Friday, April 10, 2009

3D Crystal Lacquer vs Art Deco Triple Thick Glaze

I am blogging this in response to a comment in my bottle cap sealing tutorial:

She-ality said...

Carol, awesome tutorial!! Can you share the differences you found between 3D Crystal Lacquer vs. the ArtDeco Triple Thick glaze? Do you get a good hard coat with either? Is one clearer? Are either prone to cracking or bubbling? I can't find these locally and wanted to ask an expert before ordering online. :)

April 2, 2009 9:09 PM

Thanks for the question, She-ality. First of all, I am far from being an expert, but I have used both and here are my observations:

I used Triple Thick when I first started making bottle caps(about 2 years ago). It is available at craft stores such as Micheal's. Our Micheal's always had the large 8oz jar locked in the cage with the spray paints. Dunno why because the small 2oz jars are usually next to the paints. Anyways, I love Triple Thick for the paper mache snowmen that I make around Christmastime. I don't like it for bottle caps anymore because it bubbles like crazy, which in turn drives me crazy because I have to waste another image. Sometimes it did play nice without bubbles but after the caps sat for awhile, they magically appeared. I have also found that it does not dry hard even after a week. I can poke my finger on it and it leaves prints. Not nice for bottle caps. Weird because it dries rock hard on my snowmen. I have also placed clear nail polish over Triple Thick once it dried, but it yellows after about a week and DO NOT recommend this step at all. I had no problems with cracking. It clouds if your layers are too thick.

Okay and on to 3D Crystal Lacquer. I stumbled upon this one day when I was browsing on Etsy. I am skeptical by nature so I was hesitant to buy it. I used Diamond Glaze after Triple Thick and had problems with bubbles again so I thought that all of it bubbles. I was even at the point where I was going to stop making caps because I had no hair left from pulling it out in frustration over those nasty bubbles. Well, let me tell you that I am glad I purchased it because it is like manna from heaven. Little to no bubbles, dries hard and has a very nice clear shine. It does make ink jet prints run or fade, so I use a high gloss spray (I am still experimenting with sprays, so can't recommend one yet) after printing and problem solved. I also had runny/fading pictures with Diamond Glaze and Triple Thick, so I guess that's the norm. I had no problems with fading or the runs with prints that I got from commercial printers, like Office Max. I don't go there as often anymore since I found the trick to conquer ink jet prints. They are also a little pricey at about a buck a sheet printed on card stock.
My only complaint about 3D Crystal Lacquer is that the tip of the bottle clogs after using and I have to buy it online. I can't use my 40% off coupon at Micheal's to buy it. :( LOL
I can glaze about 80-100 caps-maybe more or less, this is a guess-with a 4 oz bottle. It does come in a refill bottle, 20 oz I think.

Thanks again She-ality for the question and giving me something to blog about. I was just thinking last night about my next post.

14 comments:

SleightGirl said...

Great info! I don't really laquer things, but my boyfriend does, so I'll pass this on to him.

Cindy Corneau said...

Hi, How did you conquer the ink jet problem? Thats the problem I have and I am about to get a laser printer. Help. I have even used good quality Kodak Glossy paper and they bleed w/ 3d Crystal Lacquer.

Lynnea B said...

I tried 3 times with Glossy Accents to create a photo pendant...bubbles like crazy no matter how thin I applied it. The 3D Crystal Lacquer works great...no bubbles...or only one or two that I get out before it cures. I used a tip from on line to cover my pictures with packing tape to prevent the fading, it worked like a charm even on the 3 I scraped out of the frames.

Unknown said...

Stumbled across your blog when doing scrabble tile pendant research and it was very helpful. I was wondering about the 3D crystal lacquer for my own projects. Thanks so much!

B.Abell said...

I make bottle cap charms and have found that Crystal Effects is the best glaze. I have not had any bubbles with it so far and I've made hundreds of charms. I have also used the Diamond Glaze as well as 3D Crystal Lacquer and both of them have bubbled several times. I print a whole sheet of images and brush a thin layer of ModPodge over them before cutting them out with my punches. This works well and prevents any bleeding or running of the images. Hope these tips help you guys!

eBar Designs said...

Any help/info appreciated. I have tried many others but love Crystal Lacquer the most. However, mine seemed to dry soft and spongey and scratch after only one day of wear.

Am I putting too much on? Not allowing it to dry long enough??

Help! I am obsessed with Scrabble Tiles right now and this issue is really bugging me. LOL.

Lafe's Hidden Treasures said...

I read this and left you a message on FB but thought I'd come here. Can you share the tip for photos and inkjet? Thanks Nancy

Cathy Mena said...

products are very goood loocking & attractive

Cathy Mena said...

good loocking products you people have
Wholesale sunglasses

Kali said...

Thanks for the info on 3D Crystal Lacquer. I am going crazy with Diamond Glaze! I'm not having problems with bubbles - but it doesn't matter what I do (and I've used almost a whole bottle trying to get it right) - it always dries with a dip/dent in the centre.

Timrodlady said...

Great ideas on this post. I shared the idea that HP Advance Photoopaper seems to print images that dont bleed. I am using an HP Photoprinter also. Also just read the tip to help bleeding:
Use a thin smear of lip balm stick over your unsealed artwork, let air-dry a few minutes, then apply your lacquer. We've found most ink jet prints won't run!
Though this was a neat idea. Hope it works. Happy bottle capping everyone.

Linda from S.C.

Kitty said...

A tip I got for inkjet images is to buy a prep made by Judikins (same maker as diamond glaze) it's a wax coat that prevents the glaze from setting in and making the ink run

Honestly, I just made three pendant from inkjet images and I used a REALLY thin coat of a beeswax based lip balm and it worked like a charm. No running, smudging or pale images.

Also I used a paper with a really high cotton count. Try resume paper with 25% cotton, or an all linen paper. They seem to hold the ink best in my experieince

Walberga said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Walberga said...

My Deco Art Triple Thick Gloss Glaze has thickened so much that there is absolutely no way to even stir it. Any ideas on how to thin it?
Thanks