Clear coat for preserving cowbell stickers and autographs?

[sayit]

Looking for advice on what works. I've used Valspar clear seal satin since the Michigan Gator Bowl with no good results(middle bell)...it flakes and what stays on has hair line cracks. Trying to figure out what I used about 10 years ago on my bell with damaged decals from the melted snow in the real Snow Bowl (bell on right). It has held up so I want to know what others are using.

 

[Fritz!]

Check with your local hobby shop. Hobbytown, if you're near Flowood, maybe Hobby Lobby or Michaels. Someone there should be able to recommend a topcoat for whatever you have on them. Probably something water-based.

 

[ChillbillyRock]

This stuff is pretty good. Ive used it on numerous canvases. Ive also used it on wood, aluminum, & concrete. Its a clear coat AND adhesive. It looks identical to elmers glue (inside container). Just take a sponge-brush and go nuts. The more coats you apply - the stronger the seal. It goes on pretty "milky" and this will probably alarm you a little, but dont worry…. It dries clear as a (cow)bell. Do this a few times and you wont even be able to feel the difference between sticker-n-bell when u slide your fingers over it. Helpful Hint: place other things u'd like on it while substance is still 'milky-looking'---remember, its also an adhesive. Hope this helps.
View attachment 1484

 

[AHSDawg]

Ok. First, painting is my business. So, here goes.

The reason for the cracking is this. you are 'piling' on the clearcoat too much. You have to spray on a light coat, allow it time to flash (dry properly) and then spray on another light coat. You can continue to do this but you must give it the time for the solvent to escape before you go to the next step.

Now, for your chemistry lesson for the day. All paint is actually a chemical process. So, when you paint something, you have to give the chemical process enough time to finish its process. If you rush it, the top layer of the paint will crust over and not allow the chemical process to finish. It will cause solvent popping, cracking and other malfunctions. You also do not need to 'force dry' any of these products as it will cause the blistering to be worse.

Fire away with questions. I will be glad to tell you how to fix it.

 

[aTotal360]

whats the best paint to "huff"?

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

I've found lacquer to be the best

Best sleep remedy - huff paint, scarf down caned cat food, pass out

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Thread hijack.

Hobby Lobby

...gosh oh mighty...

Whichever poster first brought this up, kudos to you. Every time I hear their puny cheer/song/chant I think of dowel rods and crafts and laugh to myself. It's the simple things in life.

 

[AHSDawg]

Car paints are the best... Only problem is that you increase your odds of cancer by about 1000%

 

[MrKotter]

Get a can of SprayMax 2k. Runs about $20 on ebay. Best clear out there without the need for a hvlp gun. Make sure you read the directions before using.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

get them dura coated....they will be indestructable!!

nm

 

[sayit]

Good info, thanks. One more question regarding these decals and I feel like I should know but we normally just run into someone handing them out. Is there a difference in the ones that say alumni association and the ones that don't? Does the school do some and alumni does some?

 

[dorndawg]

I SAT RIGHT HERE & SAID I DIDN"T WANT ANY TRUCOAT!!!