What Is The Best Clear Coat For Acrylic Paint In 2023?
If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what’s the best Clear Top Coat for Acrylic Paints, then we recommend the Krylon Artist and Clear Coatings Aerosol as the best.
Are you looking for the best clear top coat for acrylic paint? Can’t decide which one to take from all the products available out there?
Don’t worry anymore. I have put my best effort to do the research for you. In this article, I will talk about what kind of clear coat to use on acrylic paint. I have gathered different types of clear coats for acrylic paint for different purposes. By the end of this discussion, you will be able to find the best clear coat for acrylic depending on what you need.
So, without further delay, let’s get started!
What Kind Of Clear Coat To Use On Acrylic Paint?
In this article, we’re going to review the following Clear Top Coat for Acrylic Paints:
- Krylon Artist and Clear Coatings Aerosol (Best Clear Coat To Put Over Acrylic Paints – Overall)
- Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Gloss Clear Coat (Best Clear Coat For White Acrylic Paint)
- Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Spray Clear Matte (Best Clear Coat For Outdoor Acrylic Paint)
- Dupli-Color Clear Exact-Match Automotive Top Coat (Best Clear Coat For Acrylic Paint On Automotive)
- Aleene’s Spray Gloss Finish (Best Clear Coat For Acrylic Paint On Plastic)
- Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Gloss Clear Coat (Best Clear Coat For Acrylic Paint On Wood)
- Minwax Wipe-On Poly Clear Gloss Coat (Best Clear Coat For Oil Based Acrylic Paint)
- Sargent Art 16-Ounce Acrylic Gloss (Best Clear Coat For Acrylic Art Paint)
- Tamiya America, Inc Acrylic Gloss Clear (Best Clear Coat For Acrylic Model Paint)
Top 9 Best Clear Top Coats For Acrylic Paints [Reviewed]
I’ve included some clear coats in this article for use on your acrylic paint. I chose those based on client feedback and product quality.
Read this article to learn more. You will know what type of clear top coat is best for your object and which is the most popular among consumers.
#1 Krylon Artist And Clear Coatings Aerosol : (Best Overall To Put Over Acrylic Paints)
Krylon Artist And Clear Coatings Aerosol is an affordable clear coat for various surfaces. It comes in aerosol form in an 11-ounce bottle. It works on wood, plastic, paper, glass, ceramic, plaster, etc.
This spay coat leaves a glossy and clear finish. It also protects the surface from harmful UV rays. The spray coat dries to touch within 10 minutes. To handle it dries within 5 hours.
The best thing about this spray coat is its perfect finish. It does not leave a too glossy or too faded look to the paint.
A user recommends a lighter coat for a satin finish and a heavier coat for smooth gloss. But don’t apply too much of it. Another user found the coat useful against the UV rays by doing a two weeks test.
Most of the users agree that this product prevents the paint from fading.
Krylon claims that the coat works on wood. But to our inspection, it seems that it is less suitable for wood.
Overall, this is a good quality product within budget. It works well on most surfaces. It is very easy to use. It does not require a lot of time to dry. This is an all-rounder spray coat for your crafts.
#2 Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Gloss Clear Coat : (Best For White Acrylic Paint)
Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Gloss Clear Coat is a budget-friendly clear coat for acrylic paint. It is suitable for both exterior and interior. It works on many surfaces as well. It is good for wood, plastic, plaster, metal, masonry, and unglazed ceramic.
The formula is oil-based. It comes in a 12-ounce bottle with aerosol form. The spray paint leaves a semi-gloss finish. It dries to touch within 20 minutes. One can of spray coat can cover up to 12 sq. ft.
Rust-Oleum clear coat is a versatile product for your art and crafts. Some users also use it for old ornaments. It will provide a professional look to your paintings.
It dries fast and leaves a good shine. But, some users think that it dries way too fast. You won’t need too much to cover up. Spraying 2 to 3 coats is enough for a light layer.
In a nutshell, it is a good quality clear coat within an affordable range. It is easy to use, serves multi-purposes. It is a good match for touch up.
