I found a really easy way to make milky frosted glass for light fixtures

Рет қаралды 686,573

Жыл бұрын

Honestly can't believe this worked so well. SOME NOTES, THOUGH
So I screwed something up with the pour you see here. But actually I'm not entirely sure I did? It looked a bit weird so I inspected it and genius me let the cups fall into the shade and ruined it so I needed to start over again.
When I did, I went just a touch heavier on the glue and also spent more time twirling the bowl around before flipping it over. I got much better coverage, probably because it let the mixture get a little tacky.
However, on the re-pour I decided to try not-at-all with regard to eliminating bubbles and... this was a mistake. You definitely want as few bubbles as possible for best results. Gotta build that vacuum chamber.
Bottom line, this appears to be a pretty decent setup but longevity is TBD. And if you've got some techniques to improve things please share below! But my overall recipe is as follows:
1. Mix equal parts by weight water, acrylic craft paint, and PVA glue. Stir thoroughly but avoid introducing air at all steps.
2. Pour onto inside surface of whatever you're coating. Rotate object for even coverage.
3. Continue rotating for 15 minutes, ensuring every area gets covered multiple times. Mixture should thicken slightly which helps ensure a uniform appearance.
4. Stand object up and let excess drip out, then dry overnight.
Good luck!

Пікірлер: 4 200

@TechnologyConnextras Жыл бұрын

A lot of this is "Watch Alec handle an orb" *I have some more advice after this attempt* Something went a little wrong with this pour and I think it was that I didn't spend enough time twirling it around and/or there wasn't quite enough glue in the mix so the coating didn't thicken as much as I needed. The appearance as it dried wasn't perfectly opaque. I cleaned it up and started again with better results. So here's my overall guide in written form: 1. Mix equal parts by weight water, acrylic craft paint, and PVA glue. Consider going a touch heavy on the glue. 2. Stir thoroughly while avoiding introducing bubbles. 2. a. If ya gotta vacuum chamber, have at it. Or you can try some other methods to reduce bubbles. Some bubbles are OK as many will pop, but too many and you'll have speckles here and there. 3. Pour mixture onto inside surface of glass. _Spend a long time (at least 15 minutes) moving the object around and repeatedly re-coat all areas as the mixture begins to thicken._ You'll see what I mean. 4. Elevate item and allow excess to drip out. Allow to dry overnight. Good luck!

@LanceThumping Жыл бұрын

"Easy way make"

@TechnologyConnextras Жыл бұрын

@@LanceThumping Ha, been staring at the title for ages and didn't catch that. Tanks!

@seanhoude Жыл бұрын

I would have focused on the rim first, while the volume was high, slowly rolling it. Then you can take care of the easy part in the center afterwards.

@LanceThumping Жыл бұрын

@@TechnologyConnextras Happens to the best of us.

@Muaddibize Жыл бұрын

The only thing that could make this video more exciting is to add the drying part of the paint in real time.

@Blake-jl8lh Жыл бұрын

I love how this channel is part history of a hardly known format, part how complicated tech works, and part Alec's apparent obsession with light bulbs

@mauriciomarianocarneiro Жыл бұрын

I can relate... from around 3 to 15 years i was fascinated by flashlights... i made then, bought them, used them. It was not a fear of dark, just amazed by the power of have a light generator on my hand. :)

@duality4y Жыл бұрын

this is why i love the channel haha (the light bulbs got me into the channel and stuck around for the rest)

@rhekman Жыл бұрын

Alec Love Lamp

@Chlorate299 Жыл бұрын

Has anyone checked he's not a moth?

@Senae Жыл бұрын

not just light bulbs, *light diffusion*

@trimeta Жыл бұрын

When you showed the original lamp, and then brought out the frosted version, I felt like there was a missed opportunity to talk about the magic of buying two of them.

@MichaelSacchi Жыл бұрын

I came to write this. I found myself saying that sentence very often.

@sus1221 Жыл бұрын

At this point I have a pavlovian response...even without Alec saying it out loud, I mentally added " Through the magic of buying two!"

@camwyn256 Жыл бұрын

That's for the main channel, not extras

@KarolOfGutovo Жыл бұрын

No effort has been left in the video. Truly must have taken a lot of hard work to make sure of it.

@mikebennett1301 Жыл бұрын

As a Brit of a certain age I thought Alec was going to say "Here's one I made earlier"

@ZakkandtheJ Жыл бұрын

Alec I don't know how you managed to pull it off but you finally made watching paint dry interesting. Cheers to you brother

@smashedapples Жыл бұрын

PVA glue is very similar to the "medium" or binder in acrylic paint... so if it ends up yellowing, some "fine art" grade acrylic paints and mediums that are specifically formulated for light fastness and to prevent yellowing would probably work. Like... Liquitex basics titanium white and use either matte medium or gloss medium to "dilute" the white (to adjust the transparency). Optionally throw a layer of varnish over the top to help protect it and add super extra yellowing protection.

@AaronHendu 7 ай бұрын

Mod podge dudes lol

@user-co6ww2cm9k 6 ай бұрын

varnish will itself turn yellow though

@jameswoodish Жыл бұрын

As someone who often thins paint for transparency, my recommendation instead of PVA glue and water, would be to just head to your local craft store and pick up a bottle of clear acrylic paint medium. It will still be thinable with water, but it will dive a more durable finish that will absolutely not yellow with age.

@GamesFromSpace Жыл бұрын

Also, airbrushing... Coats as thin as you want.

@rjwaters3 Жыл бұрын

@@GamesFromSpace Air brushing requires hardware though, and tends to make a mess

@charliesullivan4304 Жыл бұрын

That's a really good idea. No guesswork about how the mixed chemistry will work, and confidence about long term stability. Art/craft supply stores are great resources even for more technical projects.

@gwiz6278 Жыл бұрын

Yep. He's trying to reinvent the wheel

@Rickolas. Жыл бұрын

@@gwiz6278 I don't think he's trying to reinvent the wheel. I think that he never considered the idea in the first place and as he stated in the video couldn't find anyone else talking about how to do this.

@artdonovandesign Жыл бұрын

I've been designing and building lamps for 35 years (professionally) and I am TRULY impressed with your results!

