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  #1  
Old 01-05-2021, 10:29 PM
shuyge shuyge is offline
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Default Sealing inkjet decals

After all of the failures that I had printing with the laser printer at work, I picked up some inkjet decal paper.

I located a friend who will print for whiskey and a deal was struck! I have now printed quite a few pages of decals and I'm quite happy with them so far. Granted, I have yet to actually attempt to use these decals, but it looks like progress at this point.

I know that they need to be sealed before they can be placed in water and I'm looking for advice on what products I should use to seal the decals.

Would Future floor polish work? Any ideas on acrylic vs laquer? Flexibility? Brands? Yellowing?

How does Krylon Crystal Clear work? Is it UV stable?

TIA,
Stan
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  #2  
Old 01-05-2021, 10:42 PM
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LeeR LeeR is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shuyge
After all of the failures that I had printing with the laser printer at work, I picked up some inkjet decal paper.

I located a friend who will print for whiskey and a deal was struck! I have now printed quite a few pages of decals and I'm quite happy with them so far. Granted, I have yet to actually attempt to use these decals, but it looks like progress at this point.

I know that they need to be sealed before they can be placed in water and I'm looking for advice on what products I should use to seal the decals.

Would Future floor polish work? Any ideas on acrylic vs laquer? Flexibility? Brands? Yellowing?

How does Krylon Crystal Clear work? Is it UV stable?

TIA,
Stan


I have had great luck with Krylon UV-Resistant Acrylic Clear. Available in Gloss and Matte. I get mine at Hobby Lobby, it is in the Art Dept., and not with the paint. I’ve used it for over 5 years, and never had it yellow. Works well over any paint.

Future works well. Since it is glossy, you can mix in a little Tamiya Flat Base, to give it a matte or flat finish.
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  #3  
Old 01-05-2021, 10:49 PM
shuyge shuyge is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LeeR
I have had great luck with Krylon UV-Resistant Acrylic Clear. Available in Gloss and Matte. I get mine at Hobby Lobby, it is in the Art Dept., and not with the paint. I’ve used it for over 5 years, and never had it yellow. Works well over any paint.

Future works well. Since it is glossy, you can mix in a little Tamiya Flat Base, to give it a matte or flat finish.


Lee,

While I'm familiar with Future, I have exactly zero experience with it. I don't even own any yet. Can I just brush it on? Or is this something where I would have to get out an airbrush? What does one use for thinner / cleaner?
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Old 01-05-2021, 11:02 PM
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The couple times I’ve used Future (actually branded Pledge now) I brushed it on. It flows well. Don’t let it flow into the body tube / nose cone joint! I do pieces separately. For a nose cone I hang it pointy end down. If you see a drip accumulating, just touch your brush to it to absorb the extra liquid.
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  #5  
Old 01-06-2021, 08:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shuyge
Would Future floor polish work? Any ideas on acrylic vs laquer? Flexibility? Brands? Yellowing?

Future floor polish is water based. So you'd have to seal the inkjet decals first.

I used Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic spray, two coats. Don't try "misting" the decals with short bursts because you can create a rough texture.
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  #6  
Old 01-06-2021, 09:13 AM
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I use Krylon UV resistant clear.
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  #7  
Old 01-06-2021, 10:05 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LeeR
The couple times I’ve used Future (actually branded Pledge now) I brushed it on.

Wait, have you actually used it to seal inkjet decals? I would suspect it would cause them to run, unless proven otherwise. I use the Krylon UV-resistant gloss clear for decal sealing, which works well, although I find it will still bleed off the edges (try to leave at least a millimeter or two beyond the ink when cutting out the details, if possible).

That said, I usually use Future for final clear coating. Normally I use a foam brush for application, then hang the rocket nose-down and let the excess drip off (I usually hang it over the garbage can next to my bench, when the rocket isn't too big.)

Recently, for various weird reasons, I've applied Future with cotton swabs to small areas at a time. When doing it like this, I apply no "extra", and therefore there is no drip-off. I try to keep the applied area flat while drying, but it sets very quickly this way (15 minutes or so). I am by no means recommending this approach in general but it has worked very well for me, especially when I want extra coats just in certain areas.

Quote:
Future works well. Since it is glossy, you can mix in a little Tamiya Flat Base, to give it a matte or flat finish.

Did you ever get around to actually trying this? Would like to hear some details about your experience.
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  #8  
Old 01-06-2021, 10:06 AM
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neil_w neil_w is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by astronwolf
Don't try "misting" the decals with short bursts because you can create a rough texture.

I am, um, "familiar" with this issue.
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  #9  
Old 01-06-2021, 10:26 AM
A Fish Named Wallyum A Fish Named Wallyum is offline
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I use Testors Decal Bonder. It's......fine. I'll be checking out the Krylon today on my post-work trip to Hobby Lobby. (Did I mention that I got a gift card for Christmas?)
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  #10  
Old 01-06-2021, 11:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by neil_w
Wait, have you actually used it to seal inkjet decals? I would suspect it would cause them to run, unless proven otherwise. I use the Krylon UV-resistant gloss clear for decal sealing, which works well, although I find it will still bleed off the edges (try to leave at least a millimeter or two beyond the ink when cutting out the details, if possible).

That said, I usually use Future for final clear coating. Normally I use a foam brush for application, then hang the rocket nose-down and let the excess drip off (I usually hang it over the garbage can next to my bench, when the rocket isn't too big.)

Recently, for various weird reasons, I've applied Future with cotton swabs to small areas at a time. When doing it like this, I apply no "extra", and therefore there is no drip-off. I try to keep the applied area flat while drying, but it sets very quickly this way (15 minutes or so). I am by no means recommending this approach in general but it has worked very well for me, especially when I want extra coats just in certain areas.


Did you ever get around to actually trying this? Would like to hear some details about your experience.


I have used Future/Pledge on an Estes Mini Max. But those were not inkjet. I have not tried the Tamiya Flat Base yet, since I cannot find the bottle I bought! I think it’s time to organzize my shop!
I read about this on an RC Airplane forum a few years back. Here is the info that was posted.

FUTURE FLOOR POLISH, FLATTENING

Future does produce a glossy finish so many modelers will introduce a flattening material or only use it as a pre-decal sealer. If you wish to use flattened Future as a final coat here are a couple of suggested ratios of Tamiya flat base for different effects:
****** 1 part flat base to 3 parts Future = very flat
****** 1 part flat base to 10 parts Future = flat
****** 1 part flat base to 15 parts Future = satin
If you get too much of anybody's flat base on the surface of your model you run the risk of making it all go white. No thinning is required just make sure it is well mixed.
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Last edited by LeeR : 01-06-2021 at 11:35 AM.
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