of concentrated alcohol-free fragrance onto the clay hot out of the oven, but then the clay gets a bit soft and able to be scratched. Varathane has strong durability and give a brilliant shiny look. No matter what type of things you like to make with polymer clay, sooner or later the question of sealers comes up. Sculpeyglazesadd that perfect finishing touch tomake paint treatments and mica powders pop: Polymer clay glazesare just one method to protect your projects. Im talking specifically about tiny miniatures like youd see in a D&D box set. From earrings tocabochons, a glassy domed coating makes wearable art pop.While resin offers unique qualities, it has its drawbacks. Matte version are created by including matting agents. I would skip it entirely. Note that adding a glossy varnish can make translucent polymer clay seem more clear. Sort of like a cross between a glue and a varnish, dimensional glazes are similar to resin in that theyre syrupy and they can be applied in a thick coating. You cover a glass bowl with polymer clay. Triple Thick will give a brilliant shine onto your polymer clay project but like Sculpy varnish, the stickiness just wont go away. So first I used "Mod Podge Matte" which is fine, but it gets real tacky about after a few weeks. Last I check, this one is around US$16 per 200ml on Amazon, while Sculpey glaze is US$3 per 30ml. I hope at least it help you out a little bit to understand more about varnish for polymer clay. Back then when I first started working with polymer clay, I thought only polymer clay varnish that will work on polymer clay.

Heat makes raw polymer clay softer (and stickier for some), and can not be best for curing resins.Just for water-based finishes though (Varathane, Mod Podge, art/craft brands, etc), warmth can speed up their natural drying while cold will slow it down.If you meant your raw clay pieces though, cooling the clay in various ways is often done in warm climates and for too-soft polymer clays to temporarily firm them. Dont try a new unknown varnish to your real project. This will work sort of like wetting a beach pebble and can enrich a dark clay surface. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, http://glassattic.com/polymer/finishes.htm, http://glassattic.com/polymer/other_materials.htm, http://glassattic.com/polymer/Conditioning.htm. Therefore new polymer clayers sometimes advocate its use as a glaze, sealer and varnish as well. And since I dont read Japanese, I can only count on what the sellers website said. Shop Sculpeyonline for polymer claysandglazesto make one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, mixed media projects and home dcor with confidence. If you cant find any review anywhere, buy the smallest size first and then apply it on a baked scrap clay. But its something I want to explore further at some point. If I coat it in Golden Polymer Varnish with UVLS, would that prevent the clay from melting down once wet? Embed a tiny glass vial in the clay item. But it works very well with polymer clay as well. The Matte is nice and not sticky at all, and the gloss dries nicely but then becomes a lil sticky after a few days. The specific formulas are usually a secret, so youll never know exactly what is in the varnish you choose. Dont spray it on your working surface (or table in my case) wheres theres a lot of other different object since the particles thats not hitting your project will hit something else. This will depend on the brands involved and the conditions theyre exposed to. To use as a varnish, apply a very thin coat with your finger or a brush. Wax applied to a textured surface will be white and unattractive. Sadly, I dont really know a lot about air dry clays. I also paint my projects with acryl. It is white and dries clear. There are three main well-known brands of liquid polymer clay. Common brands are Diamond Glaze, Triple Thick, Mod Podge Dimensional Magic, Aleenes Jewelry Pendant Gel, and Glossy Accents. https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B001US2NY2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. So the distinction between these two categories is more one of marketing than chemistry. Add this solution on top of paint and other treatments to finish beads, create faux stone effects and add shine. Most often the water-based/indoor Gloss version is used but it also comes in other version (e.g., Semigloss & Matte).

