Can someone explain modge podge?

Recyclebella

Recyclebella

Dollar Store Baby Fakie
Joined
Jan 7, 2010
Messages
729
Hi everyone. I'm working on my first ever custom pony, and I need a little help understanding sealers. I painted my pony with acrylic paints. Her symbol is a rub-on transfer which is on top of the acrylics, and then I hand-painted over the transfer. Now I want to seal the pony, but I'm not sure what to use. I went to Michaels and bought Modge Podge, but on the label it says "to eliminate tackiness, apply Clear Acrylic Sealer over cured Modge Podge." I thought Modge Podge WAS the sealer and now I'm confused. I also have a spray can of FolkArt Clearcote Hi-Shine glaze. Should this go on top of the Modge Podge? Do I seal just the symbol or the whole pony? Any suggestions or tips are appreciated.
 
Okay, mod podge-
Mod Podge is basically a thick, tacky glue sealer. It seals, yes... but it's usually used for sealing puzzles or applying a thick glaze to something. It also comes in two main types, matte and glossy. Now the ONLY thing that I use Mod Podge for, is sealing the eyes with the glossy version. It gives them a wet, glassy look.
I don't want to say you can't seal your pony with mod podge, because I've never done it so I don't know if it wouldn't work. Some people here probably do seal with it. I'm just going by my own experience.
I seal with Testor's Dullcote, you can also buy this at Michael's in the model cars area. It comes highly recommended by most customizers and was recommended to me before I ever knew it existed.
It's really the best sealant for the job. It's also a spray so it goes on very easily and has a matte finish.

Now, you could try to use your FolkArt Clearcote if you're alright with a shiny pony. I've never used it though, so I don't know how it works... But my advice would be to seal the whole pony since you gave her a full body repaint. That's what I would do.
 
Mod Podge is a fine sealant, that's what a lot of customizers use. If you didn't do a full body repaint then just seal the symbols. If you did do a full body repaint you might as well seal everything (better safe than sorry right? ;) )

I would advise against ANY spray sealant. It has a tendancy to get tacky over time and once enough lint and dust has stuck to your pony... it's basically impossible to save =/ Some people use spary sealants but I don't know of the top of my head which ones. It's so humid in my area 24/7/365 that I would want to test them anyways and not follow them blindly.
 
hehe! so we just posted two very conflicting opinions!
Okay so go ahead and seal with your mod podge... and uhm ignore what I said about it!
I just wasn't sure.

I've never experienced the tack and stickyness with the Testor's Dullcote, but the label does warn about humidity.
 
i dont make customs but i did buy a custom that was sealed with modge podge and i think she looks just fine. from what i can tell the sealant was only used on her symbols.
 
thebeth said:
hehe! so we just posted two very conflicting opinions!
Okay so go ahead and seal with your mod podge... and uhm ignore what I said about it!
I just wasn't sure.

I've never experienced the tack and stickyness with the Testor's Dullcote, but the label does warn about humidity.
Click to expand...
Yeah, one of the joys of customizing, everyone has so many different theories XD
I've sealed all 35 of my customs in mod podge and they're still kicking with no stickiness =) (Granted it's only been a year, but with the humidity as wonky as it is I figure something bad would have happened by now if it was going to)

The only thing you have to watch is hair sticking to diluted Mod Podge. I had that happen once (boil perming and the hair got stuck in the Mod Podge when it was soft from the hot water) and I couldn't save it ;~;

There are people out there that swear by a spray sealant though. Honestly you just have experiment and see what works for you.
 
I've been using a matte spray finish that my husband uses for his Warhammer minis, probably similar to the one you've got, and it seems to work just fine. It's super humid around here all the time, and the spray does warn about that, but I've just been spraying when it's sunny and then letting it dry - they seem fine to me, but it's only been a month or so since my first custom, so who knows how they'll turn out....
 
when you use modpodge or the testors thing, do you use a paintbrush to get it nicely on? and how do you clean the things you use to apply it with? Ill have to order online and would like to know if there are any other supplies I sould get aswell
 
testor's just sprays on- the only supplies I use with it are 2 dowels stuck in a block of styrofoam that I stick the pony's head and body on
 
i don't use modgepodge, or testors, or spray sealent. i juse FolkArt's multi-purpose sealent, Folk-art glitter sealent, and DuraClear Varnish. it's found with the acrylics in the paint isle, and i just paint it on with a brush; i wash the brush normally.

i had a very VERY bad experiance with spray sealent in the start of my custom career so i've only been sealing with a brush for 6 months because i was so hateful of sealents. but now i can't think of doing a custom without sealing it!

humidity for any sealent i think is a no-no, but it happens. it's not as sticky as unsealed glossy paint though, so sealent=niiice XD;

but that's just my two cents. i've been wanting to try modgepodg but reading all these stories about the problems it can have i think i'll just stick to what i use.

