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Priming for glass paint projects?

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Priming for glass paint projects?

Priming for glass paint projects?

What’s the purpose of a primer and when do you need to apply one? The good news is that for glass paint projects, you don’t need to apply a primer because Glassprimer™ glass paint is a self-priming paint. Even so, here are some things to think about when painting.

The need for priming surfaces when painting

A primer is a specialty paint that’s designed to improve the finished paint project. Surfaces that take paint have natural variations that you may not see with your eyes, but paint will find and react to. Some paintable surfaces, for example, are very porous; others, not so much. Drywall is a good example of a porous surface. The porosity (yes, that’s a word) of drywall may vary between all the sheets of drywall in a room. The more porous pieces of drywall will absorb more paint, and less porous sheets will absorb less.

If you start painting with paint, the drywall will absorb more paint in some spots than in others, and your finish coat will look uneven. Primer is a kind of paint, but it’s less expensive than high quality paint. By starting with primer, the drywall can absorb less expensive primer, leaving more of your high quality paint on the wall.

Glass isn’t a porous surface, so absorption of paint isn’t the issue. With glass, the issue is getting the paint to stick to the glass at all! Ordinary paint won’t stick to glass. It might dry on a glass surface, but because the glass doesn’t absorb paint, the paint won’t stick. Even simple “insults” like handling, humidity, exposure to UV light and contact can damage regular paint on glass.

So how does our paint stick to glass? Glassprimer™ glass paint is specially engineered to bond with the glass surface by changing the glass surface. Nanotechnology, which is unique to our paint creates a truly permanent bond with the glass as the paint cures. This special engineering “primes” the glass as it is applied, and ensures that our paint will bond to glass, plexiglass and other surfaces that typically don’t take paint very well.

If you’d like more information about working with glass paint, please check out the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Ove Tøpfer , via FreeImages.com

Glass furniture and decorating with glass

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Glass furniture and decorating with glass

Glass furniture and decorating with glass

Glass furniture?! Sure! Glass makes a great decorating surface, and glass furniture can really complement any décor. When you think about furniture, glass probably doesn’t immediately come to mind, but glass is actually heavily used in decorating, and it’s quickly becoming the go-to decorating option in both commercial and residential settings.

Dress up your glass furniture

Where can you start with glass furniture? The obvious place to start is with glass tables. Glass tables have been in vogue in home and commercial decorating for years. If you have an older glass-topped table, it may be time to consider giving it new life as backpainted glass. You can apply glass paint in colors or patterns, or even give your glass tabletop a frosted glass look. Backpainted glass is a great way to hide scratches and imperfections in the glass top, and bring your glass table into a fresh new decorating scheme.

Glass tabletops aren’t limited to the dining room. If you have a glass coffee table or glass end tables in your living room, you can give new life to them by applying glass paint. Whether you’re going for colorful or classic, glass paint can help you create a unique look.

You’ll also find glass in a number of other furniture applications – cabinets, bookshelves, breakfronts and hutches may all contain glass. Large mirrors, interior windows and glass partitions may also provide opportunities for decorating with glass. Interior doors may also be made of glass, or may incorporate glass.
You can also find glass hard at work in the kitchen. Many cabinet styles incorporate glass in the door fronts. Glass paint on cabinets can create a stunning new look for your kitchen.

The bathroom is also likely to contain a lot of glass. Glass is an excellent surface in the bathroom. It’s moisture-resistant, impervious and easy to clean and can be cut or shaped to fit even the toughest angles. It also offers great protection behind sinks. A backpainted, backlit glass countertop in the bathroom can create a dramatic look and complement the lighting scheme in what can be a difficult room to decorate!

If you’d like more information about decorating with glass, please check out the rest of our site. If you’d like to shop for Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Marcelo Gerpe, via FreeImages.com

Acetoxy-cure silicone adhesives and glass paint

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Acetoxy-cure silicone adhesives and glass paint

Acetoxy-cure silicone adhesives and glass paint

In my last post, we looked at neutral cure silicone adhesives, and why they’re preferred for mounting glass paint projects. The other common kind of silicone adhesive is called acetoxy-cure silicone adhesive, and we do not recommend their use for mounting glass paint projects to various substrates. Let’s take a look at the differences between neutral-cure silicone and acetoxy-cure silicone adhesives, and why they should not be used for mounting glass paint projects.

