New (?) Idea for Wetting Decals

[cefinkjr]

After more than 50 years of wetting (OK, soaking) decals in various small bowls, chasing them around the bowl, losing some that soaked too long, and generally being frustrated with the whole affair, I think I’ve hit on a small solution. I had purchased a candle plate a while ago to use as a palette for casein paints. It suddenly occurred to me the other day that this might be a better way to soak decals.

Candle plates, if you’re not familiar with them, are very flat, clear glass plates with a lip around the edge that’s maybe 1/4" above the surface of the plate. That lip is more than enough to hold all the water you really need for decals; in fact, the water usually doesn’t get close to that lip on my plate (thanks to surface tension).

Using so little water really pays off when you remove the decal from the water, the decal doesn’t have as much room to run from your tweezers. And if you soak the decal too long and it comes off the paper, the clear glass plate makes it much easier to find. A white decal just disappears in a white bowl.

Candle plates are available in various sizes from about 3" up to 6" or maybe more. I bought my 5" one at Target for all of $1. Since I model in HO and avoid large decals like the plague, it’s more than large enough for me.

[onequiknova]

I used to let the decals float in a bowl of water until they were ready to be released from the paper, but have since learned all you need to do is dip them in water with tweezers for a couple seconds then set them on a paper towel until the decal releases. The decal will slide off the paper in the same amount of time and there is no chasing the decal around a bowl of water. Give it a try.

John.

[bogp40]

Chuck, After chasing those loose decals, I too have gone to the method described by John also.

That small dish does seem to be a good idea, however, I still find that placing the decal on a dampened towel to work rather well. This is especially true for those tiny #, safety and data ones. If needed additional dips into the water before release may be needed.

[Midnight_Railroader]

After more than 50 years of wetting (OK, soaking) decals in various small bowls, chasing them around the bowl, losing some that soaked too long, and generally being frustrated with the whole affair, I think I’ve hit on a small solution. I had purchased a candle plate a while ago to use as a palette for casein paints. It suddenly occurred to me the other day that this might be a better way to soak decals.

Okay, but you weren’t supposed to float the decals around for more than a minute or so in the first place.

You get them good and wet, then let them sit for a minute out of the water, then they slide off the backing.

[loathar]

After more than 50 years of wetting (OK, soaking) decals in various small bowls, chasing them around the bowl, losing some that soaked too long, and generally being frustrated with the whole affair, I think I’ve hit on a small solution. I had purchased a candle plate a while ago to use as a palette for casein paints. It suddenly occurred to me the other day that this might be a better way to soak decals.

Okay, but you weren’t supposed to float the decals around for more than a minute or so in the first place.

You get them good and wet, then let them sit for a minute out of the water, then they slide off the backing.

Yep, dunk them a couple times and let sit. The paper backing absorbs the water and releases the decal film. I guess a plate would help if you happen to drop the decal and want to go fishing.