If you are looking for a clear coat for white acrylic paint, this is perfect. You can get this one considering these facts.
#3 Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Spray Clear Matte : (Best For Outdoor Acrylic Paint)
Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Spray Clear Matte is a spray-based paint for protecting exterior surfaces. It provides a matte finish with long-lasting protection.
The paint has an oil-based formula. It is suitable for both interior and exterior uses. It mainly works best on wood and metal surfaces. It dries to touch within 2 to 4 hours. Single cans of this paint cover up to 15 sq. ft.
This paint is weather and corrosion-resistant. It prevents rust, abrasion, fading, and chipping. So, it is a good clear coat for outdoor acrylic paint. You can use it on wood, concrete, metal, and masonry.
The nozzle tips in general provide easy application. But, for some users, the nozzle is not so comfortable.
#4 Dupli-Color Clear Exact-Match Automotive Top Coat : (Best For Automobile Acrylic Paint)
Dupli-Color Clear Exact-Match Automotive Top Coat is a spray clear coat for acrylic automotive paint. It comes in an 8-ounce spray can with a 360-degree nozzle.
The nozzle has an adjustable EZ touch with a wide spray pattern. It is suitable for vehicles, accessories, motorcycles, etc. You can use it on large touch-ups.
The instructions on the can say it works fine below 70% humidity. To our inspection, it appears that below 60% is the ideal humidity.
The paint is very good in quality considering the price range. It gives a smooth clear finish. Spraying 2 to 3 coats is enough in general. It matches pretty well with the actual paint. As it has the aerosol form it is very easy to use.
Yet, the biggest complaint about the product is the nozzle. The product left at the bottom is not useful. It will not give a smooth texture but may ruin the finish.
Apart from these, it is the perfect coat with a high-quality finish for automotive paint. It is fit for the car’s old paint. You can use it outside of the car.
#5 Aleene’s Spray Gloss Finish : (Best Clear Coat For Acrylic Paint On Plastic)
Aleene’s Spray Gloss Finish is a budget-friendly sealer spray for acrylic paint. It provides a protective clear finish. It leaves a glossy luster to any indoor or outdoor project. It is available in a matte finish also.
The sealer comes in a 200 ml can. It is very easy to apply. The finish is smooth and even.
It dries really fast. You can use it on a variety of surfaces. It works fine on wood, plaster, ceramics, metal, rocks, plastic, etc. You can use it over the most challenging surfaces.
The smooth protective finish is durable and prevents yellowing. Your art and craft project will remain to look new for years. The only complaint about it is the strong odor.
But, it will not cause you much trouble if you finish the work outside. As soon as the sealer dries there will be no odor.
Aleen’s spray paint is surprisingly excellent in quality despite the price. It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor projects. If you are looking for a fast-drying, affordable spray coat; get this one.
#6 Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Gloss Clear Coat : (Best For Acrylic Paint On Wood)
Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Gloss Clear Coat is a good quality clear coat for acrylic paint on wood. It is suitable for several surfaces. It is good for wood, metal, plaster, masonry, unglazed ceramics, etc.
You can apply it over exterior and interior projects. The formula is water-based. It provides a durable glossy finish. It resists chips And protects from UV rays.
There is a great amount of product in one pack. It comes in a 32 fl oz container. It will cover up to 120 sq ft area. You won’t need to use many layers.
In general 2 to 3 coats work just fine. But apply it in thin layers rather than thick. It dries to touch within 30 minutes. The colors and finish of this product are perfect.
Before you start applying this make sure to sand the surface. Use 180/200 grit sandpaper for sanding. After that, wash the surface with a degreaser.
Let the surface dry and then apply the paint. If you follow these steps the result will be excellent.
#7 Minwax Wipe-On Poly Clear Gloss Coat : (Best For Oil Based Acrylic Paint)
Minwax Wipe-on Poly is a high-quality clear coat for acrylic. It contains oil-based polyurethane. It is available in Gloss and Satin finish.
This product gives protection against water, household chemicals, food chains, and wear. It provides a hand-rubbed look to the paint.