@piccalillipit9211 Жыл бұрын

COOL - I wanted to set up a company a few years ago doing freestanding indirect lighting lamps. I loved the geometry needed to achieve the uniform light combined with the aesthetics. to look right it has to be technically good. You cant just make a "thing".

@cadneemountai2791 Жыл бұрын

@@piccalillipit9211 you totally can just make a "thing"!

@ghostify6502 7 ай бұрын

I'm quite interested to know how one enters such a profession. That sounds like a very fulfilling job

@caodesignworks2407 7 ай бұрын

@@ghostify6502 Either find a local lamp company or just start making your own lamps. Lamps are very easy to make as they're literally just a plugged cord and a bulb holder on the end. Just learn how to wire it together if you don't already know and get building (I know a few people who sell lamps between FB market place and etsy and make a living)

@questjon Жыл бұрын

This is very similar to what my Dad does for shading his greenhouse in the summer when it gets too hot. He uses PVA mixed with powdered chalk and water. It's handy because the whole thing can be peeled of in one piece when the temperature drops back down.

@baan7782 8 ай бұрын

Chalk sounds like a great idea

@SaltyMikan 7 ай бұрын

@@baan7782pretty sure chalk is what is generally used for that purpose, haven't heard about the PVA glue though. Sounds handy!

@user-jo3gj1jx3e 7 ай бұрын

We always used to use lime from a builders merchant or ironmongers to whitewash cellar walls and greenhouses etc. This was long before pva glue was invented and it worked perfectly and was very cheap. In the UK it can be bought from B & Q stores.

@graslurch3685 6 ай бұрын

@@user-jo3gj1jx3e neither chalk nor lime won't let that much light through, which is what you may want in a greenhouse in summer, but not so much in this lamp case.

@julienmans3359 Жыл бұрын

This may truly be the best KZfaq channel ever created. Mostly subjects I don't remotely care about and yet I'm still watching the whole thing with all my attention, and still end up remembering and using what he explains in my life somehow

@zthecat Жыл бұрын

Absolutely. More often than not the things he talks about are things I had no prior interest in. But I think one of the reasons he's so good is by the time he's done, I find myself getting excited to go out and make my own milk white lamp, or buy some weird outdated media player, or finally use my dishwasher the way it was supposed to be used, etc. Lol

@Giepie Жыл бұрын

Alec found a unique way to make his audience watch (literally) paint dry! 😁 Excellent video! I'm wondering if there's a way to give it a mat finish (inside) to help with diffusion of light (ideal for LEDS)

@davidwhipple3832 Жыл бұрын

LOL on the paint dry thing

@MonkeyJedi99 Жыл бұрын

Perhaps replacing the PVA glue with Mod Podge, which comes in gloss, matte and flat, IIRC. That stuff is usually available right near the craft paint.

@Flojer0 Жыл бұрын

He did say while stirring that he's been scraping the bottom this whole time!

@thelazy0ne Жыл бұрын

My thought exactly! Watching paint dry 😅

@mumblbeebee6546 Жыл бұрын

@@wishunter9000 I would counsel against that, did you not get the part where trying to speed things up may lead to undesirable side effects? 😛

@kenjinks5465 Жыл бұрын

From a person who paints with acrylics, bleached titanium white pigment is opaque, zinc white pigment is translucent, you could use unbleached titanium to get a warm white. As a side note I use a mirror as my palette when painting so I can figure out just that, the transparency, and it peels right off to be used again and again. Perhaps zinc white may give a more frosted appearance. Acrylic gel medium can be watered down, the dif between liquid, gel medium and paste is the length of the molecule; liquid is short and runny, paste is long chains and is thick. All can be watered down. Acrylic artists mediums tend not to yellow.

@blah2blah65 Жыл бұрын

From a person who has done finger painting back in elementary school, your comment is impressive, almost supernatural, as I ponder how much unique knowledge and experience you must have to be able to write such a comment.

@NorroTaku Жыл бұрын

damn you know your stuff!

@GamesFromSpace Жыл бұрын

Using glass for a pallette is brilliant, thank you. I hate wasting materials.

@kenjinks5465 Жыл бұрын

@@blah2blah65 that was it, all I know, I just used it all up

@libertyjones3799 Жыл бұрын

I love these channels because it feels equally relatable and like a kind grandpa is leading everyone through a project.

@marioluigi9599 Жыл бұрын

Yeah he's got the grandpa music and everything... on his other videos. It works

@plzletmebefrank Жыл бұрын

I'm curious how it'd look with green since you mentioned coloring. Sorta like those old brass desk lamps with green covers.

@MK-of7qw Жыл бұрын

Hmmm... That would look nice in green

@chazdomingo475 Жыл бұрын

That was my thought. It'd be best with a nice deep green.

@TheScytheMoron Жыл бұрын

Aren't those like ... green on the outside, but white on the inside to reflect a decent amount of light onto the desk for writing and stuff? So ... I guess green with THIS method ... would be kinda ... weird. (maybe 2 layered ... but who knows how this would work out)

@angela.luntian Жыл бұрын

@@TheScytheMoron with pva glue the green top or inner coat would melt away trying to put layer 2 of white. Theres no adhesion nor absorption happening to prevent that i think?

@ALG1304 Жыл бұрын

@@TheScytheMoron could do a green layer and then, once dry, this white layer inside, no?

@johnscully1924 Жыл бұрын

Couple of suggestions: For people who do not have a vacuum chamber (we do, for metal casting), you can use a "small device that vibrates at high speed", usually battery powered and available in multiple sizes and shapes. Applied to the base of the container it will encourage small bubbles to merge and move to the surface. Next - a mixture like this can stand for a long time if tightly capped. mix in a jar that is "just large enough", cap it and let sit for a day. virtually all bubbles will come out. next - to pop bubbles have some toothpicks handy. And in place of cups, purchase model maker stands at a craft store. They are just small wire or plastic pyramids that are designed to support something with minimum contact area.

@trumpdonald6911 Жыл бұрын

Great idea. I think 🤔 my wife may have something that would work.

