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Michael Townsend writes:

Martin,

The two part system cracquelure products either work from slow drying under fast drying, or from the underlying glaze being water sensitive. There's one by Lafranc & Bourgeois (sp) that's used with fair success, and a couple of other's as well. Jo Sonja and deco art I believe also make some of these.

The hide glues are commonly used for the "weathered" crackle finishes known mainly for their craft use. Other water swellable coatings can be used, and if they are clear and not as amber as the hide glues are, then it's an added bonus because it doesn't disrupt the underlying color. Base color is applied and dried, then sizing is applied, then top color is applied. The paint's water absorbs into the sizing, it swells and cracks the top paint layer and reveals the underlying color.

Golden has Crackle Paste, and opaque whitish product that cracks like dried mud. As the water leaves the film, there is a lot of stress in the film and a cracking pattern develops. It can be applied onto a primed surface, then after it cracks can be sealed with acrylic medium, and the cracks can then be highlighted. It can also be stained with a color wash or glaze before being sealed which means the platelets are also stained. Our info sheet has images that help explain this better: http://www.goldenpaints.com/technicaldata/crcklpst.php . It's somewhat fragile and is more used for artwork and decorative, and may not do so well on functional applications. However, our Proceed Decorative Finishes line has recently unveiled a group of cracking products.

They can be applied onto most painted or primed surfaces and crack as a single product. We also created a size to be used with them, further adding the variety of cracking patterns and sizes of the fissures and platelets. I asked the director if I could share his recent powerpoint presentation with you all. It's a little slanted towards sales, but there are images and key benefits shown to help understand the idea of each product.

I am sending some images to Groopmail

Let me know of any futher interest in these.

Golden Proceed Decorative Crackle Products

Key Features & Benefits:
*        Can be used as one-step cracking textures
*        Size is optional, used for increasing coverage rates and further control of cracking patterns
*        Smooth, rough and transparent available
*        Reliable, predictable results. Products perform over wide range of temperature & humidity
*        Tint with Proceed dispersions or with universal tints

How to use:
*         Simply trowel on to proper base paint
*         Absorbency of base paint affects cracking pattern.
*      Less absorbent surfaces produce larger patterns
*      Highly absorbent surfaces mute the cracking effect
*      Use base paint in satin to semi-gloss range of sheen. Avoid flat paints.
*         Thickness determines size of "islands & fissures"
*         Use of the size enhances the effect

Transparent Cracking Glaze

Key Features & Benefits
*      Produces clear, hard craquelure patina
*      Tint with Proceed dispersions
*      May be tinted or blended with metallic mediums

How to Use
*      Simply brush on. May be spread with blade or spatula
*      Designed for thin applications.
*      Dries with a frosty appearance; cups and loses adhesion when applied too thickly
*      Will produce a larger cracking pattern when applied over size

Smooth Cracking Texture

Key Features & Benefits
*      Produces a tough, hard durable surface
*      Excellent adhesion.
*      Low VOC, under 50 g/l
*      Tintable with Proceed dispersions

How to Use
*      Simply trowel over any satin - eggshell base paint
*      Do not apply over unprimed and top coated drywall compound!
*      Thickness of application determines the size of fissures & islands
*      Use over Cracking Size for larger fissures and islands
*      Tips on overglazing

Rough Cracking Texture

Key Features & Benefits
*      Produces a tough, hard durable surface
*      Excellent adhesion.
*      Low VOC, under 50 g/l
*      Tintable with Proceed dispersions

Cracking Size:

Key Features & Benefits
* Insoluble when dry. Suitable for use in bathroom and kitchen applications
* Cracking effect is not time dependent. Second coat may be applied anytime from 1 hour to 6 weeks (or more)

* Rolls smooth and levels, completely transparent when dry
* Tintable with Proceed dispersions.

How to Use
*      Apply over any satin - eggshell base paint
*      Do not apply over unprimed and top coated drywall compound!
*      # of applications affects the size of fissures & islands of cracking textures

Michael S Townsend
Golden Artist Colors, Inc.
New Berlin, NY