Supplies How 'safe' is liquitex matte medium without protection?

Yes, you can use Liquitex matte medium using a sponge without using respiratory protection. The medium is meant to be applied with a brush, so using a different tool to spread it on, won't make it toxic. On the other hand, using a product as it wasn't intended can make it potentially harmful. In this case, using the medium through an airbrush, is not it's intended use and you will need respiratory protection and a well ventilated area to use it in. Anything you use in an airbrush can be inhaled and cause damage to your lungs and any other living creature around, so please use safety precautions before using an airbrush and paint or other materials that are, or aren't intended to be used with it. Hope that helps. (:

 

I haven't tried airbrushing it on (I don't have an airbrush), but I used to brush it on for playline doll faceups and I use the gloss version for details on BJD faceups without any sort of protection. I've never heard of the brush on version having any toxicity issues, it doesn't really have fumes, either, from my experience. You could do it in a well-ventilated area and/or pop a window open just to be safe, if that makes you feel better using it!

It also dries pretty quick, which is nice. I haven't tried it with pastels yet but from what I know you might want to be careful with those, lest the varnish smear the pastels. But that's smearing, not toxicity.

I will also warn that at least on my playline dolls, the varnish yellowed fast. Like, matter of months. It's just the varnish, that was vinyl dolls and not resin, and I was diluting it with water (I don't even remember why...), but it may happen.

Also, this isn't about Liquitex, but if you do ever decide to go for MSC, Munitorium, or a similar spray sealant, I got a mask from 3M that's been easy to use and maintain. I'm still careful with spraying and do it outside and leave the doll bits in a box to protect them from the sun while they dry for 20min, but it's served me well.

 

The part that damages your lungs is the spray, because that’s how tiny particles of it get into your lungs. If you’re not using it that way you don’t have to worry.

(That said, if you do use it for an airbrush sealant it’s super temperamental. Personally I’m happier with a respirator and ZM spray because I’m not constantly redoing my work.)

 

It doesn't matter what you put into an airbrush - you still always always always need to wear a proper mask, have good ventilation and keep pets/other humans away from it. The droplets still do damage when inhaled or get into your eyes, even if they are not marked as "toxic" per se - same goes for all paints, varnishes, etc.

Brushing or dabbing Liquitex on doesn't create this fine mist so you're mostly fine applying it that way without a mask on. It doesn't create strong fumes like MSC either, so you can leave it to dry indoors but of course be cautious of pets and other people around that might still be sensitive to it. Should you sand the sealant layer for whatever reason, proper PPE should still be worn. That doesn't mean that every brush on varnish is safe for using maskless, of course, some of them still emit pretty bad fumes so always triple check what and how you are supposed to use it. I'd also suggest wearing protective gloves when working with varnishes, it depends a little on how sensitive your skin is but it definitely does some damage on bare hands.


Tl;dr wear mask and ventilate when spraying or sanding any substance! Liquitex Matte Varnish and Medium are fine to brush and dab on without a mask but that doesn't mean all other brush on sealants are.

 

Great advice above!

I would also add that other materials involved in painting faceups can also require protection. For example, the use of pastels - I would highly recommend wearing a "dust" or paper mask at least when working with pastels in order to protect your lungs from the fine powder.

It is always better to be safe than sorry!

 

Bunch of good info here about how to protect yourself. I found the sponge application the best cause ive got pets i didnt want any chance of air particles hurting. Its also nice cause i can do spot sealing (like only seal the area i was working on to avoid fogging up colors by too many sealed layers)

Side note about using the medium, its really awesome cause it holds pigment well, but ive found using the matte varnish on the final layer keeps dust and other things from joining the face up. (Getting dust off yhe medium sucks.)

 

I'm thinking of swapping to the Liquitex sealant and I'm curious to know more about why it's temperamental, if you wouldn't mind sharing?

 

It doesn’t dry properly after it’s been sprayed, so layers just wipe off. Even successful faceups I’ve done with it have taken damage very easily. (I just had to repair the chin blushing on the girl in my icon, in fact.) I know some people swear by it, but it doesn’t work as well for me as aerosols like ZM Spray or MSC.

 

Interesting, thank you. I don't have an outdoor area or well ventilated space to spray any more so looking at alternatives to the usual sprays. Will be sure to test thoroughly first!!

 

@Datsuki - if you want to try the brush on method, Liquitex behaves quite well and predictably like that - I've dropped the faceupped heads and face plates that use it as a sealant a lot and I've never had a chip or a scratch so far. As long as there is no undried paint or sealant underneath, it dries well when used as intended. Dabbing it on with a makeup sponge has worked well for me, I'd definitely encourage at least trying it out like that.

It's not made for airbrushing specifically and hence sprays unpredictably... I guess the varnish is perhaps a little thick for that, too and creates too-thick layers? Airbrushing still requires a well-ventilated space, though, so be careful if you go that route.

 

Thanks for the info! I already bought some so definitely will try I got thinner also for use with it in an airbrush, but I don't have a compressor yet anyway so sponge-on it is