There’s not much to complain about this product. It is the perfect oil-based clear coat for acrylic. The only thing you should bear in mind is its ability to dry fast. It will dry within 30 seconds of application.
So before you do the halfway it will get hard. You just have to keep coating. It will need a good amount of layers to coat. Cover the whole area as fast as you can. If there is a blemish, fix it later. Build a thick layer to remove the blemish by sanding.
The instruction in the can says to use a cloth. But using a brush is easier to get a smooth finish. It may not be an easy product to use for beginners. But the quality of it is worth the try.
#8 Sargent Art 16-Ounce Acrylic Gloss : (Best Clear Coat For Art Paint)
Sargent Art 16-Ounce Acrylic Gloss is an AP-certified clear varnish for acrylic paint. You can mix it with acrylic paint or apply it over the paint. It is non-toxic and safe for all. It becomes permanent when it dries. The finishing is smooth and water-poof.
It works as a sealer and medium. This is the best part about this product. It doesn’t make the color fade. Rather, the colors become intense once you apply this over. It doesn’t require a huge time to dry. It dries within 20 to 30 minutes. But you should wait longer if the paint layer or coating is thick.
To thin down the consistency you can add water to this product. Another great fact is that it doesn’t have a noticeable smell.
#9 Tamiya America, Inc Acrylic Gloss Clear : (Best Coat For Model Paint)
Tamiya America, Inc Acrylic Gloss Clear is clear acrylic paint with a gloss finish. It contains water-soluble acrylic resins. It is suitable for both brush and airbrush painting. It works on styrofoam, wood, and the most common model plastics. It flows smoothly without blushing or fading.
The paint is easy to blend and easy to wash up. You can wash it up with water before curing.
You can use this product to add gloss to little models. It won’t crack when it dries. Just be careful enough to do a clean job. It doesn’t make the coating process too hard. It blends very well. It works as a clear coat for model cars.
People also use it for model dolls. It takes a minimal amount to cover up. It does have an odor but is not too strong. The size of this product is small considering the price. Yet, the outcome is very satisfying.
Does All Types Of Acrylic Paint Need A Clear Top Coat?
Acrylic paint is long-lasting in general. But you have to clear coat acrylic paint. There are different types of acrylic paints. You can skip using clear coats for waterproof acrylic paints.
Acrylic automotive paint needs a clear coating. Acrylic enamel spray or acrylic lacquer aerosol also needs a clear coat.
Will Clear Coat Protect Acrylic Paint?
The main purpose of applying a clear coat is to protect the paint. A clear coat on top of acrylic paint makes it last longer. It protects the paint from dust, dirt, water, and UV rays.
Learn More: What Type Of Clear Top Coat You Can Apply Over Acrylic Paint?
Do You Need To Spray A Clear Coat For Acrylic Paint On Wood?
Acrylic paint is suitable for wood like for many other surfaces. Yet, the paint will not stick to wood forever.
One of the keys to overcoming this challenge is to prepare the wood first. And then using a top coat over the acrylic paint. You can use a clear coat spray to seal the paint. You need to seal the paint on wood if you want to protect it.
Will Acrylic Paint Affect Clear Coat On Plastic?
Plastic is a challenging surface for painting. Even acrylic paint will not work perfectly on plastic. Yet, with plenty of prep work, it will stick to plastic.
The hardest part is to prevent acrylic paint from coming off plastic. So, what can you do? You can use a clear coat on top of acrylic paint. This will protect the paint from cracking and fading.
Why Is My Acrylic Paint Bubbling After a Clear Coat?
Bubbling occurs when there is moisture in between the layers. Clear coats are thick in general. If the paint is thicker the lower layer dries slower than the upper.
This is when the surface traps moisture. But the clear coat does not harm the paint. If the bubbles show up soon after applying clear coats they will go on their own. If they don’t you need to fix the paint.
Over To You
A good quality clear coat intensifies the beauty of acrylic paint. Moreover, it makes the paint durable. Krylon Artist and Clear Coatings Aerosol is the best clear coat for acrylic paint.
Did this article seem helpful to you? Which one of the clear coats would you buy? Comment down and share your opinion.
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