After you spend hours upon hours painting your Warhammer miniatures, you are going to want to protect them at all costs. The slightest chip can bring the most attention and you might run into this problem frequently if precautions aren’t taken.
It is most common to use acrylic paints when painting miniatures. These paints are going to be durable, but they aren’t very resistant to damage that comes with frequent handling. If you want to protect your paint job, you will need to seal the miniature to make sure nothing happens.
Using a sealer for your miniatures will add a sturdy protective layer on top of your painting. This means the acrylic won’t rub off, crack, or scratch from frequent use that comes with playing with them. The largest downside to using a sealant is the colors don’t look as bright. This is a trade-off you should be willing to make to protect your artwork as best as you can.
How Do You Seal Warhammer Miniatures?
There are two different types of sealers you can use for your Warhammer miniatures. First there is the spray sealer. You will want to use this one outside or in an area that is extremely well-ventilated. Like a spray paint, this type of sealant will release fumes into the air that can be dangerous to your health.
To seal a Warhammer miniature with a spray sealant, you will need to spray about 10 inches from the surface. If you spray too close, you will have product build-up on the surface to deal with. If you spray too far, you won’t get any product on the surface at all.
When you start spraying, the first few seconds should be sprayed on a scrap piece of paper. This will prevent any potential build up from the nozzle making its way onto the surface of your miniature.
Spray the model with sweeping motions. Start off the model, spray over it, then past it, then stop spraying. This will also prevent any build up on the nozzle that can impact the quality of the sealant on your miniature.
When you are finished, check to make sure that you covered the entire surface. It will be beneficial to apply two coats of sealant instead of just one to be sure that you don’t miss any spots.
In addition to a spray sealant, there are also brush-on sealants. You might prefer a brush-on sealant if you want to be confident that you don’t miss any spots. You can easily see where you have already painted the sealant and where you still need to.
Brush-on sealants will usually take longer than spray sealants to dry, which can increase the length of your project. You can use whichever you want as one is not considered to be better than the other. Whatever you feel most comfortable with using will get the job done.
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Do You Need to Varnish Warhammer Minis?
It isn’t necessary to varnish Warhammer miniatures, but it can be extremely beneficial. If you are just painting the miniatures for show, it won’t be as critical to varnish them. If you are planning on using the miniatures to play with, it is essential that you apply a varnish.
Even if you are just going to play with the miniatures every once in a while, it is important to add a varnish. If they are going to get any table time at all, there is a chance of the paint getting ruined if not properly protected.
While acrylic paint is pretty durable on its own, there is always the chance that something will happen. For example, acrylic paints are water-based. If you are playing with your miniatures and accidentally spill a drink on them, there is a potential that it can ruin your hard work. Acrylic is water-resistant, but not waterproof. A varnish will help add a waterproof layer.
Adding a varnish to your Warhammer miniatures will also protect the paint from rubbing off due to constant use. It is bound to happen, and the only way to avoid it is by protecting it. A varnish will also be resistant to fingerprints, so you don’t have to worry about always seeing prints on your miniatures.
Before adding a varnish, keep in mind that there is a huge chance the colors will be impacted in the final product. When you add a varnish, your colors typically turn out darker. If you don’t want this to happen, you might want to avoid adding a varnish. However, if you plan on playing with the miniatures, it will likely be worth this tiny flaw for major protection.
Should I Clear Coat My Warhammer Models?
If you want your Warhammer models to last a long time without the paint rubbing off, fading, or chipping, you will want to add a clear coat. A clear coat also has the ability to make your models look shinier and bring out details that have gotten lost among other paints. A clear coat is beneficial in many ways, just like a varnish.
You can also get a clear coat that is matte if you prefer that type of finish instead. This will make your Warhammer models look clean and crisp, which is perfect if you are planning on putting them in a display.
How Do I Stop My Miniatures From Chipping?
It is a very common issue to have paint chip off miniatures. Luckily, preventing chipping is incredibly easy. If you prepare the miniatures properly before painting, you will greatly decrease the risk of the paint chipping or peeling in the future.
First, you will want to wash the miniatures. If they have any residue on them, it can make the paint not stick to the surface. Wash them with warm water and soap, allowing them to dry completely before adding anything to the surface.
For the best results, you will want to use a primer on the surface of your minis. The primer will work to ensure the paint bonds to the surface of the miniature. There are spray primers and brush-on primers, so you can choose which one will work best for you.
After you are finished painting, you will want to seal your miniatures. Using a sealant will greatly decrease the risk of paint chipping in the future. A sealant will protect your painted model from anything that can cause chipping, including light exposure.
Final Thoughts
Painting miniatures is a really fun hobby to have, but you always want to make sure you properly protect them when you are finished. To properly protect the painted miniatures, you will need to add a sealant or a varnish on top. This will help create a waterproof layer on the miniature.
Sealing your miniatures is a must for ones that will be played with at all. When you play with miniatures, the paint will eventually start to rub off and get rid of all the work you put in to make them perfect. Un-sealed miniatures are also more prone to getting scratches, dings, and chips because they are missing that extra protective layer.
Using a sealant isn’t necessary, but it is highly recommended because it can be very beneficial. Protecting your Warhammer miniatures will ensure that the life is extended.