[jerdee]

Hi Folks I am just looking for some opinions on the idea of burning in feathers after I give the bird a coat of kt sealer. The bottle says it's OK, but I've never tried it. Just looking for the good and bad and the do's and don's.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

KY SuperSealer is supposed to be designed so you can burn after sealing..I have some but haven't burned after putting it on..........in fact haven't even used it for a long time lol Everytime I use it, the smell is so familiar, but I can't quite figure it out so I could make it at home lol..

[BobD]

Those sealers are usually highly thinned lacquer or shellac.If you can burn through it, it is probably shellac thinned with denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner. Once the solvents evaporate, shellac is safe to burn through; anyone taking pills in capsule form ingests shellac every day...or if they eat M&Ms!

Bob

[slivers&dust]

I tried KT super sealer ONCE on a decoy about ten years ago. I don’t recall how it affected the burning process; I was more interested in replacing gesso. What I did have a problem with was when I started painting; the paint wouldn’t stick or lifted when I added the next wash, immediately I blamed the sealer. In hind site I can’t blame the product though as I never used it again and I’m not sure it wasn’t caused by something else. I was very careful though not to touch the carving after sealing. Even though the carving was mounted on a vise I probably did touch it at some point while burning, I don’t know. I was so pissed at the time that I destroyed the bird. I had two hundred hours into this bird and messed it up in a short order.

If you are not familiar with it I would definitely try it on a scrap. Carve a side pocket, add the feathers, stone, seal and burn, then paint the test piece. See how you like it. I should have done that but it sounded SO GOOD a product to save the world, well at least mine at the time. It must work though if they are still selling it.

I heard of another product, can’t remember the name but I think it is sold through Curt’s Waterfowl Corner. I think it was Mark Yundt that mentioned it in another thread.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I had just the opposite reaction to painting, had a great "tooth" and accepted paint very well?

[Marc Barger]

Some problems I can see/have had with burning after sealing is that the sealer will build up on the burning tip, which just means cleaning it more. I always poilish the edge with some 600 wet dry when needed. Also, depending on how many coats you would put on, sealer builds up to almost a plastic like coating. Any touch up burning that I've done on sealed pieces always seems like it sort of 'melt's it and cause a build up along the burnt line. If the lines are really close together, I've seen it detract from the nice clean burned lines. Sometimes almost 'melting' over into the line next to it.

My question would be why seal it before burning?

[slivers&dust]

I remember that also, it went on light kind of like a milky wash that left a tooth when dry. Like I said I’m not sure if the problem wasn’t something else. My lack of painting experience and Italian temper got to me before I realized it was a fixable problem and I destroyed the piece. Live and learn I guess. I haven’t painted since though…although after admiring Mark Barger’s (sp) birds my interest in bird carving/painting has been peeked again.

[slivers&dust]

Originally Posted by Marc Barger

My question would be why seal it before burning?

Hi Mark,

The reason I tried the product was the manufacturer said it eliminated the need for gesso. At the time I was learning to paint (JD Sprankle style) I had never painted before and followed his plan and never liked the thick gesso…soooo why not try this stuff.

…Advance ten years and this forum I’ve found you guys (pro’s) don’t use gesso (at least I think I read that…short term memory problems)

[Marc Barger]

Silver, No I understood your reasoning. I was just asking jerdee. But really we all know why anyone tries all the different techniques that everyone uses. Cause they're there! HA! I've gone through a lot of them too. Just found a way that works for me and have stayed with it, although I'm trying something new this time on the Oriole that I've never tried!!

[slivers&dust]

I'm enjoying that thread also. Hope you share the new technique