Basics #22 - Three ways to keep your watercolors from beading up on a plastic palette

Comments · 256

• MA

  @madeleinegrace714 · 5 years ago

  I tried all of these methods and wanted to share what worked for me. I tried the sponge alone, then the glue. Neither worked. What DID work TREMENDOUSLY was making a paste out of baking soda and water. The ratio is really important. You want it to be on the thicker side, not watery or runny. If it gets too runny keep adding baking soda to the mixture so that it's thick, but not dry. I scooped the mixture into my palette, then took a DRY green and yellow sponge and worked it in really well. I scrubbed it for a couple of minutes in each well to make sure I covered the whole surface. With a wet paper towel, I removed the residue, then followed that with a dry paper towel. That's it! I hope that works for somebody! It made such a huge difference for me! :)

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• RE

  @redparrot53 · 7 years ago (edited)

  Something that I found works really well is baking soda, put it on dry and use a damp paper towel to work it in , then rinse...works great! It also works great for removing stains off palettes..

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• HA

  @hankvana2149 · 8 years ago

  The two reasons paint/water beads on a pallet are because the surface is too smooth and there may be an oily mold-release agent (from the manufacturing process) present. If the surface is very smooth the surface tension of the water will over power the friction to the surface and cause it to bead up. If you added a bit of soap to the paint (not recommended!) it would weaken the surface tension and the beading would be eliminated. I don't recommend adding any sort of contamination to the pallet as a clean. MATT surface is the best. To prepare the pallet, wash it with warm soapy water to remove any mold-release then remove the shine from the plastic. As suggested by BuschcraftOnFire, an abrasive sponge will remove the shine.  I prefer to use 0000 steelwool to remove the shine without scratching the pallet.   Put a good puddle of water in the pallet and lightly buff the surface (circular motions) with a pad of steel wool until  the surface is an even matt finish (when dry).  The whole process will only take a couple of minutes. 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper or an abrasive cleanser will also work, just be sure to keep the surface good and wet.   Hope this helps.

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• CH

  @chachiwahi · 4 years ago

  I just used the anti-fogging liquid used for diving/snorkeling masks on my plastic palette wells.  I smeared a few drops over the surface of the palette with my fingers, wiped off excess with a tissue and let it dry for a minute. It worked well to prevent beading.

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• VE

  @vera_hearts · 5 years ago

  Dude when I saw the paint on the ceramic pallet my mouth dropped.<br><br>I literally never knew that ever and that was so helpful honestly.

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• IH

  @IHaveNoLaifu · 8 years ago

  Thank you sooo much. I always assumed that the beading on my pallets either meant I need to mix my paints with more water or that my paints are just awful quality. Good to know there&apos;s a fix for this.

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• PU

  @puffyjo · 7 years ago

  mr clean magic eraser will do it the first time <br>simple and easy

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• JA

  @jackgunther7169 · 6 years ago

  Jack Gunther. &nbsp;Several years ago I solved this problem. &nbsp;If you want to make watercolor to lay down flat is to touch it with the smallest amount of gum arabic. &nbsp;You will be amazed. &nbsp;I put some gum arabic in one of the compartments of my palette and let it dry. &nbsp;Then all I have to do is touch it with my wet brush and then stir the paint on my palette. &nbsp;It lays down FLAT.

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• PE

  @penneynoss9552 · 5 years ago

  Just wondering do you need to reapply the glue stick or just the one time?

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• QU

  @questioneverything3632 · 2 years ago

  Murphy’s oil soap works perfectly! Wipe it on straight from the bottle, then wipe it off with a dry paper towel. Great for cleaning paint brushes also.

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• ST

  @StoneMonk909 · 6 years ago

  I used the glue technique technique today, it worked better than expected!

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• MU

  @music-sc7eg · 7 years ago

  Thank you for all your work on this but it does raise the question - &nbsp;why do the manufacturers not make their palettes fit for purpose? &nbsp;I have a plastic palette from 30 years ago which has a textured surface which works - easy solution..

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