How to back paint glass panels ?

The Glass in Back Painted Glass

Is the Glass Paint and Glass affected by Temperature and Humidity?

Yes, the glass paint and glass must be at least 50F (10C) and at least 5F (3C) above the dew point ( The atmospheric temperature (varies according to pressure and humidity) below which water droplets begin to condense and dew can form.

Edging and Installation

What kind of edges are the standard for back painted glass used as back splashes and counter tops?

Back painted glass for backsplash, furniture cabinets can be polished. Back painted glass counter tops are generally machine polished with an arris or bevel of your choice or flat polished.

What silicone glue is “acetoxy cure”?

Acetoxy silicone glues release acetic acid during the curing process, which gives them a slight vinegary odor. Acetoxy silicones can corrode metals, and are therefore harmful to the reflective backing on mirrors. For this reason, acetoxy glues are not to be used to mount mirrors or backpainted glass. We recommend Dow Corning silicones, which have been tested for adhesion and compatibility with Vitrocoat by Dow Corning themselves. See our test results page

Can back painted glass be edge polished after painting?

Absolutely! Vitrocoat Glass Paint is a specialty coating that’s designed to bond directly to glass surfaces. Unlike regular paint, once cured, the paint will not chip or peel, when edge polished after painting.

What silicone glue is “neutral cure”?

Neutral (meaning neutral alkoxy) silicone glues have practically no smell, since during the curing process they release alcohol. For this reason, this type of glue is also called “acid free silicone glue”. Completed panels may be safely installed using Neutral-Cure silicone. We recommend Dow Corning silicones, which have been tested for adhesion and compatibility with Vitrocoat by Dow Corning themselves. See our test results page

What’s the installation method for backpainted glass?

Back-painted glass can be installed exactly like a mirror. The industry’s favored solution include paint-can style black mirror mastic, glazer’s double-sided tape and neutral-cure silicone gluing compounds (GE Silicone II works great). Pay attention that you don’t get acid (acetoxy) cure silicone glues – these are mostly for masonry, tiles and other kiln-cured materials, and are corrosive to metals. Most silicone glues from the GE Silicone II line are neutral-cure glues. Our complete guide on installation. Also see our test results.

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Maintenance and Corrections

How do I clean my painting tools and spray gun after using them with Glass Paint?

To clean the canister of your paint gun, we recommend dabbing a cloth or small brushes in acetone. After cleaning the canister, spray acetone for 30 to 60 seconds through the paint gun, until the stream is clean. If necessary, repeat. We suggest taking the paint gun apart and using acetone to clean all the parts. Do dissolve all the paint, you can also soak the paint gun for a few hours in a container of acetone.

What to do if my backpainted glass contains imperfections?

Painting glass can have flawed results for a number of reasons – improperly cleaned surface, dust, air debris or even small insects can get caught in the paint while you apply it. The best way to deal with these flaws is to wait for the paint to finish drying and curing. Once done, gently sand off the paint at the location of the imperfection (a fine sandpaper is suitable for this, look for 220-320 grit sandpaper). If the sanding causes the glass surface to be slightly occluded, don’t worry. When the imperfection is gone, clean the area once again with paper towels and rubbing alcohol. Now that the surface is ready, it can be repainted with any tool of your choosing – spray gun or roller. (Please note that the color tone may change as the paint dries) – even if the wet paint tone seems lighter, it will blend perfectly once it’s dried and cured.

What is the best way to apply Vitrocoat Glass Paint?

We provide detailed mixing and application notes for all new customers, however if you are spraying manually, we recommend keeping the glass horizontal, applying one light covering coat onto clean glass. Spraying should be done in repeated passes across the panel in one direction (e.g. side to side.) This light coat should be allowed to dry for a few minutes. A second coat is then sprayed in the opposite direction (e.g. up and down.) Do not spray too heavily, as this will extend the drying time, increase cost, and can cause runs in the paint. It is possible to use a paintbrush or a roller if a spray gun is not available, however we recommend spraying or curtain coating for the most professional finish.

How do I apply Vitrocoat™ Glass Paint with a roller?

It is best to use a mohair roller to prevent roller hair/lint shedding. Use a roller to your desired size. Roll 3-4 coats onto the glass waiting at least 20-30 minutes in between each coat. We do not recommend thinning for rolling.

How can Glass Paint be completely removed from a pane of glass?

Note: due to its bonding properties, it’s only possible to remove Vitrocoat™ glass paint from a pane of glass for up to 2 weeks after it’s been applied.

To strip any glass surface of Vitrocoat™ glass paint, put down the piece of glass horizontally with the paint facing up, then cover it with conventional polyurethane paint stripping compound, either by pouring or spraying. Let the paint stripper stand for around 15 minutes. After this time, you should notice as the paint detaches and even jumps off the glass. Wash the loose paint off with water – we recommend a pressure hose – and, if there is still paint remaining, repeat the process. When most of the paint is gone, use a de-greaser and sponge to clean up the surface of the glass. You can use single-edge razor blades to scrape the paint off if necessary. If you want to repaint the glass, you can just clean it again with isopropyl alcohol and re-paint it with Vitrocoat™ glass paint.

How is Glass Paint over-spray removed?

Don’t worry if you get slight overspray of glass paint either on the glaze side or on the edges of your glass. To clean paint overspray, all you need to do is polish it off using #000 steel wool once the paint is dry. If the paint build-up is larger, or if a big area was affected with a light overspray, first use acetone to treat the area and wipe it with paper towels. Thick layers of paint can be cleared off with a single-edge razor blades, and polish it off with #000 wool.

How do I apply Vitrocoat™ Glass Paint with a spray gun?

Spraying is the best application method. It is best to use an HVLP spray gun with a tip size of 1.5-2.0 mm. Spray paint with 40-120 psi. Spray 2-3 coats (depending on how pigmented your choice of paint is) onto glass waiting at least 5 minutes in between each coat. We recommend thinning paint 15% (1 part) with conventional acetone when spraying.

*note: some bright colors require more coats to reach full opacity. Some applicators like to put a final coat of a light gray color to achieve quicker opacity with minimal coats when applying bright colors.

Seeking further information?

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