Hi Jacque,

You can get "crackle medium" at either Walmart, Joann's or Michael's or other craft store. A two oz bottle does not cost much at all. You first paint your item the (under) color you want and let that dry. Then paint on the crackle medium and let that dry. The bottle says "overnight" but I'm not sure if you have to really wait that long. The birdhouse I did crackle, I did wait overnight. Maybe it has to do with it penetrating the base color, I don't know. Next apply your top color. Careful though, you don't want to brush back and forth over the same area as it will mess up the crackle effect in that area. I do believe, and maybe someone else knows the answer, that crackle medium comes in different sizes "of crackle" - meaning, there is a fine crackle, a medium crackle and a large crackle once you put on the top coat. Try it on a piece of wood you can throw away or not worry about first if you want to get the feel of doing the top coat. I really don't know if it will work on spray paint and maybe someone else can help you with that question also. Personally, I would try it on spray paint. And, what kind of paints are you using? If you're using acrylics, you should really seal your pieces to protect it from the outdoor elements. If you're using enamel paint, that should be just fine outdoors. Even with enamel paints, I will sometimes seal what I painted, just to be on the safe side of having it fade in the Sun.

Your project sounds fantastic, please post pics when you're done so we can see.

From a rather frustrating experience, don't use either metallic paint (spray or brush) or use any paint that is glossy. The crackle medium won't stick properly, even if you use a sealer.

Pat

I know you can use spray paint for your base color, but I don't think you can use it for the top color, if you're using acrylic crackle medium. I thought I tested it once & it didn't work, but I might not be remembering correctly. From my own experience, the bigger the cracking effect, the thicker you apply the crackle & with fewer brush strokes. The more brush strokes, the finer the crackle. You really should put a sealer on it, especially if it's going outside. I've crackled quite a few pieces, but nothing real big, but I plan on crackling the wooden base of an enamel top table I got. It's painted in John Deere green & yellow!

Thanks for all the great tips everyone. Here is a quick pic of what I am doing. I just planted MOST..not all..of my flowers today. See the spindles on the left side..I set those in there so I knew where to plant around them..lol..but those are what I am going to paint and then drill holes in the tops and add flags to go along with my patriotic front porch. And I was thinking of crackle painting them. I know the colors I wanted to paint them and it was in spray cans...so if I can't crackle with spray paint..I'm going to have to skip it and just crackle paint something else..LOL. I'll test it out though. going to get some medium tomorrow and try it with some spray paint I already have as a tester. I'll let you all know how I make out. And of course will post a new pic once I get them done.

- Jacque

{{gwi:142649}}

Ohhhh, I like how this little area is going to be!!!!!
I think the spindles are fine white since they match the gazebo. I've not had any luck with crackling, tried it twice and obviously did something wrong. Decided sponge painting closest I can do for effect. LOL
Karen

sponge painting..hmmm...now that's an idea too...didn't think of that. And I have sponge painted before..love that effect.

Karen...I like the white also (they already are peeling and all) but was thinking of doing one red, one the gold yellow like I did my marine corps chair, and one navy blue (like the chairs are going to be on my porch) and then maybe adding a star to the top and bottom of the spindle. Drill the holes on top and add the flags....or do you think that is to much..LOL....I don't know. I was thinking I liked them white also after I saw them next to the gazebo but thought if I painted them it would bring even more color over to that side since there is sooooo much white..I think they get lost a bit with the white siding.

What does everyone else think?

- Jacque

Wow!! That sounds awesome. I love your idea for the spindles. I agree that if you paint them they will stand out more. Can't wait to see the finished product.

I crackled my very first bowling ball using an oil based paint...in fact it was a metallic paint for the basecoat, then a latex(waterbased acrylic) for the topcoat crackle.
directions on the can of crackling medium says to use waterbased paint for your topcoat.

Yup..as much as they look nice white..I think I'm going to paint them to add more color. Took them up to my parents house yesterday so I could use Dad's saw to straighten out the tops and bottoms of them and then snagged some old rebar from him as well. I'm going to try to work on these this weekend...might have to wait til after Monday though...we have 2 baseball games this weekend that my son is playing in.

I've crackled quite a few things and have been told that you need to use flat paint underneath. Not glossy or satin. It has always worked for me, but I never tried it any other way. I've never tried spray paint. Let us know if it works.

Arlene

Hi,
I want to crackle finish (I think) a bedroom set I found on Craigslist. The set is an old Thomasville. Do I need to strip the very old factory finish COMPLETELY off? Or, can I just lightly sand it and go from there. I will be very grateful to anyone who has done something similar and who is willing to share what they know.

Spray paint will work for the base coat however it dries too fast to work as a top coat. Tried it as a short cut! Thanks for all the great tips. Angie

Hi I have a crackle kit but it uses a black paint as a base coat, can I use different colors for a base coat instead? Then use the crackle as a topcoat?

yes, any color you want, as long as it doesn't match the crackle coat