@kitsunekaze93 Жыл бұрын

if you have visitors, remember to hide the setup, so they dont notice the vibrating device thats available in multiple sizes and shapes, or there might be questions! Or you can explain that its an industry standard device, usually referred to as an "engineers best friend"

@softpaw6234 Жыл бұрын

I'm gonna stop this beating around the bush, who knew that a sex toy would be so great for removing bubbles from a liquid?

@ardawen Жыл бұрын

You can say electric toothbrush, we've all been there

@hyperturbotechnomike Жыл бұрын

@@kitsunekaze93 If you have visitors, just use a rumbly gamepad for PC and let it rumble using some software

@jakalair Жыл бұрын

This would be fun to see in green for me. I always loved the old desk lamps with the green glass.

@partciudgam8478 Жыл бұрын

A bit 20s mobster style... Cool... It should be the same procedure, just two layers, one green paint, the second one white, to give a better light reflection downwards

@larsiparsii Жыл бұрын

Had the exact same thought! I would be afraid to use a too light shade of green though.

@alephnole7009 Жыл бұрын

Yes I thought the same thing. If I could make similar lamps and not spend $300 on real one that would be great.

@derrekvanee4567 Жыл бұрын

I just want some uranium glass now.

@mandi8345 Жыл бұрын

"accountants lamp" "bankers lamp" "lawyers lamp" or "judges lamp" are some search terms to hit on items like that. Like the transparent green visor youd see someone cracking on an adding machine wear especially in throwback scenes of the 1940s, the green was believed to be better for preserving eyesight if you had to be exposed to artificial light all day. I agree, the green and gold is a great classic early-mid 20th century paper pusher look. My dad had one on his desk for the longest time......of course they got rid of it when that modern day 'everything flat white soulless ugly with jaunting squares everywhere and died poop in the sun taupe' look came into vogue....damn them....

@birdbrain4445 Жыл бұрын

Honestly I *love* that lamp design in general save for the colourless glass - very easy to see how that not only looks weird but also how it makes the light less pleasant overall. I wonder how much more popular it would have been if they'd used milk glass or some other colour instead.

@k80_ 7 ай бұрын

They are starting to come out with some more tinted glass lamps at ikea now, maybe they got the memo

@TheGuitarman1968 Жыл бұрын

The "Milk Glass" fixture reminds me of all of those real Milk Glass ceiling lights and table lamps that my grandparents had in their 1950's constructed home, and they all eventually got replaced over the years. The clear fixture looks like the dome on top of the robot from the original "Lost In Space" TV series. 😉

@mrcryptozoic817 Жыл бұрын

And the bulbs are ugly.

@eduardonunomarques Жыл бұрын

About the oven drying attempt: "White PVA, Polyurethane glues, contact cements typically fail above 150 f or 80c." Woodworkers will usually use a heat gun to take apart glued joints. You reflowed the glue when you heated it up.

@nickroach6270 Жыл бұрын

We call them paddle pop sticks in Australia, but we're so infused with American culture here that popsicle stick is also completely understandable. I love the precision of your thinking and work. It's a breath of fresh air

@timf-tinkering Жыл бұрын

"Lolly stick" would be the equivalent UK term, but again we'd know exactly what you meant.

@kittyspritzer799 Жыл бұрын

A friend taught me a painting tip when working on smaller pieces that don't weigh too much (such as your lampshade); I've been using it on ceramic planters. When you're trying to paint something all at once, there's always the problem of the paint being messed up where it comes in contact with the surface it rests on, in your case the plastic cups. Find a couple pieces of quarter-round molding at the hardware store. Home Depot sells one made of white plastic which is even better than the wood (at least for this use). Set the molding down on its rounded side, so when you place your painted item on it, it has only minimal contact with the surface, resulting in a much smaller area of paint that gets disturbed while drying. This has worked really well for me and has drastically cut down on the amount of touchup work. Good luck!

@kdkseven 5 ай бұрын

Or just turn the cups over.

@IACJLD Жыл бұрын

Painter's tape around the edge to make a lip might buy you some time before the drips get too out of hand. Another tip is doing a high pour to prevent bubbles. If you don't have a vacuum chamber and you want to get the bubbles out of a thick liquid mix, pouring it high so it makes a thin long stream helps prevent them.

@juz4kix Жыл бұрын

Came here today this

@jc5495 Жыл бұрын

use a lighter or micro butane torch, they use the technique for epoxy tables to pop bubbles

@st3althyone Жыл бұрын

That is an excellent idea.

@SpookyJohnathan Жыл бұрын

I have learned something valuable today.

@ProfessorJayTee Жыл бұрын

@@jc5495 Remember not to do this with flammable paint.

@hietalaheikki Жыл бұрын

Finally! Watch paint dry episode 😃 Love your work, the attention to detail, thoroughly researched topics and the level of interest you bring to mundane appliances. Dishwasher episodes have been my favorites and I've forced many people to watch them to boredom 🤪

@ToyKeeper Жыл бұрын

After the social and gastric overstimulation of the holidays, watching paint dry was exactly what I needed tonight to wind down. And not just watching paint dry, but watching Alec watch paint dry with great enthusiasm.

@LemonGrinder Жыл бұрын

About the bubbles - a common way bakers and concrete crafters will use to pop bubbles in their mediums is by picking up the container and tapping it against a table/horizontal surface. (Unless you're making macarons, where they'll violently slam the cooking sheet on the bench) It brings any bubbles from deeper in the batter/cement up to the surface to pop!

@tannerfoust2346 Жыл бұрын

17:11 I'm unreasonably happy to learn there's someone else out there in the world that feels the exact same way about owning a vacuum chamber as I do.

@sekrasoft Жыл бұрын

You are not only mixing paint in the basement at 10:43 but making new friends all over the world and hanging out with the old ones. It's like an introvert friendly warm reception.

@BrentBlueAllen Жыл бұрын

A couple of bubble-popping tips from the world of silicone/resin molds: - pouring the solution from a higher position so the stream is very narrow which can pop bubbles mid-stream - hitting the bubbles with a heat gun/hairdryer to inflate and pop them

@mandi8345 Жыл бұрын

"pouring the solution from a higher position so the stream is very narrow which can pop bubbles mid-stream" Ahh yes, the ribbon pour! Hello my fellow tool (maker). 😃 Casting, mold making, tooling, is a great way to get a feel for material handling. SIdenote: the two part silicone jacket mold, while a pain in the butt, is an absolute godsend for complicated geometries. Just had to share that with someone who might appreciate it too. Oh, and incase you havent happened across it yet, you know how hexane and paraffin is a preferred industry silicon release.......normal old every day nothing special blue Dawn dishsoap works better and is a million times cheaper. A few squirts in a cup and a few drops of water to thin it a touch (but no foaming!) grab a chip brush and paint it on. Its so much easier to deal with the stroke marks too. No more tetchy silicone allergic reactions ruining your cast!

