Getting Started with Polymer Clay: Using Gloss Varnish

[@DianeGraft]

I use Varathane, and it's quite a bit thinner, so the brush strokes tend to self level out, which is nice. If you put too thick a layer, it won't dry evenly, and you'll get bubbles and pits. You can sand those, and then do another coat, but it's best to use thin layers. When you dip with Varathane, the piece will drip for quite a while, and you really need to dab those off frequently, or your piece will have a drip dried into the finish. If you need a thick coat of finish, I'd go with UV resin, but the varnish can give you a nice shine. You can bake Varathane, no problem. So sometimes, if I have a surface finish like mica powder, that I need to stay in place and not get all over the rest of a piece, I'll prebake the mica powder portion, varnish that, and then I can work with it further without getting mica powder on any of the rest. I used that technique on these, to keep their white spots nice and clean: boldquestions.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/6-scarab-necklace-set.jpg

[@acolley2891]

How do you ever get varathane out of your brushes? I struggle.

[@madamzzaj]

Diane Graft: Thank you for the information and the link to how it looks. I would use Varathane as it looks very promising for my work as a finish that is demure but “rich looking.”. Thank you for the information.

[@maven5653]

Can we use epoxy resin?

[@citrusbutter7718]

@@acolley2891 Soap and water. Just dish soap water, work the bristles, and then rinse. That is if you're using water based varathane.

[@citrusbutter7718]

@@acolley2891 You also have to place the brush in the soapy water as soon as possible (like when you don't have anything else to varnish in that moment and you're about to leave it to dry between layers), then work the bristles and rinse it out and dry it with a paper towel. By the time you're ready for the next layer your brush will be dry and ready again, personally i like to move the brittle around before dipping it again in varnish because it might have little lints and dust in it while it dried especially after using the paper towel to dry it between washing.

[@alisa5610]

You can also bake on a regular piece of copy paper so you don't get shiny spots

[@hysae_clay_art6734]

Hi ! I did use a polyurethane water based varnish i found in France. The result was nice BUT 😭 id did not pass the "perfume" test. Just melted when I sprayed it like a client might perfume herself while wearing the necklace. I gave up on the gloss varnish idea, but I get really fed up with spending hours with UV resin (there is always a tiny spot here and there that i did not see, or that retraction left after curing)

[@Dodo-yq2ew]

Thanks very much for all your useful hints. Cann’t we just pour some varnish on top of the flat pieces as we do with resin?

[@JessamaTutorials]

You could, but it wouldn't give the best finish and it take a very long time to dry. I like to just soak the brush and brush it on.

[@veronicabodartgonzalez203]

Thank you so much your hands is magic!! God bless you!!

[@melodyherrera9787]

Does it yellow? Thank you for your video!

[@JessamaTutorials]

No. It stays nice and clear.

[@wellness4me2]

Thanks for this! FYI… if you bake on an old piece of cotton fabric (it won't burn! 😉) you won't get shiny spots on the back.. I learned this from Susan from Turtle Soup Beads. Also, I live in Israel and couldn't get the indoor Verathane gloss so I got the outdoor gloss and it works fine. 😉

[@georginakamalakerr4969]

Am I wrong in thinking that a clear polyutherane varnish like Cabot's Cabothane Clear is the same as as Varathane? I have used it with very similar results as you have shown in your tutorial. I use more than one coat usually.

[@sharonday24073]

It would be helpful to see all the finishes side by side after you have explained the various finishes.

[@noralynhughes133]

I agree, it would be informative.

[@Tethys99999]

You said you often dip 4 times - so that is with drying in between each dip - correct?

[@JessamaTutorials]

Yes. That is correct.

[@dharmateja581]

Hi I am your KZbin follower can I use varathane ultimate polyurethane for glossy look

[@lifeisgood7740]

I found the Varathane to be sticky when dried. Why is that?

[@CamdenSmithNaples]

The problem with dipping is that if you’re doing a bunch of beads this would take forever I tend to just brush my round beads put them on my baking racks and I brush on the vernix I have and it works awesome I don’t see strokes at all just seems like that would be more simple than dipping although with the product you’re using it is thicker

[@whydidigetuptoday]

Have you ever tried Polycrylic by MinWax? I've used it on other projects (not clay) and I prefer it because it dries fast and is water based. Urethane products I've used tend to "yellow" over time and Polycrylic doesn't so just wondering if you have ever used it and what your results were. Love your videos!!! Thanks for all you do, you inspire me!!!!

[@JessamaTutorials]

No. I've never used it. The varnishes in this video are the ones that I've tried and have had work.

[@maven5653]

Can we use epoxy resin?

[@JessamaTutorials]

Not in the same way, but you can use resin as a sealer.