(The same holds true for acrylic paint, by the way.). Check for any interactions with the clay. Always apply resin after baking your polymer clay project. Varathane has strong durability and give a brilliant shiny look. And be sure to check out our ever-growinghow-topage andblogfor clay project ideas and tips! Later on, after browsing here and there, trying this and that, I found out that I was wrong. You only need to apply it twice to get your item shiny. A heat gun will make it more shiny, but it wont be as shiny as Kato Liquid. Helmar Crystal Kote Matte is another spray varnish that works well with polymer clay. The same holds true for dots of paint and antiquing in the recessed areas of a design. Have a look at my article about polymer clay safety. Instead of using a brush, resins are usually poured on and the sticky liquid is spread on the surface with a toothpick or needle tool. But the reviews are all so different because people use them for many different things, and some people love it while others do not. This is the newsletter that everyone talks about. In this article, Ill try to clear up confusion and help with understanding polymer clay glazes, sealers, and varnishes. After all that creative work, the last thing you want to do is accidentally ruin your piece with an incompatible glaze, resulting in distorted colors or a tacky surface. Also, check the link to the article where I tested 41 different varnishes. Price wise, this sealer are cheaper than Sculpey glaze. Some people said their charm/project become sticky when being glazed with Sculpey. 2- Water based acrylic varnish like Varathane or Minwax Polycrylic. Great on textured items where varnish would pool. Thank for you the good information :). For example, Varathanes resin is an acrylic modified urethane. Your email address will not be published. It really does need the high heat of a heat gun. 9 Polymer Clay Truths Newbies Dont Believe. These resins are very similar in function and application to the epoxy resins, but they cure within 5 minutes when exposed to UV light using a special lamp or a bright sunny day. For me, its not. What is a Polymer Clay Conditioning Machine? (Read about using resin with polymer clay here.) However, when choosing a varnish, there are one or two things your might need to pay attention to. If you want to know how to get an absolutely perfect shine on polymer clay with sanding and buffing, with minimal effort, I recommend that you check out my Sanding and Buffing eBook.

PYM II(now discontinued and nearly impossible to find) is a unique spray acrylic coating that does not stay sticky and works well with polymer clay. After drying, if it dries at all, it can stay sticky in high humidity applications. Epoxy resin will not cure fully if the mixture is incorrect or if the mixture is not fully mixed before pouring. If you properly buff smooth polymer clay with a high speed buffer, you can get a finish that is just as smooth and glossy as resin or glass.

You can see which of them scored well, and which got sticky or peeled off. For a polished finish, sand and buff the cured clay using our wet/drySculpey Tools Sandpaper Variety Pack. Best for: Not recommended as a polymer clay glaze, sealer, or varnish. Always clay-safe. Press J to jump to the feed. For more than 50 years, we've helped clayers take their creative ideas from imagination to reality with our innovative polymer clay products, tools and tutorials. Always stir never shake to mix the solution thoroughly before application. Maybe its already said so on the label, but since I cant read it, yea.. you know.. On the other hand, Padico varnish that has Sealer on the label works quite nice with polymer clay. It seems that dirt is maybe sticking to the finish?? Baking it in the oven at normal clay-curing temperatures will result in a cloudy finish. They have many dozens of products, some of which may be used on polymer clay. There's more info on clear finishes, paints, and cooling the clay on these pages of my polymer clay encyclopedia site if you're interested: http://glassattic.com/polymer/finishes.htmhttp://glassattic.com/polymer/other_materials.htm > Epoxy Resin, http://glassattic.com/polymer/Conditioning.htm > Cooling, Thank you!!! Resin is lovely on sparkly or mica covered projects as it will intensify the sparkle. To save costs, they may also contain vinyl acrylic, vinyl stearate, vinyl acetate, polyurethane, or even poly-vinyl acetate (PVA, such as in white glue). You wont commonly see polyester resin used in the craft world as its pretty noxious. Hi!

