APC Glaze: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

Once you see what APC Glaze can do to a finished piece of furniture, it will inspire you to want to figure out how to use Glaze on your own project.

But how do you use the Glaze? Will I use too much of it and ruin my furniture project? What are some of the mistakes I should beware of before using APC Glaze?

These are ALL questions that we will answer in this article.

Dresser painted in Peacock with Black Glaze

Fresh Vintage – Peacock & Black Glaze

But first, you might be wondering what Glaze actually is?

WHAT IS APC GLAZE?

APC Glaze is a highly versatile and highly concentrated finish. You can think of it as an ‘all natural’ stain for furniture.

Except – WITHOUT the smell, because, well, it’s all natural! How is that even possible?!

Glaze Testimontial

WHAT CAN APC GLAZE BE USED FOR?

Glaze is typically used to darken your piece of furniture, add a unique finish to it, like the antique, vintage look. And you can also highlight the details of your piece to accent them.

APC Glaze on Wood

HOW DOES THE APC GLAZE APPLICATION PROCESS WORK?

Before we get into the step by step process, let’s cover the overall concept of Glaze application.

When applied, APC Glaze can soak into wood and dry very quickly. The longer it sits, the faster it soaks in.

The process starts by applying a thin layer of Glaze to the piece, and then removing the excess Glaze. This process will leave behind a layer of Glaze, showing off the detail, groves, and true character of the furniture.

Want it to be darker? Simply repeat the process, until you’re happy with the final result.

Now that you understand the key idea behind the application process, let’s go a little further and discuss all of the steps in detail.

HOW TO APPLY APC GLAZE – STEP BY STEP

APC Glaze Testimonial

Step 1: Before you begin Glazing

Glaze is a finishing product which means it will be applied after you’ve already painted and sealed your piece.

If you want to apply the APC Glaze directly onto unpainted wood, then you can skip this step and just use Glaze as if you were painting your piece.

APC Glaze - Unpainted

However, if you’re using Glaze to accent your piece, then you’ll want to make sure it’s painted and sealed first. Remember, the Glaze soaks in fast. When applying the Glaze directly on top of clay paint, the piece could become blotchy and uneven.

For this reason, we always recommend sealing your project first using a clear Top Coat sealer. This will ease your application process by allowing the Glaze to ‘glide’ around the piece while you apply it; Plus, it will give you more ‘open’ time; meaning, it won’t soak into your furniture as fast.

Step 2: Pour Glaze into a separate dish or container

The best practice with Glaze is to pour a little bit of the product into a dish or container.

APC Glaze How To

If you were to pour the Glaze directly onto the piece of furniture, it may cause you to apply too much, too quickly.

Pouring a little bit at a time into a separate container will help you prevent any waste and you’ll get more out of your bottle of Glaze!

*TIP: Glaze is highly concentrated; so depending on how dark you’d like your piece to be, you can dilute the Glaze with water. (1 part water : 1 part Glaze).

Step 3: Apply the Glaze using a synthetic brush or foam brush

When you apply your Glaze, we recommend using a brush. Apply a thin, light layer of Glaze. (a little bit goes a long way!)

APC Glaze How To

If you put too much Glaze on the piece, it will be difficult to reverse the effect. You can always put more on when you apply your second coat.

We don’t recommend a rag for the application process because it will absorb into the cloth and waste the Glaze.

Step 4: Remove the excess Glaze

After applying your first coat of Glaze, you’ll want to remove the excess Glaze using a damp rag or cloth.

APC Glaze How To

Make sure to do this quickly before it soaks in too much. Remove as much or as little as you’d like, leaving it in the groves and detailed parts of the furniture.

Simply repeat the process until you are happy with how the piece looks.

APC Glaze How To

Step 5: Seal with Top Coat

Applying a sealer is an optional final step. It really depends on how heavily the furniture will be used.

For example, if it’s a Dining Room table, then we highly recommend the Top Coat sealer as you’ll be wiping the table with a wet cloth on a regular basis.

APC Glaze on Kitchen Table

Even if you’re just painting a crate or smaller home decor item, we’ve found that dust can stick to the Glaze finish easier than if it was sealed. This can make it difficult to clean. If Top Coat sealer is used after Glaze is applied, it protects your furniture from the elements, makes it easier to keep clean, and gives your piece a nice finish.

APC GLAZE COLORS, SIZES & COVERAGE

APC Glaze Colors

COLORS:

APC Glaze is available in 4 different colors: Black, Brown, Grey and *Clear.

You can use each color individually, or mix two colors together!

*Clear Glaze can be mixed with any color of paint. (1 Part Paint : 3 Parts Glaze)

APC Glaze Testimonial

SIZES:

APC Glaze comes in two sizes including a small 8oz bottle or large 16oz bottle.

APC Glaze Sizes

COVERAGE:

APC Glaze can cover up to 150 Square Feet (75 square feet with the small bottle), depending on the type of surface and technique used.

4 TIPS TO AVOID COMMON GLAZE MISTAKES

Many people never try to use Glaze simply because they’re afraid it will ruin their piece beyond the point of recovery.

But there’s no need to worry, because once you get the hang of it you’ll absolutely LOVE creating with Glaze!

APC Glaze

Ginny Harris – Tinted Vintage Iowa

Here are a few of the common mistakes you can avoid to make sure your project turns out great.

#1: Practice!

Before you start using Glaze for the first time, it’s a good idea to practice on a smaller project before jumping in on your prized furniture possession.

APC Glaze How To

For example, before using Glaze on Kitchen Cabinets or Dining Room Table, try it out on a small wood crate or Home Decor piece.

This will give you time to play with it, gain confidence, and get comfortable with the consistency and application process.

#2: Seal your furniture with Top Coat first

If you apply Glaze directly over the painted piece before sealing it, it’s going to soak in very quickly, creating a blotchy look. For a more consistent look, we recommend sealing your painted piece first.

This will give your Glaze more open time, allowing you to easily move it around the piece.

#3: Remove the excess before it dries!

After applying a coat of Glaze, remove the excess before it dries. Glaze dries extremely fast and the longer it sits on your piece, the darker it will be.

We recommend applying a coat, removing the excess, and then you can decide if you’d like to add another coat to darken it.

Remember; if your piece looks too dark with Glaze, it’s tough to reverse the look. But if it’s too light, you can always add another layer!

#4: Relax and have fun!

Using Glaze is about discovering your creativity! Once you get the hang of it, you’ll love what you can do with Glaze. You’ll enjoy the experience of using Glaze, especially inside without the smell!

APC Glaze

Karon Daley – Sweet Pickins Decor. Painted with Born on the 4th of July and finished with Black Glaze.

Comments

  1. Omg I didnt know that glazes can product such beautiful results! Thanks for sharing!

  2. Omg I didnt know glazes can produce such beautiful results! Thanks for sharing!

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