Decal sheet sealer

[Eberious]

Hello,

 

Going to be having a go at making my own decals for my army. Managed to find a source for decal liquids that appears to work better with applying and fixing the decal to surfaces. 

 

I'm looking for a reliable spray seal like Simoniz Clear Lacquer Acrylic Spray or stuff that testors do for just this very thing. Only issue is that the testors stuff I can't find(yet) in the UK, only the US. 

 

Does anyone on know of a good spray that I can get in the UK, that will seal the printed decal sheet to lock in the ink to avoid the ink running and that still leaves the decal itself flexible to work with. 

 

cheers 

[Carlson793]

Okay, first, if you're using a laser printer/laser decal paper, you will not need to seal it. (Chances are you're not, but laser printers are fairly cheap nowadays.)

 

As for sealing sheets run through an inkjet printer, any clear gloss spray paint will work. You could run Citadel 'Ard Coat through an airbrush and it'd do the job just fine. The keys are that it is clear gloss paint, and spraying a couple light, full coverage coats of the paint, allowing it to dry fully between coats.

[Eberious]

Cool, I have both ardcoat and an air brush but the hose is broken. So will do a test run with brush application on some gw transfers to see how pliable it is once dried.

 

Thanks.

[Carlson793]

DO NOT use brush-on clear gloss to seal a decal sheet - it goes on too thick/wet, and will actually be more likely to cause your inks to run. Always use spray or airbrush - they generally go on thinner and dry quicker, locking and sealing the ink before it has a chance to run.

Edited July 20, 2017 by Carlson793

[Vel'Cona]

Can you get this stuff in the UK?

 

https://www.amazon.com/Krylon-Colormaster-Crystal-Clear-Acrylic/dp/B0009X8LZ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500583167&sr=8-1&keywords=krylon+acrylic+crystal+clear+high+gloss+spray

 

It's my favourite for these types of projects.

[Eberious]

Well tried the ardcoat, rememeber tester to see if it was still flexible but as you said just there, ruined the transfer. It was a old transfer not going to be used anyways. But thanks for the help and any further advice you can help with. As I see you might know one or two things about it.

 

and thanks Vel'Cona, I'll check it out in a bit, but right now gotta get back to the ps3 before the missus commandeers it, they are crafty mind. Once they see it "un-used"  they take over... 

Edited July 20, 2017 by Eberious

[Cloud Runner]

I use Halfords gloss spray varnish - couple of thin coats from a distance seals the sheet, and makes it useful. I used that back in 2006/07 and the sheet is still fine today (it was army campaign badges, hence not having used massive amounts)

 

It's also good as a gloss coat on mini's, though it does take a but longer to dry (it's designed for cars) but that's not usually an issue for me.

 

 

EDIT - meant to say that it is an aerosol laquer can - great stuff

Edited July 24, 2017 by Cloud Runner