jdizzy001 Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 So i’ve been painting for 10 years now. Recently I have been noticing a lot of tide marks after i add a wash to my minis. What do you all do to ensure your minis are tide mark free? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SotF Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 Make sure the wash has been well mixed if using premade stuff. A lot of the rest depends upon what you're using though 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManvsMini Posted May 27, 2021 Share Posted May 27, 2021 I've found that tide marks are generally caused by either what's in the wash (i.e. just water/paint vs water/paint/surfactant) or how it's applied. If the problem is in application, then apply thinner coats and avoid pooling (I know, sounds simple). But if the issue is with the actual wash consistency, then it's a bit more complicated if it's a pre-made company wash (like Citadel or Vallejo) vs washes you make yourself. Pre-made washes I personally only have issues with applying them too heavily; the companies are pretty good about getting their formula to work well. The short answer on a homemade wash: always use a bit of surfactant to break the water's surface tension, and a little bit of it goes a long way (and there are many types of surfactants, not just flow improver). A couple years ago I went on a rather long tangent (though I like to think helpful) on the science of tide marks. My rambling starts here, so you can read that if you're interested. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmorse Posted May 27, 2021 Share Posted May 27, 2021 Another factor is the paint you're putting the wash over. The more matte it is the more likely the wash will cling everywhere it touches, which can lead to tide marks and staining. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdizzy001 Posted May 27, 2021 Author Share Posted May 27, 2021 All good stuff, thanks! I’ll start with thinner coats and shaking the container a bit more. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SotF Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 On 5/27/2021 at 12:51 AM, cmorse said: Another factor is the paint you're putting the wash over. The more matte it is the more likely the wash will cling everywhere it touches, which can lead to tide marks and staining. A lot of white/off white colors also tend to have oddities with staining and marks that don't appear on others. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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