What is the best brand/kind of lacquer, shellac, varnish or polyurethane spray to use on salt dough sculptures

Question

Some things to note: I'm working with kids, I don't have a lot of money, and I am near art stores, but getting to a hardware store would be difficult today. Thanks so much for your help!

Answer 1

The main thing with salt dough is that you want to be certain that it is dry befor painting or varnishing. If you are using a recipe that needs baking, you would want to wait several hours to be sure the project is cool and dry.
For instance look at this recipe for ornaments:
MIX TO FORM A DOUGH:
½ cup salt
1 cup flour
½ cup water
KNEED On a floured surface until elastic and smooth.
SPRINKLE sparingly with flour to keep from being too sticky.
ROOL OUT 1/4 inch thick.
CUT shapes with cookie cutters.
MAKE A HOLE at the top. (for the hanger)
BAKE in preheated 250 degrees F oven for 2 hours.
Allow to cool and paint. When paint has dried and decorate with glitter and trims.
String a ribbon through the hole and knot a loop for hanging.

Baking time is 2 hours, I would plan another 2 hours at least to make sure the ornaments were cool and dry. Perhaps leave overnight to dry and make this a two or three day project.

If you use acrylic artist paints, you can skip the varnish.
This would be the best for children. A few tubes of each color, and it dries fast so you can add glitter and trim after 30 minutes or so.

If you use water colors or tempera paints you will want to let the projects dry overnight before you varnish. You will not be able to easily add trim or glitter after varnish.

Any craft store would have artist and craft varnish, the brand or type doesn't matter so much for this type of project. What ever is cheep. However, you will need to concern yourself with clean up. Consult with someone at the craft store. You can buy disposable brushes and gloves.

When we made bread type ornaments as a kid, which were unpainted, we used good old shellac from the hardware store. Denatured alcohol is used as a thinner and to clean brushes. You need real hair brushes, not plastic. If you are making alot of pieces, this would be the cheapest way to go.

Avoid spray varnishes. You want a water tight seal, spraying probably wouldn't cover either of these types of projects very well, and I would avoid it around children because of the fumes and the ease of spraying someone by accident.

Answer 2

Varnish For Salt Dough

Answer 3

I think the cheapest clear sealer you could use on dried salt dough items is just thinned "white glue" (permanent glue, not "washable school" glue.... regular Elmers is fine)... say half and half with water. You can also apply more than one coat since critters really like to eat this stuff while stored, just make sure each coat is thoroughly dried before adding another.

The next cheapest might be a clear acrylic finish for bare wood since you'd get more of that than if you bought an acrylic "craft" finish in a craft store (again dry thoroughly between coats if using more than one coat).
Or you could use acrylic paints if you can find them cheap enough for you.

I don't know if non-acrylic finishes and paints would be a problem on salt dough (I know we can't used them directly on polymer clay), but if so, be aware that some acrylic paints & finishes in spray cans actually have non-acrylic stuff just in their propellants.

Have fun!

Diane B.

Answer 4

dont use anything but egg glaze if you are working with kids. certainly not polyurethane or shellac. shellac is now banned.
if you must water based polyurethane.It dries in 30 minuites. But seriusly whats wrong with a shiny egg glaze? you can tint it with food dye. Then they can eat it!
waste not want not.

Answer 5

Not me, a sculptor I'm not, I did however like to roll the dough between my hands, I was really good at making balls with them!! Oops, I just realized what that sounds like, oops again, I was wondering where I had picked up that skill!!