Why acetoxy-cure silicone adhesives shouldn’t be used

What is an acetoxy-cure silicone adhesive? An acetoxy-cure silicone adhesive is one that contains (and releases) acetic acid as it cures. Like other room-temperature vulcanization (RTV) adhesives, acetoxy-cure silicone adhesives have a short curing time, require no additions to cure, and have some of the same qualities that neutral-cure silicone adhesives do. JB Weld™ and XIAMETER® brand silicone adhesives by Dow Corning are good examples of commonly available acetoxy-cure silicone adhesives.

Acetoxy cure silicone adhesives tend to corrode certain metals, like copper and brass. Copper and brass are used heavily in the areas where people commonly install glass paint projects – kitchens and bathrooms. Older homes with plaster walls may have metal mesh that supports the plaster. It’s possible that the metal in the wall could react with acetoxy silicone adhesives. Because of this, we don’t recommend using acetoxy-cure silicone adhesives. The adhesive itself won’t damage the glass paint application, but it can react badly with important components of the substrate.

Acetoxy-cure silicone adhesives also release an unpleasant odor (smells like vinegar) while they cure. The odor itself is from the acetic acid, and isn’t harmful, but it’s not pleasant, either! Complete curing of a silicone adhesive usually occurs within 72 hours of application, but newly applied silicone can still develop additional adhesive strength as much as a week after application.

Like neutral cure silicone adhesive, acetoxy-cure silicone adhesive is a one-part adhesive. That means you do not need to add compounds to trigger or speed up the curing process. There is a third type of silicone adhesive, which is also considered a “neutral” cure. This third type is referred to as oxime cure. It releases alcohol as a byproduct of the curing process. Oxime-cure adhesive is non-corrosive and is a “one-part” adhesive, but it takes longer to cure than other silicone adhesives do. It’s also not as strong as other silicone adhesives.

Silicone adhesive is good at rejecting water, but water vapor (as in humidity) triggers the curing process for acetoxy-cure silicone adhesives. Humidity will readily penetrate silicone adhesives and can create a condition known as “over-curing.” To avoid over-curing, which can diminish the strength of the adhesive bond, limiting exposure to humidity can be important following the initial cure. Neutral cure silicone adhesive is less affected by humidity, while acetoxy-cure and oxime-cure adhesives will be more negatively affected by humidity. Because kitchens and bathrooms tend to be humid places, neutral-cure silicone adhesives turn out to be the superior choice for glass paint applications.

If you’d like more information about mounting backpainted glass, please check out the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .
Photo Credit: JB Weld.

Neutral-cure silicone adhesives

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Neutral-cure silicone adhesives

Neutral-cure silicone adhesives

In my last post, I discussed different methods of installing a backpainted glass project. One option is to use a neutral-cure silicone adhesive. When you’re looking for adhesives at the store, you’ll be presented with a number of silicone adhesives, so it’s important to know the difference between them.

Why use neutral-cure silicone adhesives?

What is a “neutral cure silicone adhesive, anyway? A neutral-cure silicone adhesive is a silicone based compound that can adhere to a number of different surfaces. Silicone is a good choice for mounting backpainted glass because it cures at room temperature, and doesn’t require additional mixing. It can be applied in a controlled fashion and provides adhesion in any orientation.

It is flexible and durable, and is highly stable in low-heat and high heat conditions. It also maintains its adhesive properties in high humidity, which makes it ideal for use in places like the kitchen and bathroom.

Neutral-cure silicones don’t release volatile organic compounds (VOC) as they cure, which means they don’t have the unpleasant odor that’s sometimes associated with silicone adhesives and caulks. Because they don’t release VOCs, they’re also environmentally friendly and work well in closed spaces, like homes and offices.

Neutral-silicone cure adhesives are widely available and inexpensive. They offer water-tight and air-tight adhesion, and won’t shrink, crumble or crack when exposed to UV light or variable temperatures and humidity.

