Hairspray as a coat over decals?

dimejinky99 · Post by **dimejinky99** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:41 am

Can hairspray be used as a sealer coat over decals? I'm not gonna be able to get to town for the real stuff for ages & wanna forge ahead with my model..any ideas?

CaptBillD · Post by **CaptBillD** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:55 pm

Airbrushing it, or aerosol spray can? I can't imagine an even application out of a can. Pump bottle will definitely give you a splotchy uneven coat.

dimejinky99 · Post by **dimejinky99** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:01 pm

would've been using a spray aerosol..was gonna spray a ot into the cap and maybe paint it on also..

this sounds like a series of bad ideas getting worse:)

Joseph Osborn · Post by **Joseph Osborn** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:14 pm

In the past I've used hairspray to remove Sharpie marker graffiti from restroom partitions. There's no way I'd spray that stuff onto a model. One I liked, anyway.

Mr. Badwrench · Post by **Mr. Badwrench** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:20 am

There's an easy way to find out, without causing any real harm. Stick a spare decal on a chunk of plastic and try it. I used to use hairspray to seal artwork done in pencil, and it was smooth enough.

CaptBillD · Post by **CaptBillD** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:21 am

Mr. Badwrench wrote:I used to use hairspray to seal artwork done in pencil, and it was smooth enough.

Spraying an absorbant media like artboard or sketchpad paper would give a different result than on the surface of a model, IMHO. Hairspray just doesn't come out of an aerosol can as fine as model paints. It gets plenty of use in theater to dull shiny costume or prop items, preventing hot spots under professional stage lights.

Chas · Post by **Chas** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:50 am

Sorry if this is an old topic to be responding to, but I couldn't help it. Using hair spray over decals is not a good idea. Sure it'll do the job, but it WILL yellow in a very short time period. Plus most hair sprays are alcohol based are they not? so you have to consider how this will affect the clear coat you laid down under the decals.

Antenociti · Post by **Antenociti** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:08 am

Chas wrote:Sorry if this is an old topic to be responding to, but I couldn't help it. Using hair spray over decals is not a good idea. Sure it'll do the job, but it WILL yellow in a very short time period. Plus most hair sprays are alcohol based are they not? so you have to consider how this will affect the clear coat you laid down under the decals.

What Chas said.

I have a horrible time trying wargamers NOT to use hairspray.. but think about what it does: It is a product specifically designed to break down over time, it yellows and breaks down under UV and mould can grow in it quite happily.

None of those are particularly endearing to modelers or wargamers so avoid it at all costs!

Julius Orange · Post by **Julius Orange** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 1:51 pm

I can't think of a worse top coat for decals. It's not only alcohol based which is a solvent and can't be good for the color but it's water solubale which means itks going to come off the moment you dip the decal. Worse case scenarion get yourself a can of clear gloss lacquer at hardware store or Big Box store. Idonkt usually recommend it because itks too heavy for decals but it will work.

Cheers.