MSC vs Testors vs ???

Congrats on you 100 post!

just because I feel like writing.

This seeems to be a never ending debate based on "availability", and "who will ship to me". I think if it was widely available to every earthling everyone would agree which is best (MSC). Some people just don't have a choice , so I think Testors is a reasonable substitution in this case, more than any other. It won't make your doll any less special if you use it. Unfortunately there are GREAT BIG DIFFERENCES.
For those that think one can of MSC is a bit expensive, I'll tell you, ya get what you pay for!

This is based on my experience:

MSC- A thick satin finish that will protect your faceup through lots of play and posing,not to mention a soap and water cleanable surface. It also fills sanding marks almost to the point they are invisible. Then there's the UV cut, what a bonus for your little friend (or investment)! It's more like a clear "primer" of sorts.The work surface it leaves to paint on is fantastic. AMEN!

Testors-It works moderately. Better for things you don't hug like tanks,robots, and planes, items which are rarely handled, unless you just use it on the dolls face, or directly on painted ,or pasteled areas. I would never paint a whole doll with it.
If it's applied to thick, it tends to remain "tacky" ,especially in humid weather. It absorbs dirt and dust too. So much for a nice thick coat.Your doll is being eaten by a blob.

So ,my advice is, if you intend to get alot of dolls, stock up when you can! I never let my supply go under 2 cans!

 

I definitely agree with Paulkaiju.

I couldn't get Mr. Superclear for the first doll I painted, because everyone in the internet world was out, so I opted for Dullcoat from my local craft store. It looked OK, the texture was OK...I did a face-up and a body blush. The body blush did not wear well...the places that got wear (joints, spots where clothing rub, like waistband) got gummy after a while (a not very long while, like 3-4 weeks). So the body ended up with little crusts of gummy dirt. Also, although it did not get gummy, the coating on the tip of the nose and chin rubbed off, probably from being in the bag. Only visible from up close, but still...

And in my opinion, the texture of Mr. Superclear is much nicer!

So if you tend to play with your dolls a lot, carry them in their soft cases and change their clothing (like I do), I wouldn't recommend Dullcoat, especially not for a body blush...it is better than nothing but if you have the choice, spring for the Mr Superclear.

 

I think it really depends on how you use it. I use Testors exclusively and have had no problems with it. I love it to death and you couldn't pay me to switch to MSC. It goes on wonderfully and leaves a great matte finish. Once it's on I can't even tell the difference at all aside from a very, very slight difference in texture.

Of course these are just my personal experiences; I've heard a lot of people complain about Testors and a lot of complaints about MSC as well. It seems to really be a trial and error thing and rely on a lot of variables.

 

I think MSC is a bit more idiot proof. Its nozzle sprays it on more finely, so it's easier to just go at it and get it right. Testors tends to go on splotchy, especially if you have no experience working with spraycans/airbrushes. I've also seen it make pastel blushing run. ;_;

 

Once I get my BJD I'll have to invest in some MSC as well!

BTW Kurenai, I *love* your sig! I'm one of three girls and both my sisters have children and *still* the rest of the clan want to know when I'm going to breed.

 

Just don't sniff the fumes! It contains a slight bit of Methyl Ethyl Keytone, and might reverse the effects of the idiot proof!

That's why it's illegal in the states, an areosol with MEK? That's why!

The owner of my local hobby store (the one where my Dad hangs out, and they don't know I get my supplies for dolls!)told me has a customer that's been taking Mr. Hobby products to the lab at his work for analysis. Very interesting findings. I will post these eventually. :wink: I know there's some nasty stuf in there!

 

That was a bit dramatic of me to say.

Well ,at least illegal to sell in California.EPA regulations I guess.

 

I've used Dullcote for Nai's faceups so far. Can't say I've really had a problem with it.

How are people USING it, anyway? I spray in quick, thin coats making sure to keep the can moving and to start and end when it's not over the head, and just build up thin coats until I seem to have enough. Can't even tell it's there except for the texture difference between it and virgin resin... *shrug*

Plus, when I run out, I can run down to A.C. Moore and pick up another little can of it for $3. No waiting on finishing a faceup for three months waiting for someone to have it in stock and then waiting for the the shipping, which will be nearly as much, if not more, than the MSC itself.

...And that's assuming the person selling it is in the US. ~_~;;;

 

AMEN!!

I use it in exactly the same way, and the only time it's ever been a problem is when I sprayed too close to the head (which the directions warn you about anyway.) My dolls had held up through a tooon of playing and touching.

 

Ian-KunX wrote:

I thought that was how I used it...maybe I didn't wash the body good enough before I sprayed it...or maybe I should have sanded it again (it was a DoD which was pre-sanded, so I didn't bother, although if I do another body blush, I definitely will, because scratches became visible when I blushed). I washed all the parts in dishsoap and water.

I do change the clothes a lot because I sew for the dolls and do a lot of fittings.

Paulkaiju wrote:

California has (well had) strict environmental laws, only so many tons of poisonous crap may be injected into the atmosphere per day. When I worked in the evil amusement park industry, we had to note down every ounce of resin catalyst and paint that was used...the company could get fined for going over their quota. We jobbed out a lot of our work to a place in Arizona, who apparently weren't so squeemish about that stuff.