@spacemansabs Жыл бұрын

this only works if the liquid is thick, otherwise you'll end up frothing the paint.

@TombunnyHunter Жыл бұрын

I swear, Alec has an bet with himself at this point. "Ok, what mindbogglingly boring topic can I make a video on that everyone will still sit through and be entertained?" Seriously, he is an artist with these topics. He shows us the art and beauty of the mundane.

@prairiemountaineer Жыл бұрын

less bubbles is more better... words to live by. Those lamps look fantastic, thanks for sharing this.

@Vikingwerk Жыл бұрын

Really tempted to try this with green paint, I’ve always loved those old brass library lamps with the green glass shades.

@quinnobi42 Жыл бұрын

'posh people lamps' as I've heard them called.

@James02876 Жыл бұрын

I think it's known as a "Banker's Lamp"

@ez45 Жыл бұрын

Would require two coats as those are white underneath, I think

@youdontknowme5969 Жыл бұрын

lawyer lamp

@complainer406 Жыл бұрын

You'd probably need to include some white paint, since other colors usually aren't opaque

@Hawk013 Жыл бұрын

Pouring tip: when pouring silicon liquid tooling into a mold, we would always pour from high up to allow the silicon to "ribbon", or pour out in a very thin sheet or stream, as it would squeeze out a lot of the bubbles, and usually wouldn't entrain more when it pooled. Your mixture may not be thick enough to do this properly, but it's worth a shot?

@grn1 Жыл бұрын

He said in another comment that he tried a high pour and it actually made more bubbles because of how thin the mixture is.

@AaronBockelie Жыл бұрын

I tried your recipe and it worked out pretty well! I don't know if it truly improved on the technique but I set the lamp bowl on a bowl of water. The humidity prolonged the drying and allowed the paint suspension to flow to a more consistent coating thickness. It took longer to dry but I think using humidity allows the bubbles to work their way out. I don't know how to send you a picture but you probably get the idea.

@marbballz 7 ай бұрын

I know this video is nearly a year old at this point, but could we get an update on the "yellowing" also have you seen the Tallbyn light, gives a lovely Mid century boarder line Deco look with genuine milk glass shades. I've bought the entire range and spread them throughout my house hahah

@nathalie_desrosiers 6 ай бұрын

Adding a comment to get notification if any.

@FourDyce 5 ай бұрын

Would also love an update on this!

@Codex_of_Wisdom Жыл бұрын

A few tips from the miniatures side of KZfaq: Like James Wood said, matte medium would be a good substitute for PVA, but so would Mod Podge (very similar to Elmers, with slight differences that might help out, not sure in this case). Also, to help with the bubbles, pour your mixture from height. The long stream it will form will help keep bubbles from traveling down from the cup. For other colors, alcohol ink might be worth trying. It's gained recent popularity for painting because it's more translucent.

@TechnologyConnextras Жыл бұрын

I would just like to add that I tried a high pour and this mixture is too thin for that to work. It actually made many more bubbles! It really is quite liquidy - which to be clear (heh) is what I wanted for consistency in coat. Using a little torch lighter to pop bubbles on the glass seemed to work the best. Also, in subsequent attempts imperfections kept appearing in the same pattern - so I think they're actually the result of surface imperfections sort of catching the glue as it passes. They almost had a tail like a comet! Not sure how commonly that might happen, but these shades are hand-made so they probably have more variability as a result.

@stevecann3394 Жыл бұрын

@@TechnologyConnextras smiled and looked up at my bedroom lamp as I watched this. It has three frosted globes that are now multicoloured with streaks (a bit Barbarella-ish😀) as I used a similar paint pour technique (used by fluid pour artists etc) - there's the odd blob on mine too, it's where the acrylic hasn't fully mixed with the glue/water. Another great video btw👍😀

@tyfroom5151 Жыл бұрын

I tried using mod podge the mixture separates as it dries

@padoco73 Жыл бұрын

Since it was mentioned, matte paint versus gloss... I'm not sure how much the glue (and/or Mod Podge) interferes with this, but since you're applying it to glass, gloss is probably the better option as it will create a smoother surface contact. The differences will be microscopic until the light is turned on, at which point I'd imagine there might be something of an odd pattern that would be visible. The visual appeal of the pattern is going to be largely subjective, but for the purposes of an even and regular surface, I'd think gloss is the better option.

@grn1 Жыл бұрын

@@padoco73 I've heard that a lot of glossy stuff actually uses crushed glass so I could see the glass in the mixture helping to fill in gaps and improve transparency.

@RadicalEdwardStudios Жыл бұрын

If you're really concerned about yellowing, the magic word is "archival". Searching "archival pva glue" does reveal some results, so I believe there are options. May cost more, though. For reference, light bulbs use powdered white silica.

@comradegarrett1202 Жыл бұрын

Basically all PVA inherently yellows, is the thing - archival probably just means it's acid-free and won't cause paper to degrade.

@SerifSansSerif Жыл бұрын

This is the first time the secondary channel has been recommended to me, and though the first channel is my favorite, I love how informal this one is and how relaxing it is to see Alec like this

@bethanyanderson1745 7 ай бұрын

@SerifSansSerif ▪︎ 2ndary channel?

@Bo-kq8tn 6 ай бұрын

This is fantastic, like that is a SHOCKINGLY even coating! And it has an easy to remember formula of common materials! And most importantly, it's reversible, you can scrape it off the glass if you ever change your mind! And you could make the craft paint ANY COLOR TOO. The possibilities have me really excited :D Thank you so much for sharing your discovery/methods

@Twidding Жыл бұрын

I don’t often get first but when I do, I’m glad it’s here

@eliot6775 Жыл бұрын

FYI this is the IKEA ÅTERSKEN lamp, no longer available in table lamp but they do have a similar ceiling lamp, and also some wall sconce lamps (oddly already with white/frosted glass)

@TechnologyConnextras Жыл бұрын

Given how hard it is to have next to you at eye level, I'm not surprised. If they just made it with glass like this, though, it would have been perfect!

