Masking Fluid Question

I'm in the process of painting new armor and I've tried several different masking fluids. The issue I've noticed is that when trying to get the intricate shapes the masking fluid "shrinks" an gets smaller than the shape I laid out......

Would anyone care to share some tips?


Robert

I would love the answer to this as I am getting the same problem

I use tooth paste applied with an old brush, you can wipe it off if you make a mistake, dilute if you need too, it's dirt cheap, goes hard once the paint is applied or after a few days but can be wiped off with a damp cloth and water

As strange as this sounds, I've heard people use mustard. Yep. The yellow stuff that usually goes on a sandwich. Similar idea to the tooth paste above.

One other suggested I'd heard recently is to use liquid latex. If you get the flesh colored stuff it's easier to see than the 'clear' masking fluid. Probably find some online. BURMAN INDUSTRIES is a favorite with the special effects community.

Good luck.

Ted.

Amazon.com: Grafix 4-1/2-Ounce Incredible White Mask Liquid Frisket: Arts, Crafts & Sewing

Best stuff Ive ever used can be tinted with water color to make it any color you like....I like blue, as theres no blue on the fett it stands out

Does it have the shrinkage problem?

Only if you stay in the pool too long...




Oh wait..thats not what we're talkin about! I have used a couple of different latex based masking fluids and i dont recall having a shrinking problem with it. If it did shrink it was very negligible.

Hey Major- I find that using a rubber tipped colour shaper along w/ liquid frisket masking fluid does a fine job w/ regards to the detail you are looking for. This was shared by non other than deadland himself ; ). Hope this helps buddy!
B

As to which masking fluid... I can't find Humbrol's Maskol, so I bought some Grumbacher (fluorescent orange) and Winsor & Newton yellow masking fluids. Any luck with either of these brands, painters?

The issue I get is after applying it to the edges it pools back into the middle leaving the lines

I've used Winsor & Newton for years with good results.
As you described, having the fluid pull away slightly from the edges of the area being masked
is an inherent quality of using a liquid. It's just the surface tension of the material causing it
to resist being pulled out into small intricate shapes.
Think of a drop of water on a counter or a plate of glass. If you use a toothpick or something
to try and "stretch" it, it tries to go back into the smallest, most compact area possible.

There are a couple of alternatives to try. First, you could use a thicker material. Some
have mentioned using toothpaste or mustard.
But what I usually do is to apply the fluid as closely as I can to my stenciled lines, and
after painting, I peel off the fluid and touch up any areas that I'm not satisfied with using
a very small detail brush.

The stuff I linked is more like Liquid latex its VERY thick compared to windsor and newton...grumbach etc...they are watered down in comparison. I get it at hobby lobby may want to go take a look.

Thanks for the great ideas and tips......I'll check out the things suggested and post my results.......

Did a test using the fluid Fett 4 Real suggested on a piece of plastic....... Worked really well.....

Just did the chest diamond tonight...... I'll post a pic of how it goes

Fingers crossed and thank you Fett 4 Real :-)

I use the same thing as superjedi the Winsor & Newton. For the small intricate spaces and for along my edges I've used a toothpick. It's a pain in the ars at times but it works.

the other stuff, Ive tried like W&N are to runny.

I tried liquid latex, but it gummed up my brush real bad. Any suggestions on how to keep that from happening? I bought some Winsor & Newton, but haven't tried it yet. I bought the W & N at Michaels and if you have one near you, you can go on michaels.com and usually find a coupon for 40% sometimes 50% off. I found my liquid latex at a costume shop.

If your not using a latex paint shaper its going to gum up...the latex nib is what you have to use.

I recommend using one of these when applying masking fluid http://www.misterart.com/searchResul...or%2520shaper~ and go with the angle chisel 0 firm.

Went to hobby lobby last night to get some Garphix masking fluid for an upcoming commission, and they had a nice chissel tip there...very fine tip used it on RKD's GMH to test it out...works very nice for fine detail and large areas also

Cool! Thanks for the advice guys! Next time I'm near Hobby Lobby I'll pick one of those up and give it a whirl I might check Michaels too, those coupons are nice even on the small things.

That's great advice on the chisel tip..... Need to get one of those

Got the diamond painted.... Will peel off and post a pic in the next day.....