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20 votes
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What do you call "negative" paint?

I think what you are looking for is called a masking fluid. It is sometimes also called liquid frisket. Masking fluid can be treated like paint which wherever it is applied will protect what is ...
John Vukelic's user avatar
  • 2,966
14 votes
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Intentionally letting watercolor paints dry before using them?

It sounds like your wife learned to paint with watercolor paints in pans, and/or learned from someone who only really knew of these types of paints: These are in a sense the ancestors of the kiddie ...
Martha's user avatar
  • 1,828
14 votes

Intentionally letting watercolor paints dry before using them?

Many people do this, it is common practice among watercolorists. Watercolor paints can be used in their wet form via a tube or they can be used as a dried over consistency. It has nothing to do with ...
Debra Petersen's user avatar
13 votes

Paint that will feel like tire rubber

A product by the brand name PlastiDip™ exists in spray-on and brush on or dip form. It's somewhat rubbery and is often used as grips for tool handles. Available at the Amazon link in various colors ...
fred_dot_u's user avatar
  • 7,599
10 votes
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Why do artists use pigments instead of dyes in paintings?

While more historical artists likely didn't understand the chemical processes behind the behaviors of the two options, the biggest reason is permanence. Dyes are organic substances that are either ...
Joanne C's user avatar
  • 3,423
10 votes
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How can I eliminate spray paint odor?

The reason for the smell is because of the VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) content in paint. The best way to avoid breathing in paint fumes is to not have them to begin with. Most indoor and ...
Chris Rogers's user avatar
10 votes
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Hand painting with spray paint?

Spray paint, by design is in a pressurized container, to belabor the obvious. When used, the material is converted to an aerosol by the pressure, which then travels some distance at a good speed. If ...
fred_dot_u's user avatar
  • 7,599
9 votes
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My Mod Podge coat is still sticky. What do I do?

Mod Podge takes a very long time to cure; around four weeks, depending on humidity and coat thickness. To properly use Mod Podge, you need to apply multiple thin layers (not thick ones), allowing ...
Allison C's user avatar
  • 4,054
9 votes
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How do I replicate this misty spray paint texture/pattern?

If the material is metal, one can use a wrinkle finish powdercoat to accomplish this result. It's not quite exactly the same texture, but wrinkle finish powdercoat may qualify in that it's random and ...
fred_dot_u's user avatar
  • 7,599
8 votes
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Paint for kids' skin: what is suitable?

You can buy non-toxic "face paints" or "body paints" specifically made for this purpose. Product Search: Face Paint You can also make them yourself. Face paints (typically) are not a "type of ...
Robert Cartaino's user avatar
8 votes
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Staining vs transparent watercolor paints

Usually you can't, as the packaging generally doesn't show this information. What you can do, is test the watercolour out in the store, which is often possible (if no direct means are given, you can ...
Joachim's user avatar
  • 11.4k
8 votes

Can a half full rattle can with no propellant have any practical uses in art or craft?

Repressurize You can repressurize the can. If you have a compressor, a valve stem from a tire makes a good adapter (insert the service end into a tire filling adapter, and use the rubber end that ...
fixer1234's user avatar
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7 votes
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Is pigment necessary to obtain white milk paint?

Yes, pigment is necessary. The milk solution creates the binder for the pigment, which is basically the mechanism to deliver the pigment to the support/surface, but it is then intended to mostly ...
Joanne C's user avatar
  • 3,423
7 votes
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Are spray paints effective on laptops?

No, spray paints can get into the cooling system through the vents, blocking air flow and gumming up moving parts. Some spray paints may even conduct electricity after drying which can short out (...
Henry Taylor's user avatar
  • 3,235
7 votes

What kind of paint to use for tree leaves?

Spray paint is definitely the best approach due to the delicate nature of the leaves. A quick drying acrylic spray paint works for me with sprigs. The leaves need to be free of loose material like ...
Nickyj's user avatar
  • 71
7 votes

Paint that will feel like tire rubber

Liquid electrical tape will do the job. However it's pretty thick though and globs on so it will be challenging to have the underlying texture not be covered up. Alternatively, you could try mixing in ...
DKNguyen's user avatar
  • 171
6 votes
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What paint to use for outdoor plastic chairs?

I have a plastic chair in my workshop. It is spattered with acrylic paint which is very hard to remove. I suggest you use good quality exterior grade acrylic paints. I have painted concrete ornaments ...
Stephen Fixit's user avatar
6 votes

What are the strengths of chalk paint?

My experience is with the commercial brands (my wife uses and sells them). The two main advantages that I see are: that they allow a very smooth finish with a brush. If you were to paint furniture ...
ScottP's user avatar
  • 61
6 votes
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Repaint eyes of a stuffed animal

Probably the best thing is the acrylic paint uses for plastic models followed by a couple of coats of gloss acrylic varnish. This will be pretty durable and should give a good result. They paint ...
Chris Johns's user avatar
  • 1,989
6 votes

How to get spray paint off of concrete, wood, and metal

Forget turpentine and rubbing alcohol. Whatever you do, you will have to refinish some of the surfaces. For everything other than the concrete you should be ok with acetone. Use steel wool soaked in ...
Nothingismagick's user avatar
6 votes

Paint that will feel like tire rubber

You could use black liquid latex that is sold as body paint. It is natural latex that you can brush or pour on and it will give you an actual rubber coating. I have played with the stuff and it is a ...
rebusB's user avatar
  • 3,729
5 votes
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How to avoid / deal with rough edges after painting plywood?

Not sure if you want to hear this but this is better handled before finishing as supposed to mitigating after the fact. Either way I think you need to sand the roughness out you have first then do ...
Matt's user avatar
  • 11k
5 votes

How to avoid / deal with rough edges after painting plywood?

When using a water based paint, you will for certain cause the grain to raise and funny things that look like tear-out on the edges. To avoid this, before painting, I sand, then intentionally raise ...
Ast Pace's user avatar
  • 653
5 votes
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Is there anything wrong with mixing incompatible paints?

So, from my experience... Wrong? No. Basically, looking at the major art paint options I can't see any that, when combined, would result in a dangerous mix. Some, however, will mix a bit better ...
Joanne C's user avatar
  • 3,423
5 votes

Heat resistant paints for metal smoking pipe

After looking into a few options that you might have already seen I think this will be a safety concern for yourself that you should best avoid. I am not insinuating what you do with the pipe but ...
Matt's user avatar
  • 11k
5 votes

What paint works for "mock" stained glass?

When I did my faux stained glass window (see below) I used hot glue to do the "lead" outline. It worked really well on glass because although it sticks very well, if I made a mistake I could remove it ...
Thriller's user avatar
5 votes
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Pony hair vs synthetic hair painting brushes

It depends on the synthetic brush that is available. Generally speaking, pony hair brushes are often used in schools since they are inexpensive, yet strong and soft. However, they do not retain the ...
Vincent.W.'s user avatar
  • 1,140
5 votes

Is pigment necessary to obtain white milk paint?

The main question has already been answered. But the user also wants to know which white pigments would work. To my knowledge, there are at least 3 options: Titanium Dioxide white is most widely used ...
Meclassic's user avatar
  • 151
5 votes

Adding a custom paint job to an umbrella

That's an imaginative gift! The silk screen industry has been applying paint to fabric (umbrellas included) for some time. You might be able to by a small amount from a local shop. The inks (paints)...
Ace's user avatar
  • 619

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