:reaper: Kat :reaper:
 
LLBPonyGirl said:
i don't use modgepodge, or testors, or spray sealent. i juse FolkArt's multi-purpose sealent, Folk-art glitter sealent, and DuraClear Varnish. it's found with the acrylics in the paint isle, and i just paint it on with a brush; i wash the brush normally.

i had a very VERY bad experiance with spray sealent in the start of my custom career so i've only been sealing with a brush for 6 months because i was so hateful of sealents. but now i can't think of doing a custom without sealing it!

humidity for any sealent i think is a no-no, but it happens. it's not as sticky as unsealed glossy paint though, so sealent=niiice XD;

but that's just my two cents. i've been wanting to try modgepodg but reading all these stories about the problems it can have i think i'll just stick to what i use.

:reaper: Kat :reaper:
Click to expand...


Ooh I just bought the FA Glitter Sealant. It was on sale at Joann's. Haven't opened it yet though.

I used mod-podge matte to seal my full body repaints. Just be careful because it goes on really thick and sometimes you end up with brush lines. Better to do more than one thin coat that one uber thick one. Also it looks opaque-ish when wet but will dry clear.

I do NOT use the glossy mod-podge on eyes anymore. It wasn't given me a wet-shine look even with multiple coats. I bought Americana Triple Thick Gloss Glaze instead and it is awesome-sauce!
 
I use Mod Podge matte and just dip my brush in water before dipping it in the MP. It doesn't water it down much and keeps it from drying in the brush. Work in small areas, wait til they're dry, and move on. LLB has some of my customs and can say better than I how they held up. I don't own any of my customs.
 
but do you just wash the paintbrush off with water? or do you have to get some cemicals?
I cant get the spray types, cus they cant be shipped by air.
 
Skeen said:
I use Mod Podge matte and just dip my brush in water before dipping it in the MP. It doesn't water it down much and keeps it from drying in the brush. Work in small areas, wait til they're dry, and move on. LLB has some of my customs and can say better than I how they held up. I don't own any of my customs.
Click to expand...

oh yeah i do! hu that's hows they were sealed *goes to pull them off the shelves to check em out*

well Reaper (from the halloween swap) is still very smooth and satin sheened (more than a matte pony, idk if that's sealent matte though)

and G1 Cheerilee (from the G3 to G1 swap-older) is actually the same and she's been here alot longer. she's a little less "smooth" but i think that's painting i think.

but the point is that the both are still as perfect as i got them so i guess Skeen's sealing method works great XD;;; was that any help? ^^;;;

:reaper: Kat :reaper:
 
I sealed Reaper with more coats, so she's more satiny. Your customs are usually shiny so I thought she'd fit in better if she was too.
 
Thanks for the tip, Skeen. I tried the Modge Podge matte on a practice pony head, and it was just so thick and the brush strokes were showing. I think the water on the brush would help. I also tried the glossy Folk Art spray sealant and I did NOT love it, not so much because the pony was shiny, but because it is humid here and it didn't seem to cure properly, even after a day and a half. I haven't been back to Michaels, so haven't tried the Testers or the glitter sealer yet. Also haven't sealed the pony yet--she took days and hours to make and I don't want to spoil it by screwing up the sealing!
 
When I use mod podge I usually dip my brush in water then lightly dry it on a towel (like so it's not "dripping" but it's not dry dry either) and then I dip it in the Mod Podge (usually no more than 1/8 - 1/4 of an inch) It's really cut down on the brush strokes =)
If you don't get enough water out of your brush though you'll spend a lot of your time chasing around drips and air bubbles -_-
 
If you use modpodge you have to wash the brush immediately after you finish (soap and water are fine) and you have to get it all out or your brush will be ruined.

I've never had a problem with Mod Podge. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top