Don’t attempt to substitute acrylic adhesives, or acrylic-blend adhesives. Acrylic adhesives are not waterproof – they will deteriorate in water over time. Keep in mind that humidity in the air is water, so acrylic adhesive will perform poorly in high-humidity environments like kitchens and bathrooms.

Acrylic adhesives aren’t flexible after curing, so they will crack, shrink and even freeze at low temperatures! They’ll also harden and discolor when exposed to high heat or UV light. Exposure to low temperatures can cause the acrylic adhesive to fail even faster, and could result in unrepairable damage to your backpainted glass.

GE sells a silicone adhesive branded as GE Silicone II Household Glue, which works well for mounting backpainted glass. The GE Silicone II product line is available at many home improvement stores, hardware stores and general-merchandise retailers.

If you’d like more information about mounting backpainted glass, please check out the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: GE.

Installing backpainted glass

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Installing backpainted glass

Installing backpainted glass

Installing backpainted glass is easy, and you have a few options for hanging your painted glass project. Here are a few tips for installing your backpainted glass.

Options for installing backpainted glass

Mirror mastic. You can use mirror mastic to install your backpainted glass project. Do not use the “caulk tube”-style mirror mastic that you can find in home improvement stores. This type of mastic is not sufficient to bond your project to your substrate. Instead, use the paint-can style mirror mastic. Mirror mastic (the kind that comes in a paint can), is sufficient to bond your backpainted glass to drywall, wood, tile or other substrate materials. Some formulations of mirror mastic are black. Don’t worry – the mastic will not show through the backpainted glass. If the color of the mastic is a concern, some manufacturers do make a white formulation. Apply the mastic according to the manufacturer’s directions. Usually, cleanup with mineral spirits is recommended.

Neutral-cure silicone glues. Silicone glues can be used to mount backpainted glass, but it’s important to choose a neutral-cure silicone glue. (GE Silicone II products are neutral-cure glues.) Neutral cure silicone is a low-odor product that begins to cure immediately upon contact with air. Neutral cure silicone adhesives typically don’t require any additives or mixing, and begin to skin almost immediately. No significant surface preparation is required for the substrate, as long as the substrate surface is clean and dry. If the intended substrate surface is oily, it can be cleaned with a solvent like paint thinner. Priming is also not necessary for the substrate surface. Do not use acetoxy-cure silicone glues. These adhesives release acetic acid during the curing process, and have a slight odor while curing. Acetoxy silicone glues will not harm the glass paint itself, but they can corrode metals. Because they can cause damage to the substrate, we do not recommend their use with glass paint projects.

Double-sided glazier’s tape. If you’re not sure about using mastic or silicone adhesive, you can also use double-sided glazier’s tape. The adhesive on the tape will not show through the backpainted glass, nor will it deteriorate over time. If you intend to use double-sided glazier’s tape, be sure to select a tape that is rated for the weight of your backpainted glass project.

If you’d like more information about mounting backpainted glass, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Davide Guglielmo, via FreeImages.com

Correcting imperfections in glass paint

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Correcting imperfections in glass paint applications

Correcting imperfections in glass paint applications

Painting isn’t difficult, but sometimes the end result might not be what you had in mind. Can you correct imperfections in glass paint? If so, what’s the best way to go about repairing an error?

Several options for correcting imperfections

The start often determines the finish, so starting out well is the best way to minimize the need for correcting imperfections in glass paint applications. As always, start out any glass paint project with proper surface preparation. By eliminating dirt, dust and grease on the glass surface before painting, you can help minimize these sources of paint imperfections.

You can also reduce the need for correcting imperfections in glass paint applications by applying paint carefully in thin coats, and allowing the paint to dry fully between coats. If you need to remove paint, it’s easier to remove a thin application of paint than a thick one, so thin coats of glass paint will set you up for a great finish. Thick coats of paint not only take longer to dry, but that longer drying time leaves more time for your project to pick up dust, dirt and other unwanted inclusions. Once your paint has been applied to the glass, allow it to dry in a clean, protected space. If you’ve applied a thin coat of paint, you should be able to handle the project safely in about four hours.