http://etsy.me/28Nt338. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. I found that each product behaved differently on each brand of clay. Like lip gloss on a beach ball. (LogOut/ Sanding and buffing has a reputation for being difficult and can lead to painful fingertips, but it doesnt have to be that way. Bi-weekly emails, or thereabouts. Enjoy! However, I dont recommend these due to poor performance on polymer clay. It can turn cloudy over time. Common brands of this resin are Envirotex Lite, Amazing Clear Cast, Little Windows, and ICE Resin. Mod Podge is a variety of thinned white PVA glue, similar to Elmers glue. Its a great way of recycling, too. You will use a lot of paper towels with resin projects. Other clear finishes may work, but won't be as hard or as tough as those. 3. Best for: Deepening and enriching dark colors, giving a warm sheen to smooth clay. (Contrary to myth, plasticizers stay in polymer clay. But hey, thats what wed call learning, no? Its common for new polymer clay crafters to have misconceptions about the subject of varnishes, sealers, and clear coatings. Some brands get sticky on polymer clay. Fimo, Kato, and Cernit also release their own version of varnish. How do I add the glass lining? Do you need to seal polymer clay before painting or using it, and, if so, which sealers are safe to use? This stand-by, also called TLS, is similar to the other liquid clays and can also be used as a glue and thinner. This is so helpful. Obviously sanding and buffing arent the way to goout but Id still like to find a way to protect some of the pieces. To use as a varnish, apply to the clay in a thin coating. Liquid clays have the advantage of always being 100% compatible with polymer clay and will not result in stickiness. While our unglazed clays are stable and naturally water-resistant when baked, many crafters prefer to seal projects for a variety of reasons: If there are no observable reactions, proceed with glazing the entire project. Glues often dont hold. Experiment to see what works best for the results you want. Wasting my timeor embarking on a fun creative adventure? By the same token, many acrylic varnishes contain urethane as part of their resin makeup. To make your clay project less shiny, you could apply a matte varnish. Learn how to seal polymer clay properly with durable matte, satin or glossy finishes recommended by top polymer clay professionals. Liquid Fusion is a urethane glue that is slightly amber colored and crystal clear. Stickiness of finishes is usually caused by:1.not letting them dry or cure depending on what's been used, long enough and thoroughly; for water-based ones, they'll also take longer to dry in cool, humid, not well-ventilated areas; for resins, they'll take longer to cure if not mixed correctly, are too warm or cool, are too old, not enough UV light for the UV-curing ones, etc2.exposure to too much moisture/humidity after drying (may become temporarily sticky and/or cloudy), including too little ventilation even in a drawer or plastic bag3.having used the "wrong kind" of clear finish, one with a petroleum-solvent base or a spray where that ingredient is only in the propellant. Just made 19 pairs of earrings in various colours that are matte. You have different options for liquid clay finishes: The best sealants forpolymer clay projectsare water-based, and even among water-soluble options, not all formulas are created equal.

(But polymer clay can never "dry," and instead cures to harden.). I strongly recommend this not be used as a polymer clay glaze, sealer, or varnish. Thank you for all the good information :). Cyanoacrylate is also known as superglue. A better idea is to make a scent dispenser of sorts. Renaissance Wax has persuasivemarketing thats convinced many people, including many polymer clay artists, that its an all-purpose protective material. Thank you for reading :). I'm trying to search all over Amazon for different varnishes, and reading reviews. Thanks. Because waxes apply as a microscopically thin layerto polymer clay, they will do nothing to protect mica powder, glitter, paint, or metal leaf from wear or abrasion, and can even remove them. Thats not exactly true. In this category, youll find artists acrylic varnishes, craft store varnishes, and polymer clay brand glazes. Just apply a thin coating, let dry for a few minutes, then buff with a cloth. Dont use ModPodge for this. You can read more about the process here on Tonis site. Another good brand of spray varnish is PYM II. Read about my experiments with spray sealers here.

Ive separated the polyurethane varnishes because they are marketed differently. The one that works good with polymer clay is Rust-Oleum Varathane Interior Crystal Clear Water-Based Polyurethane. This broad group of products are typically clear to milky white liquids. No, you don't need to use a sealer with polymer clay. Seasoned clayers utilize these finishes: The following finishes are not compatible with polymer clay: The best polymer clay finishes dry without tackiness, offer durability and are entirely compatible with polymer clay which is why so many polymer clay crafters recommend these specificvarnishes. Im testing the above four brands and three of them are already failing. It still feel sticky after few hours of glazing, especially when the glazed items is exposed by heat, like sunlight for example. When poured thick, they will take a few days to fully dry, but they should dry clear and have sort of a resin effect. You've made a one-of-a-kind vase, ornament or pendant out of polymer clay,and now it's baking in the oven to cure to completion. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), View bellissimacrafts profile on Facebook, View bellissimacrafts profile on Instagram, View UCK6FhCapomuMkcPV0LJTahAs profile on YouTube, View 114146589376215113153s profile on Google+, is it necessary to varnish your polymer clay, which varnish you should use based on the sheen level.