Crackle

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Crackle Medium

The faux crackle finish is one of the most classic faux painting finishes around, and for good reason—it’s beautiful, gives any project character and depth, and can be easy to create when you have the right products and right techniques. Crackle is also versatile, and can be used on walls, cabinets, furniture, art projects, and many other surfaces that you might want to spruce up or infuse with new life.

Creating the crackle effect is a process, and although there are a few products and tools required to achieve this finish, Faux Masters Studio has everything you need to get started and complete your project today.

What Is A Faux Crackle Finish?

Crackle is a type of faux paint finish that gives walls and decorative projects a weathered, antique, and distressed look. To get an idea of what it looks like, think of the delicate cracks you often see in porcelain. Typically, the effect is produced by painting a surface with a basecoat, applying a crackle medium, and then finishing the project with a topcoat that contrasts with the basecoat. The crackle medium then forces the topcoat to split and separate somewhat, exposing cracks of the basecoat underneath and producing a rustic and vintage look.

Faux Effects Crackle Paint Options

As with any faux finish, creating a faux crackle is a multi-step process, so there are a few products involved in this type of project. There are also different products required for various levels of crackling, and the two main lines are AquaCrackle and Porcelain crackle.

Whereas AquaCrackle creates a larger and more noticeable crackling, the Porcelain Crackle system produces a more delicate one. The full range of Faux Masters Studio crackle products includes:

  • AquaSize, which is applied over the basecoat and before the AquaCrackle
  • AquaCrackle, AquaCrackle Fine Line, or AquaCrackle Metallic, each of which is a crackle medium
  • CrackleMate, which transforms regular paint into a crackle medium
  • Porcelain Crackle Size, which is similar to AquaSize but is designed to produce a finer crackle
  • Crackle Eggshell, which is similar to AquaCrackle but results in a more delicate crackle and should be used with Crackle Size Porcelain
  • Olde World Crackle Pull-Off, which can help you achieve a unique textured crackle finish

Applying Crackle Products

Although the process and materials will vary slightly depending on the crackle effect you want, creating the crackle effect typically follows the same procedure every time. For instance, to achieve a crackle effect on a wall, start by sanding and cleaning the surface to prepare it for painting. After that, apply a coat of SetCoat Clear or your favorite color of SetCoat to the surface.

Once the first coat has dried after one to two hours, apply a second coat and leave it to dry for another one to two hours to properly seal your work surface. The next step is to apply AquaSize or Porcelain Crackle Size to the areas you want to crackle, and then when the surface becomes tacky after about 45 minutes, apply a coat of AquaCrackle or Crackle Eggshell to the area. You’ll notice the crackling start to occur within 30 minutes, and when everything is completely dry, you can apply a final coat of ColorSeal to protect the finish.

Crackling is a fun project to take on, and when you have the right products and tools, you’ll be thrilled with the results every time. Although the crackle effect creates a vintage and aged look, it can also give fresh life to an older piece of furniture, transform an art piece, or completely change the ambiance of a room. Faux Masters Studio has everything you need for all your crackle painting, so all you have to do is bring the creativity for your next project.