This was 15 years ago, so things may be different now.

 

I prefer Testors as well. It's available in Finland and it's muuuch cheaper. And I can compare: Itou's body is coated with MSC and Jaakko is coated with Testors. Ok, Itou's coat is a bit older than Jaakko's but his body, specially hands and feet have alot of sings of the MSC basicly rubbing off :/ Of course, it might be the difference in the resin but I really think Testors has worked better for me. So what if it isn't UV proof, the doll *will* age in time anyway.

When I spray the parts, I've usually hung them from something with yarns ( though this is not a good idea because they might shed a little dust... must get some other type of yarn ) and then I... aheheh... make them spin XD;; and then spray up and down a little by little. If I spray too much, it *will* drip and leave glumps. So, I do it little by little. Sure, it takes a while ( and I do recomment doing it outside rather than your bathroom *cough* ) but I think the results are worth it.

 

I prefer MSC over testors but I found testors to work just as well but with a bit longer drying time. If i could get MSC i'd use that, but Testors is an adequate substitute for me!

 

I'm going to say thanks too! Although I didn't ask I've been wondering


I'll have my dad do the spraying with Testors because....he can do great things with spray paint, so he has practice : D And I have no money to ship MSC. *happy now*


They don't wash off in water do they? Because my mother smokes and I was planning to coat the body with Testors/MSC then wiping of any tar from cigerette smoke that got on his body during the day off (well, somewhat I guess) with a wet rag. Also would it be safe to take a wet rag to a dolls faceup if it was covered with a few coats?

Also with that discription would I be safer off buying MSC or will testors still be fine?

Uh..sorry for invading your thread KurenaiDie, but I didn't want to start another thread on MSCvs.Testors questions ;o;

 

So, I googled Methyl Ethyl Keytone to see what I would get, and pulled up a safety facts sheet for it:

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Formula CH3COCH2CH3
Class of Compounds Ketone
Synonyms 2-Butanone, Ethyl methyl ketone, MEK, Methyl acetone
Appearance Colorless liquid with mint- or acetone-like odor
CAS Number 78-93-3
NIOSH TLV 200 ppm
OSHA PEL 200 ppm
NFPA Rating 1-health, 3-fire, 0-reactivity

Methyl ethyl ketone is a solvent commomly used during the spraying and spreading of vinyl and acrylic coatings, when mixing dye solutions and in various laboratory procedures. Other common uses include preparation of adhesives for artificial leather and for solvent spreading applications.

Health Effects

Exposure routes for methyl ethyl ketone include inhalation, ingestion and dermal (skin) or eye contact. Common symptoms include irritation of the eyes, skin and nose, headaches, dizziness and vomiting.

Storage and Handling

Methyl ethyl ketone is incompatible with strong oxidizers, amines, ammonia, caustics, isocyanates and pyridines. Highly flammable, methyl ethyl ketone should be stored in safety cans and cabinets that meet OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106 and NFPA Code 30 standards. Safety cans should have flame arrestors to prevent a flashback in the event of a spark. Containers should be bonded and grounded while dispensing.

Personal Protective Equipment

Splash goggles and chemical protective gloves made of butyl rubber or laminated film should be worn when working for extended periods.

NIOSH-approved respiratory protection includes the following . . .

Up to 3000 ppm: Any full-face cartridge respirator with organic vapors cartridges; or any self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece; or any full facepiece supplied-air respirator.

Emergency or planned entry into unknown concentrations or IDLH conditions:

Any SCBA with full facepiece operated in pressure-demand or positive pressure mode; or any full-face supplied-air respirator operated in pressure-demand or positive pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus.




So technically then to be safe while using MSC I should be wearing a respirator... yeep. This is why if I ever offer comissions I'm never doing full-body work. I don't think I'd wanna be exposed to that much MSC. Though I was thinking about buying a respirator for some other projects anyhow. And it's the same kind of filter! So, yeay.

 

Oh, but why on earth would I want to do that ^.~ (Actually to tell the truth I'm pretty sure I talked to you on AIM awile back for trades xD)(also, looking at your LJ you've been into jrock -exactly- 2 weeks longer than I)

BTW, I think you and I have the exact same taste in dolls. The next doll I'm getting is a Kid Delf Ani Boy (hopefully elf, magic things rock!)

uh...*pushes back on subject : D*

Oh that will be akward asking my dad for Christmas "Hey dad, for Christmas, can you get me a doll body and air respirator, kthnx."

 

I can't say that I actually *prefer* Testors, because I've never used MSC, but I'm not unhappy w/ Testors. Perhaps the fact that I haven't gone through the trouble/expense of getting MSC means that I really *do* prefer Testors. ;D

That being said, I've only used Testors on my friend/roomate's dolls... and she never leaves faceups on them long enough to really say how well Testors wears over the long term.

 

I use testors on my doll, and i haven't had any problems with it. She has her face done with it and she also has light blushing/coating on her hands and boobs. The secret to getting a good coat with testors is to make sure you're spraying it from far enough away. if you spray too close it will get gummy and shiny, but if you spray light coats from far away it works wonderfully.

~erin