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arbpdl

Alligatoring - How Can I Make It Happen (No, not a typo)

arbpdl
10 years ago

I am trying to achieve an alligator/cracked paint finish. Normally I know how to do this but for a particular project, I'm a little stumped. Normally I would use a latex crackling agent applied over a base coat and then followed by a top coat, which would crackle/alligator because of the agent, allowing the base coat to show through.

The project I'm wanting to do, however, cannot have a base coat. Plus i would prefer it be done in an oil paint. Someone suggesting wetting the bare wood and then applying the oil paint to it. Presumably the paint would crack from the moisture drying in the wood.

Would that do it? Is there a better way to cause this problem so many try hard to prevent? I'm antiquing some brand new items that were built in a primitive style and want the paint to crackle. Instead of the traditional base color showing through, I want the bare wood to show through.

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