Once the paint has dried, check the application carefully for imperfections. You can correct a thin spot in the base coat by following with an even application of subsequent coats of paint. If your base coat becomes smeared while drying, you can remove the smeared area with gentle abrasion using fine steel wool or a single-edged razor blade. Reprepare the surface and reapply a thin coat of paint. Do not apply additional coats of paint until the first coat has dried completely. Once the paint has dried, the repair will blend seamlessly with the rest of the project.

If dust or dirt dries in the paint, don’t apply additional coats of paint. Instead, remove the debris, reprepare the surface and reapply the paint. Allow the repair to dry fully before applying additional coats of paint.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is engineered to bond permanently with glass, so correcting imperfections must happen quickly. The good news is that repaired layers will blend invisibly once the reapplied paint has dried.

If you’d like more information about working with Glassprimer™ glass paint, please check out the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: BSK, via FreeImages.com

Cleaning glass paint overspray

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Cleaning glass paint overspray

Cleaning glass paint overspray

There are a number of ways to apply glass paint to glass. Regardless of what method you use to apply the paint, it’s possible that some paint will get transferred to the edges of the glass or the glazed side of your glass. Is it possible to remove glass paint once it’s been applied? If so, what do you need to do?

Glass paint overspray can be removed

Glass paint overspray can be removed from areas of the glass that aren’t supposed to be painted, but you’ll need to act promptly to correct a glass paint overspray problem! Glass paint is dry to the touch within about 3 hours of being applied, and the painted glass can be safely handled within about 4 hours of paint application.

Don’t attempt to remove any overspray until the piece is safe to handle. If you wait until the paint has completely dried, you can avoid damaging the paint that’s intended to remain. Small amounts of overspray, drips and runs can be removed by gently sanding the paint with #000 steel wool. If you intend to apply multiple coats of paint, you may want to repeat this process after each coat. This will allow to to keep the work free of a build-up of overspray. If you allow the overspray to build up, you may have a more difficult time removing it.

If you need to remove a large amount of overspray, you can use acetone to soften the paint. Once the overspray is soft, you can wipe it away with ordinary paper towels. Until the paint is completely cured, you can also remove overspray with a single-edged razor blade. In either case, polish the cleaned area with alcohol and #000 steel wool following the paint removal.

You can effectively remove glass paint for about two weeks after application, however once the paint has completely cured, it forms a permanent bond with the glass surface. Once this permanent bond has been created, you can no longer remove the paint. That’s why it’s important to act quickly to correct glass paint overspray issues.

If you’d like more information about working with Glassprimer™ glass paint, please check out the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Sacha Leclair, via FreeImages.com

Glass countertops make a kitchen shine!

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Glass countertops make a kitchen shine!

Glass countertops make a kitchen shine!

If you’re looking for a quick, cost-effective update to your kitchen, consider installing glass countertops. Glass is an excellent material for kitchen duty, because it is resistant to all of the most common kitchen perils – heat, scratching and staining. Glass is also impervious, which means that germs, bacteria and other undesirables won’t be hanging around. You can also decorate your countertops in any color, using Glassprimer™ glass paint.

Glass countertops come in multiple thicknesses

You can use glass countertops to cover all of your working surfaces, or you can use it to highlight just one or two. Glass countertops work well on food preparation islands, or as surface where food is served. Glass countertops are easy to care for and stand up to common household cleaners and disinfectants. Even acidic compounds like tomato juice, vinegar and ammonia won’t harm your glass surface.

You can also say goodbye to food stains and scorch marks because glass countertops can withstand what you throw at them. Thicker glass is also resistant to breakage, which is another big plus in the kitchen! Finally, glass is UV-light resistant so it won’t discolor over time.

You can backpaint your glass countertops with Glassprimer™ glass paint to create an opaque or translucent look in any color you can imagine. You won’t get this kind of versatility from granite, marble or composite resin materials! Glass countertops cost about as much per square foot as granite does, and changing out the surface is easy, if you need or want to do it.

You can also use backlighting on your glass countertops to create a dramatic presentation. That’s something you can’t do with marble, granite or composite materials. Glass can be formed or cut to fit any shape, so you’ve got your toughest angles covered. If the ecology is an important consideration for your decorating plan, glass is among the friendliest of construction materials, since it requires no mining or toxic production processes!