@WaynoGur Жыл бұрын

Nearest ikea is a 230 mile round trip. (it's in Phoenix and I live in Tucson).

@zaxyart Жыл бұрын

@@WaynoGur and its such a boring drive...

@marcogenovesi8570 Жыл бұрын

@@WaynoGur shipping items to your door is a thing

@verttikoo2052 Жыл бұрын

@@marcogenovesi8570 But you don't get the meatballs 🤔

@MrDbrennen Жыл бұрын

Interesting technique. I have collected a few miniature glass bottles for an LED desk lamp project but hadn't figured out how to frost them yet. Going to give this a go!

@integralfrom0to1 7 ай бұрын

If you have a disposable eyedropper (like a food coloring dropper) you can use it to suck up the bubbles off the surface of the coating and they magically disappear. We do it all the time at my work.

@stephlrideout Жыл бұрын

You can use a palm sander to get bubbles out of liquids! Just turn it upside down and remove the sandpaper, then hold the cup on the sanding surface. The vibration agitates it enough to make the bubbles rise quickly.

@dougcox835 Жыл бұрын

I thought you were talking about sanding the finished coating. Maybe go to your wife's bedside table for inspiration if you don't have a palm sander.

@egeoeris Жыл бұрын

@@dougcox835 *laughs, then laughs again in electric toothbrush*

@ivanskyttejrgensen7464 Жыл бұрын

Other vibrating devices might work too.

@BloodSprite-tan Жыл бұрын

@@ivanskyttejrgensen7464 yeah of course a industrial concrete vibrator would work great!

@somedude2492 Жыл бұрын

@@BloodSprite-tan hey I'm not here to kink shame anyone, if it works for you then it works for you man

@camrouxbg Жыл бұрын

For the bubbles after pouring, you might have better luck using a small torch (eg. a creme brulee torch) and very quickly sweeping over the surface. Be careful not to hold in any one spot for any amount of time. This is what artists who do acrylic pouring do, and it seems to work really well. Otherwise, it looks like a great job! Well done :)

@GamesFromSpace Жыл бұрын

Heat guns are cheap, don't use fuel, and the temperature can be configured. Plus, the airflow helps pop bubbles.

@camrouxbg Жыл бұрын

@@GamesFromSpace yes, I forgot to mention heat guns. 🤷‍♂️

@davidpretorius2984 Жыл бұрын

I was looking for this, first thing I thought when he mentioned bubbles being an issue

@Huttser17 Жыл бұрын

To add: the heat of the torch causes the air in the bubble to expand violently, popping it from inside-out. Heat guns can work but if you want perfection a small torch is the better option.

@slmdnkasr Жыл бұрын

Good idea. This works for epoxy too.

@Mike-qx2zs 6 ай бұрын

I’m late to the fray but putting in the paint ,then covering the opening , place it on a turntable and spin it. That will move the bubbles to the edge and give it an even coat to the edge.

@leemktm Жыл бұрын

I like your Mr. Rogers moment while mixing the paint. "Are they known as popsicle sticks in other parts of the world?". 🙂

@miro-hristov Жыл бұрын

You can use a blow torch right after coating the paint to get rid of the bubbles. Well known trick amongst acrylic paint pouring artists... Also, if you add Floetrol or silicone lube to the mixture you can get nice "cell" patterns if you're into that.

@padoco73 Жыл бұрын

While this is an excellent idea, it should also be noted that most glues are notorious for carmelizing. If you do use a blow torch, I would think you'd need to be very brisk while doing so to avoid any browning. That said, you are absolutely correct in that the bubbles should be mostly eliminated.

@jpdemer5 Жыл бұрын

@@padoco73 PVA glue is acrylic - and I'll bet the craft paint is also acryclic. That said, I'd use a heat gun to be on the safe side.

@Losobo Жыл бұрын

@@jpdemer5 honestly, a hairdryer on high could work as well

@Artifying Жыл бұрын

I’d recommend a heat gun or hairdryer personally. What Alec mixed is basically a thin acrylic paint pour as the pouring medium that most acrylic pour artists use is literally just pva glue.

@shaynanussbaum8632 Жыл бұрын

You can also use a toothpick

@whatevernamegoeshere3644 Жыл бұрын

If you get a vacuum chanber, don't vacuum it TOO much because the water in the glue can boil and turn it into a bubble bath. Also get a silicone cooking sheet and hold it between the opening and a board. You then have a closed bowl and you can really speed up the coating process

@boo-urns Жыл бұрын

Was looking for this comment before I posted anything. I work in refrigeration and we pull a deep vacuum before charging, specifically to get any moisture _out_ of the system

@mspeir Жыл бұрын

A pressure pot might be a better solution.

@ArnaudMEURET Жыл бұрын

Not afraid to look stupid: would a household vacuum cleaner be enough to at least help get most (some) bubbles out, or pop?

@MaxStax1 Жыл бұрын

@@ArnaudMEURET Maybe a good idea. I use a vacuum pump all the time at work, but a shop vac might just be a good alternative in this case,and be easy to set up Perhaps an aquarium with a plexiglass top with a hole cut for the hose and just some putty to seal it. Of coarse i am 100% certain i will never have to frost the glass of anything in this lifetime. 😆 But nice to know someone made a how-to video about it anyway. lol

@jasonanders4944 Жыл бұрын

I kinda want to see that.

@gavin5410 Жыл бұрын

I would love to see a follow up video in a year or two about how well this holds up

@mellertid 7 ай бұрын

And that's almost now!

@GCarterStokum Жыл бұрын

I've always liked your videos, but the excitement of a successful experiment comes through! And even if things yellow a bit eventually, it's so straight forward I'm excited to try this technique!

@WelshBathBoy Жыл бұрын

In the UK, we call "popsicles" either "ice lollies" or just "lollies" - with lolly being short for lollipop, and the sticks are called "lollipop sticks".

