what is the point of hairspray vs clear coat?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Techniques
1

When using the hairspray technique for chipping, is the hairspray doing nothing more than protecting the base color when removing the top coat?

What I have seen goes in this order 1. base coat of rust color 2. coating of hairspray 3. acrylic topcoat (usually the final color wanted) 4. A little water to break through the final coat of acrylic with an brush or toothpick.

So if I have that correct, what is the advantage of using hairspray over any other clear coat? Or does the hairspray have other properties that make it work better? Or am I missing the point of using the hairspray completely?

As usual, thanks for the help. Maybe someday I will know enough that I can start giving back. I certainly have gotten a lot of help from folks around here.

2

A clear coat would pretty much fuse to both top and bottom colours. The hairspray is only tacky (remember, this is used on hair and it doesn’t turn rock hard) and acts as a barrier between the two layers of paint. This allows to easily lift off the top layer to produce a chipping effect.

regards,

Jack

3

I was thinking the hairspray is decanted and placed randomly with a brush, sponge, etc . Not sprayed all over.

The hairspray is then more easily washed off with water taking the top layer with it.

A clear coat wouldn’t as easily wash off with water.

4

The reason for the hairspray is that once the water gets trough the painted surface is dissolves the hairspray allowing the paint to come off. It is not really tacky but does become “tacky” when you hold on to the model for a few minutes as the moisture in to fingertips soften the HS. The amount of chipping can be controlled by how heavy a layer of HS and by the amount of water used to take the paint off. A thick layer of HS and a lot of water and the really flakes off like crazy.

It can be spot applied with a brush but the limits the area that can be chipped and the shapes of the chips too. You can end up with chipping that looks just like you dabbed the paint on with a brush. If that OK for you then just skip the HS and do it with a brush. I use the HS from a pump bottle and spray though the AB to control how much goes down and it’s a smoother coat too.

5

The hairspray can be used for all around paint chipping but another method would be to apply a liquid mask with a sponge and then brush it off with a stiff brush after the all the top coats are applied.