If you’d like more information about decorating glass, please check out the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Anuwat Khamngoen, via FreeImages.com

Low-iron glass and glass paint projects

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Low-iron glass and glass paint projects

Low-iron glass and glass paint projects

If you have ever seen a sheet of glass from the side, you probably noticed that it had a green tint. What is this green tint, where does it come from and how can it affect your glass paint project? “Clear” glass is so obviously green that it’s hard to believe it’s not deliberately tinted. (It’s not!) Understanding where the tint comes from helps to know how it can affect your glass paint project.

Low iron glass eliminates green tint

Ordinary clear glass is made primarily from sand (silica), soda ash and limestone. Some formulations use other “ingredients” to create glasses with different qualities. The silica, soda ash and limestone are heated to temperatures of more than 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit! At this temperature, the ingredients liquefy, and glass can be shaped or molded. As it cools to room temperature, the mixture hardens into what we think of as a solid, even though it retains its liquid characteristics.

The high temperatures at which glass is made burn off most impurities, so the mixture seems transparent when it cools. One of the impurities that doesn’t burn off is iron. Iron is often found with limestone – a key component of glass. Iron also readily binds with silica – the other key component of glass. It is this iron that gives glass its green tint. The greater the iron content in the glass, the greener the glass will be.

You may notice the obvious green tint on clear glass when you look at a thick piece of glass. The green tint becomes more noticeable on thicker sheets of glass. You may wonder how this green cast could affect your glass paint project. The truth is that the green tint can be noticeable, even after you’ve applied paint and mounted your backpainted glass.

Low-iron glass is made from low-iron silica and limestone. By eliminating the iron (or at least most of it), glass manufacturers can create a glass that doesn’t have this green tint. Low-iron glass, also known as Starphire™ glass or Ultra-White™ glass. It comes in thicknesses ranging from 1/8″ to 1/2″, and can be used in a variety of applications. If you think the “natural” tint of glass may interfere with your glass paint project, consider using “low-iron” glass instead.

For more information about painting glass with Glassprimer™ glass paint, please check out the rest of the site. To purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Kerem Yucel, via FreeImages.com

Transparent painted glass – a how-to

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Transparent painted glass – a how-to

Transparent painted glass – a how-to

In the last couple of posts, we’ve looked at opaque and translucent glass, but can you also create transparent painted glass? The brief answer is yes! One of the strengths of glass as a medium is that it’s transparent. Painting the surface will reduce the transparency of the glass, but you can apply color to the glass while still preserving its transparency.

Transparent painted glass effect

If you’re aiming for a stained glass effect, it helps to understand how stained glass is made, and why transparent painted glass can be a cost-effective alternative to true stained glass.

Stained glass is also painted, using special paints. After the glass is painted, it is fired to achieve that transparent appearance. Most often, stained glass artists work in one color at a time, firing the piece after each addition of color. The finished piece could have been fired many times. This method of applying paint and firing is very labor intensive, requires special equipment and materials, and is really time consuming! It also makes true stained glass expensive to buy.

Glassprimer™ offers an alternative to true stained glass, that’s cost effective, uses common materials and produces a similar transparent painted glass result. Best of all, there’s no need to fire the piece, so you don’t need special equipment, either.

By using Glassprimer™ GP083® molecular activator as a surface preparation, you can use urethane paint to achieve a transparent painted glass effect and still get the adhesion properties you need when working with glass as a painting medium.

The Glassprimer™ GP083® molecular activator doesn’t convert the paint into glass paint, but it does sufficiently treat the surface of the glass to create the nanoscale bonding properties paint requires to adhere to the glass.

The surface preparation is the same as it would be when using Glassprimer™ glass paint. Clean the glass thoroughly with rubbing alcohol and #000 grit steel wool until it’s “squeaky clean.” Don’t use lint-free paper towels – just use the cheap kind from the store.

Once the glass surface has been cleaned, spray it with Glassprimer™ GP083® molecular activator and let it sit for 10 seconds. Wipe it off with paper towels and apply a high- quality 2-part urethane paint, such as those from House of Kolor. You’ll get a great transparent painted glass effect without special tools or equipment, and at a fraction of the cost of true stained glass!

Photo Credit: Derek Boggs, via FreeImages.com