@sekrasoft Жыл бұрын

Wow, it's interesting and quite clever. Those sticks could be referred to either as "ice cream sticks" or "lollipop sticks" in Russia, there's no such concept fusion.

@Dukefazon Жыл бұрын

15:34 - there is a technique referred to as high pour. You lift up the container high and pour the liquid slowly in a thin line or band and it minimizes the bubble forming and if there are already bubbles, you can get rid of them that way. Sometimes gently tapping the container can agitatet the bubbles to raise to the tip and it helps them pop (you can try the container that holds you mix or the bulb in this case). You an also introduce some heat to the bubbles but I'm not so sure about those details. The Crafsman (yes, no T in his name) has some videos on silocone that can help you.

@TDOBrandano Жыл бұрын

maybe you can try and pick up the coating from the bottom of the cup using something like a turkey baster, leaving the bubbles at the top

@alexdrockhound9497 Жыл бұрын

@@lavinia-whateley ive also seen people use gas torches and lighters.

@Sodium_Slug Жыл бұрын

@@lavinia-whateley I'm pretty sure it would start to dry the glue, resin doesn't cure with heat, but you'll evaporate the solvent faster with PVA glue.

@fledi2 Жыл бұрын

On the other hand some well distributed heat might help reduce the 15 Minutes...

@FroggyMosh Жыл бұрын

. . . Whatever. _I'm so sorry, I just had to do it._ _Final Fantasy 8 was my entry into the series_

@papastratman218 Жыл бұрын

this is honestly some great content to put on in the background. getting lots of cool info while not demanding the full attention

@frankenjstein9371 Жыл бұрын

Love the relaxed, down to earth feel of this vid.

@Medenmath Жыл бұрын

I'm impressed by how nice this looks. I have to admit, I don't really like the lamp with clear glass, but with the white color applied they are quite pretty.

@bradtid Жыл бұрын

“As I said, this is messy, you will make messes, embrace the mess. Life is messy.” Thank you, I needed this today.

@benjaminandersen1097 Жыл бұрын

This is VERY useful for me, i love making decorative lamps, and is always on the look out for nice glass pieces and light diffusers, im gonna try this :)

@sirhcsuiris Жыл бұрын

I love how excited and proud you are. You're glowing brighter than the lamps.

@NickStallman Жыл бұрын

FYI I find ethanol (I use methylated spirits) can thin PVA glue quite nicely, either instead of water or in combination with water. I find it makes it quite smooth and makes it dry a little faster as the ethanol evapourates.

@joshentheosparks7492 Жыл бұрын

And if the lens is acrylic or polycarbonate, the ethanol will frost the glass all by itself. I use ethanol to make almost any paint or urethane glossy

@Bobis32 Жыл бұрын

ive used acetone and Isopropyl alcohol as alternatives to Ethanol

@hesspet Жыл бұрын

A similar mixture can be used to give 3D PLA prints a metallic coating. Use very fine metal powder instead of the craft paint and a little less water. Works also very well. It's a mixture we used long a time ago in the 70s to pimp small objects around modell train landscapes. 🙂And yes, build milky glass lights for modell street lights.

@CubicApocalypse128 Жыл бұрын

Never tried it with metal powder, but I can confirm this works with graphite and Mod Podge. Jut rub it down with some aluminum foil to make it shine.

@hugesbspfreak Жыл бұрын

The doll customization community does something like this for tinting plastic. I've seen them for things like tinting a space helmet and still being able to see the doll face!! They tend to use something like Mod Podge, a sealing medium. You can get it in all sorts of finishes. Smells lightly of carrots. I believe they then just use paint or alcohol inks to tint it. I haven't seen anyone use it to make something that wasn't fully see through though

@ringsystemmusic Жыл бұрын

Mod Podge seems to be the crafting community’s answer to everything.

@akhagee4707 7 ай бұрын

@@ringsystemmusicand the fun part is that it's basically just thinned down PVA glue.

@huwadamson 4 ай бұрын

My preferred method for popping bubbles is with a small catering blow torch. Lots of artists will do something similar when varnishing

@joshleyshock4801 Жыл бұрын

+1 to what others have suggested: give acrylic medium a try instead of glue. Medium is the glue and thickness of paint, you can actually make your own paint by mixing pigment power right into medium to create exactly what you need!

@rainbowkrampus Жыл бұрын

Yes. This. Solves every problem and even the potential problem of yellowing.

@moistmoustache420 Жыл бұрын

I watched half an hour of someone painting glass in the weirdest way possible...... This is the quality viewing experience I expect from Alec.

@chrishei3111 7 ай бұрын

This is what you've been training for! amazing finding a unique, simple solution to a specific problem

@haraldclark6206 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for this! Simplicity and ingenuity, perfect!

@sunimasuno3718 Жыл бұрын

As a longtime fan I just have to say, I really love the unrelenting positivity. Your snark is delightful, but the sheer joy was entirely contagious.

@camwyn256 Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you pointed out it's equal parts by weight, because I usually think of equal parts by volume

@PainterVierax Жыл бұрын

in painting and other chemical mix the dosage is mainly by weight as it's more precise than volume and it allows using ingredients in solid forms. Also for chemical reactions discrepancies in molar mass is the major reason measurements are done in weight instead of volume.

@tinamarie8699 5 ай бұрын

Omg. You are a savior. Lol. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for to update a 1990s light in my kitchen until we do a full remodel. Much appreciated.

@buttercupghost 7 ай бұрын

I love PVA glue! I used to mix it & baby powder to make spackle, and would make small gems from it too. I even made a pretty big gem for a Sailor Venus cosplay (the gem on her chest). Never finished that cosplay, but I did make a sucessful wand and gem for it!

@voussoirnet Жыл бұрын

Nice! For cleanup and/or starting over, isopropyl alcohol should easily dissolve both the acrylic paint and PVA glue.

@TechnologyConnextras Жыл бұрын

Can now confirm this worked great! (bubbles got to me so... round 3!)

@Games_and_Music Жыл бұрын

@@TechnologyConnextras Haha, looking forward to the sequel! But yeah, i was wondering what would work best, i kept thinking you'd mention some paint remover/acetone, like, what would've been the ratio for that solution? Btw, the lamps reminded me of Metroid.

