dochollow Posted June 29, 2012 Report Share Posted June 29, 2012 has any body used a product called "DECOART ONE STEP CRACKLE"? just wondering how you used it { the instructions are very vague}. were you happy with the results? i know about the ELMER GLUE process, but havent tried that yet either. can you air brush the paint over the glue or crackle medium or must it be brushed? thanx, DOC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted June 29, 2012 Report Share Posted June 29, 2012 (edited) Hey Doc, I haven't used the stuff you mentioned, but I have tried some Folk Art crackle medium and for one reason or another couldn't get it to work properly. The instructions on the bottle said the humidity had to be below a certain point for best results and the humidity here in East Texas didn't want to cooperate with the instructions. I've had my best results using Elmer's white glue. I spray mine through a #5 nozzle in a Paasche VL (fairly large tip) and then spray the paint over the glue before it dries. It doesn't hurt to let the glue tack up a bit, but you don't want to wait too long. The cracking is a result of the different drying rates between the glue and the paint. Hitting it with a little heat from a hair dryer or heat gun seems to help it crack a little better as well. If you use a paint brush the cranks want to appear following the grain of the brush strokes. For a more random cracking pattern an airbrush works better for me. There are multiple videos on youtube that show the process with the Elmer's if you haven't already viewed some of them. good luck, Ben Edited June 29, 2012 by RayburnGuy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted June 29, 2012 Report Share Posted June 29, 2012 Ben, Black paint brushed onto a lure with a silver base, head to tail, should make a great striper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brent R Posted June 30, 2012 Report Share Posted June 30, 2012 (edited) If you use Elmer's white glue.....it needs to be thinned with water a little so it shoots threw the airbrush.....Good luck. Edited June 30, 2012 by Brent R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted June 30, 2012 Report Share Posted June 30, 2012 When I tried shooting thinned Folk Art crackle medium thru an airbrush, it sprayed out something resembling cob webs. Now I know how they make them for horror movies! In my tries at using crackle medium, I got best results brushing on the medium, shooting paint with an airbrush, then drying it with a hair dryer before the medium or the paint dried (the instructions say to let the medium dry before painting but I never got any results doing that). There are many variables to control - how much crackle medium on the lure, how dry you let it get before painting it, how heavy you spray the paint, how much heat if any you apply, and last but not least, what exact kind of paint you use. Some paints crackle much more easily than others due to their chemistry. The whole process requires experimentation. One suggestion - do both sides of the lure at once or the crackle will never match. For me, the results were so variable that I pretty much gave up on it. If there is a crackle expert in the house, perhaps he can lay out a reliable process for us all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted June 30, 2012 Report Share Posted June 30, 2012 Once in a while the paint won't crack in certain spots and it can be pretty obvious. One solution I came up with was to take a small artists brush and cut all but a few fibers from the brush. Then I just go over the areas that didn't crack and paint the cracks in with whatever color I used for the base. Once it's clear coated you'll never know the difference. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brent R Posted June 30, 2012 Report Share Posted June 30, 2012 Great idea Ben...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobv Posted June 30, 2012 Report Share Posted June 30, 2012 I've messed around with the crackle medium and found a couple things affect how it works. Textured baits need a thick coat of the medium to get a smooth surface for the crackle to work best. You need to shoot a thick coat of paint, the thinner the paint layer the less crackle you get. I heat dry the medium then paint and heat dry paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thujalures Posted June 30, 2012 Report Share Posted June 30, 2012 For a crackle look I have used liquid hide glue in the brown bottle. I brush the glue on and then apply my final coat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dochollow Posted June 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2012 For a crackle look I have used liquid hide glue in the brown bottle. I brush the glue on and then apply my final coat. "liquid hide glue"? elaborate please. thanx, DOC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Glenn Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Hide glue is made from animal bones and hides, especially cows. Used in the furniture industry and is available in powder or liquid form. Never used it myself but have asked that question on many a test. Musky Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Hide glue is one of the earliest glues used in furniture making. I often wonder who figured out that boiling hide and bones would make a glue. Maybe that's where the saying "Sticks to your ribs" comes from. Hahaha Because it can be dissolved (I don't know which solvent is used), it is reversible, so you can take a loose or broken joint apart without machining and repair it. Since furniture, particularly chairs, take a lot of torque, joints do tend to loosen, or fail, so this feature makes hide glue attractive, particularly with antiques and older furniture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonny.Barile Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Your addiction has turned you all in to crackle heads? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 I've had my best results using Elmer's white glue. I spray mine through a #5 nozzle in a Paasche VL (fairly large tip) and then spray the paint over the glue before it dries. It doesn't hurt to let the glue tack up a bit, but you don't want to wait too long. The cracking is a result of the different drying rates between the glue and the paint. Hitting it with a little heat from a hair dryer or heat gun seems to help it crack a little better as well. If you use a paint brush the cranks want to appear following the grain of the brush strokes. For a more random cracking pattern an airbrush works better for me. There are multiple videos on youtube that show the process with the Elmer's if you haven't already viewed some of them. good luck, Ben Ben...what do you use to clean your airbrush out after spraying the Elmer's Glue? You using water, Acetone, A/B cleaner ??? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 I just use water Kris. Since the Elmer's is already diluted with water before spraying it cleans up pretty easy. I do clean it thoroughly though. By running clean water through the brush multiple times and back flushing often I haven't had any problems using the Elmer's white glue. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
