Matt shine woes.

So I'd just finished the most exsquisitely detailed and weathered (yeah, right) model, and dug out the matt varnish to give it a coat to protect the (Carr's powder) weathering. I set it aside, and came back to it the next day. To my horror, it was covered in a dull satin sheen, which would be fine if my layout was set during a rainstorm but as it's not....Yikes. So out came the other matt varnish, this time a spray. A light dusting later, and...bloody satin, still.

What am I doing wrong? Why can't I get matt matt? Haylp.

R.

Reply to
Richard
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"Richard" wrote

Maybe

a] you've got a faulty aerosol of varnish or

b] you didn't shake it for long enough before using?

On the latter score I reckon to shake any aerosol for an absolute minimum of

15 minutes if it's been used recently, or twice that for a new one. Always test spray before painting your actual model - that way you've a chance of discovering if there's a problem with the paint product.

John.

Reply to
John Turner

The matte look is provided by a very fine dust (usually talc) suspended in the medium. It looks like this settled in the bottom of the bottle/spray can. Stir thoroughly, and then stir again. Shake twice as long as you think you need, then shake again. It's the only way. I _know_. :-)

Even so, if the stuff has been sitting on the shelf for a while, you may not get a fully matte look. The matting agent seems to coagulate over time. If you can't get the matte look, it's probably time for a fresh bottle.

HTH&GL

Reply to
Wolf Kirchmeir

You didn't shake it long enough - unquestionably.

I have a tin of humbrol matt varnish here that I stir with a screw bent at right angles inserted into my dremmel... I can feel the seperated layer at the bottom of the tin like a wine gum. I keep going until I have metal on metal - usually 5 good minutes or so. Then I get matt, otherwise I get satin. like you did.

Reply to
unclewobbly

I think the matt effect is usually produced by incorporating wax, which is why the varnish eventually gells - the waxes oxidise.

Ken.

Reply to
Ken Parkes

Could be, but the clear matte enamels seem to have powder in them. IMO it's likely that different media require different matting agents. Any paint specialists around that could satisfy our curiosity?

Reply to
Wolf Kirchmeir

Does the "powder" disappear when you warm them? Off for a few days, look forward to be enlightened by someone when I return.

Ken.

Reply to
Ken Parkes

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