@bazzatron9482 Жыл бұрын

If you want to do colours, I recommend using acrylic ink. You can even get these inks in varying opacities. Also, mixing with water tends to cause the paint to bead up, as water has high surface tension. Add a drop of dishwasher rinse aid (I know how you feel about this...!) To defeat the surface tension. Finally, on bubbles, you can pop them all with a lighter or if you have a kitchen torch - makes very light work. Great work on this - looks like a really effective method!

@xsleep1 Жыл бұрын

In terms of lowering surface tension I wonder if adding some EtOH (like Everclear) to the mix would result in fewer bubbles. However, I'm not sure why a spray acrylic paint wouldn't get the same result as his homemade mix technique.

@bazzatron9482 Жыл бұрын

@@xsleep1 tbh, it probably would. In model making, we use something like mod podge mostly as a sealer - the effect of using water and PVA here is basically the same, protecting the paint from being easily damaged by the shade clips or when changing a bulb.

@KnomChomper Жыл бұрын

What do you think would be a good recipe for getting that classic green library lamp look?

@bazzatron9482 Жыл бұрын

@@KnomChomper the easiest way is going to be to find a green acrylic that most closely matches your desired outcome. Mixing paints is difficult to recommend in text, as pigments used in different paints don't always blend the same - some greens will use only green pigment, others will have a blend of cyan and yellow, so adding a yellow pigment to the blend won't always have the same impact, even if the starting colours are the same. Just remember that expensive paints win out here, as they will contain more actual pigment. Cheap paints tend to become translucent when thinned (though that might be desireable in this instance!)

@KnomChomper Жыл бұрын

@@bazzatron9482 thank you! So just 1/3 of each but instead of the paint use a high quality acrylic ink that closely matched the color I’m going for?

@daimonmt Жыл бұрын

To remove all bubbles, make a plastic lid with a hole for an vacuum pipe, then get a vacuum cleaner and create a seal around the top, turn it on and it should remove all the air bubbles. Thank you for sharing such a great discovery. Another trick is to use hair dryer on the bubbles.

@josephjorgensen3282 Жыл бұрын

Got to say I wouldn't have ever watched anybody else do this process I love you channel

@demetreasandrews Жыл бұрын

I use lineco pva glue for my book binding that's supposed to never yellow. It's a little more expensive than Elmer's but if yours does ever yellow it might be worth it to look into lineco.

@mafiacat88 Жыл бұрын

Oh boy I was wondering how we were following up the christmas light painting insanity. Glad there's another entrant in the "Alec goes insane over lights" lineup. Just to be clear I'm 100% behind this. It looks great.

@jenniesmythe8188 5 ай бұрын

Still looks beautiful before and after. Good job

@StevenNovak Ай бұрын

This is exactly what I need for my rear projection hemisphere project! Thank you!

@chpweb Жыл бұрын

I was diagnosed with insonnia, i take 2 different medication: zolpidem and trazodon, but in the last few months your videos change my life. You have a calm, relaxing voice and mood. I love your contents, you are my new bed time story :) keep going and thanks

@Captainllama Жыл бұрын

Now there's a backhanded compliment if ever I saw one one!😏😂

@LucarioBoricua Жыл бұрын

Concerning paint for Christmas lightbulbs, make sure to look at art student grade paints, those usually have more specific information on their characteristics, while also not becoming too expensive for what is a cheap use, as opposed to artist grade paints. There's certain pigments which are transparent, and those can let light through when applied in thin layers. Some examples: - Naphtol red (look for cadmium red hues if the pigment isn't explicitly stated) - Diarylide yellow (a yellow-orange, like the one seen in modern pavement markings) - Pthalocyanine blue (a highly saturated and really intense blue, still transparent) - Greens made by mixing Aryline yellow (light yellow color) with Pthalocyanine green (dark and highly saturated turquoise color) - Dioxazyne violet

@zendell37 Жыл бұрын

@5:07 the dogs perked up. What a charming little chime.

@mooonoiocoa Жыл бұрын

I really really appreciate your videos. I love learning new things and your videos are just so cozy and relaxing 🥰

@alexgreen2747 Жыл бұрын

‘Pass me a popsicle stick please’ would be a totally understandable phrase here in New Zealand. What I’m not so sure of is why I’m so into this video, when I know I will never perform the process myself. Excellent work.

@gin3648 Жыл бұрын

Paddlepop stick might be more common in Australia, I don't know why, we just get attached to brand names, same with Esky.

@M_J_nan Жыл бұрын

Well, this is all in English... The Swedish word would translate into "ice cream pin".

@Dranok1 Жыл бұрын

Two interesting variations from countries I imagined used English closer to the mother tongue. In the UK of course it's a lollypop stick.

@alexgreen2747 Жыл бұрын

@@Dranok1 Yes! Odd blend down here, weighted towards UK but some US influence. ‘Popsicle’ would be the ice lolly (flat wooden stick like a doctor instructing ‘say aaaah’), ‘lollipop’ would only be a small rounded white Chupa-Chups stick. Hoping that brand is globally understood. Useless for painting a lamp quickly, anyway.

@kenrickman6697 Жыл бұрын

I love green glass lamp shades, so I will definitely be trying this technique out using green paint. Also, you can make a really simple vacuum chamber if you have a vacuum sealer and a mason jar adapter. Use a wide mouth jar that the cup fits inside of.

@SeanBZA Жыл бұрын

Would then suggest you do 2 coats, one by the glass green, then once dry a white inner coat to diffuse the light.

@robertlitman2661 Жыл бұрын

+1 I'm not sure if this heart of this message got through to everyone here, but you do not need to put the whole glass shade into a vacuum chamber to remove the bubbles. You merely need to vacuum the cup of mixed glaze before you apply it to remove the bubbles you stirred in. And for that, you can get away with a rather small vacuum chamber. Heck, you could get away with a hand vacuum pump like a MityVac on a mason jar, because you don't even need (or want) all that strong a vacuum. You certainly don't want to start boiling the water in the paint. All you need to do is inflate any bubbles to the point that they rise out of the solution.

@marley7145 Жыл бұрын

You've summarized my food storage method pretty well. Vacuum sealer + mason jar adapter = dry goods that stay fresh for much longer than usual. (Also leftovers that last forever, but I'm not sure that's a selling point for most people.) It's not quite as good as a vacuum chamber, but it's damn good. And for food that really has to last a long time, throwing in a small oxygen eater packet helps a lot. And yes, I also use this to remove bubbles from liquids, so it works well.

@jmnypop Жыл бұрын

I've seen people craft colored mason jars with the exact same technique. Awesome idea!

@navigatorofnone Жыл бұрын

WOW!! that is an amazingly serendipitous DIY 👏👏👏👏👏

@TiltedTripodMedia Жыл бұрын

I do acrylic paint pouring art all the time which is essentially what you did. To get rid of the bubbles you can immediately grab a small butane torch like the ones used for cooking. Run it quickly over the painted surface while it’s wet. Be careful not to touch the flame to the paint and watch the bubbles pop. Also I wonder how well it will last as the bulbs still put off heat even though they are led. I would recommend skipping the glue and water and use flotrol that u can get from Home Depot or Lowe’s. Also acrylic paints don’t usually yellow or crack as they are somewhat flexible. You can also try fabric paint or leather paint as it’s meant to be flexible. Anyway you had a fantastic idea. Hard to believe they don’t make a spray on milk substance.

@LieseFury Жыл бұрын

i think the yellowing concern was with the glue, not the paint

@Baronello Жыл бұрын

I would just go with airbrush with acrylic paint. No need to pour, glue or water only airbrush thinned paint.

@TiltedTripodMedia Жыл бұрын

@@Baronello good idea

@TiltedTripodMedia Жыл бұрын

@@LieseFury your probably right. So then I would eliminate the blue because it’s probably not necessary.

@mvm92 Жыл бұрын

A technique for bubbles I’ve seen in epoxy pours is to hit the surface really quickly with a torch. The heat seems to make the air expand and pop the bubbles. Plus you get to play with a torch and that’s always fun

@Zancarius Жыл бұрын

Exactly what I was thinking! I don't think it would scorch the PVA since the trick is to just skim the surface real quick. Not enough heat for long enough to do any harm!

@scottrowland7448 Жыл бұрын

I was going to say use a heat gun at distance to remove the bubbles.A hair dryer on low but hot might even work. Also at scale flood the glass shade, empty and move on to the next one?!

@Frappe3621 Жыл бұрын

They also use a spritz of alcohol to lower the surface tension to do the same thing.

@misterhat5823 Жыл бұрын

Epoxy is different than jizz glue. I'm not so sure it'd work.

@djarum00 Жыл бұрын

I'd probably run the torch under with the other side of the glass. It would pop the bubble and not affect the mixture inside.

@kentmckean6795 Жыл бұрын

Looks great! Cool that your first "guess" worked so well.

@lyyretv1126 Жыл бұрын

Love this channel. Anything you do is a blast to watch. I appreciate how you operate and I get excited about the same things as you so it’s fun to watxh

@nataliegreystar Жыл бұрын

I'd suggest using an acrylic paint reducer instead of water and maybe airbrush transparent paint instead of craft acrylics. It might get rid of your bubble problem but it may be thinner and require more coats. There are also UV protective clear coat additives you could use instead of glue, that would keep that white from yellowing and help with durability but it would mean taking the paint off would be more work. Of course if you could get this done much nicer and faster with a spray gun but that's not exactly as cheap and simple as this.

@SudosFTW Жыл бұрын

this, my mother is an artist and she swore by ammonia as a reducer.

@Logan. Жыл бұрын

Airbrush paint is just pre-reduced acrylic paint. And it’s usually reduced with distilled water….. Source: I airbrush.

@PainterVierax Жыл бұрын

yeah there are better modern alternatives to PVA and water. Spray painting is also more manageable, just need to go light on coating and rectify details, imperfections and transparency with more passes. The more layers are applied, the more uniform the result is.

@PainterVierax Жыл бұрын

@@SudosFTW IIRC ammonia is only used with oil-based paint and it won't work with other types.

@PaoloSulprizio Жыл бұрын

I also though about anti-UV varnish to avoid yellowing but creating a prime layer and a finishing layer of it, instead of simply mixing it with acrylic. I guess would protect more.

@brianlink5379 Жыл бұрын

An idea to get the edges without drips (at least at first)... Use some plastic wrap to "seal" up the opening long enough to roll the mixture over all the interior surface area then remove the plastic wrap for the drying process

@grinning_owl Жыл бұрын

My thoughts exactly!

@alonsonatividad9620 Жыл бұрын

I find milky frosted glass, fascinating, since I was a kid. Definitely will try your method.

@toxicteabaging Жыл бұрын

Amazing tip, thanks for sharing it, Alec!

@KeithPeevyhouse Жыл бұрын

I really liked the style of this video! It has a different vibe than normal. I enjoyed the DIY aspect of it, and it felt like you were more connected to us. Well done!

@mmnootzenpoof Жыл бұрын

the "different vibe" of literally watching paint dry

@bluephreakr Жыл бұрын

Pro tip: tape the edge. Masking tape can help resolve drips going on the outside, and you can score whatever widths you need with a craft knife before scoring the end and ripping it off that way for thinner edges if you do not want to create a higher edge.

@Scheibenschutz 7 ай бұрын

I like the casual vibe of this video also nice idea, will def keep it in mind for the next light project

@flemmingpedersen567 Жыл бұрын

It looks nice - there is a part of me that want that kind of lamp shade to be green, but at any rate the result looks as professional as anything I have seen in a store.

@MorganTN Жыл бұрын

This whole darn video is like watching paint dry!!! Actually I watched the whole thing in real time thinking what an awesome idea this was and how much I enjoy the look of milk glass and thinking of crafty projects where I could use this.

@ChrisMasto Жыл бұрын

Came to the comments to make sure somebody made that joke.

@ArkanoidZero Жыл бұрын

You might consider using mod podge instead of pure PVA, it's more designed for this kind of application and easy to find in craft stores.

@Alderfairy 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for this video! We converted an old kerosene hurricane lantern into a lamp with a flame bulb, but the flame bulb was a little too obvious and large. This method was the perfect solution! I'm extremely impressed with the results so far, and it's not even dry yet. So simple, and I already had all the supplies in my house.