Black Magic Base Coat! How to protect and and harden your terrain (Black Magic Craft Episode 034) 

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Bookmarks for me 8:05. Empty tub. 9:25. Add black paint roughly 8:1 ratio. Stir until black add paint if nessary.

I'm new to your channel but DUDE! I'm so damb exited. I've been binge watching these videos. My local Michael's has Mod Podge! Bought some and painting my first modular dungeon tiles (40 pieces). Next week I'm buying the Proxxon hot wire table. I play D&D 5e with my boy and I've been making wargame terrains for years. I'm going OFF on this new adventure in hobbling! Thanks so much for all your wonderful and insightful work!

I can't screw this up??? CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! Good overview. Thanks for all the info.

I've actually been mixing Modge Podge and laytex/ acrylic paint for years. I do use it as a sealer for most everything I make.

I'm loving these basics videos, please keep them coming :)

This is fantastic. I can't wait to try this out. I have been sitting on a project for over a year because I just didn't know how to get the floor to look the way I wanted with a reasonably priced material that wouldn't just dent on the first touch. I saw Rybonator use this and he credited you. I need to try it in white for the project in question, but thank you thank you. I obviously need to spend more time in the terrain part of youtube. lol

I'm so happy I am finally getting the education behind the different types of glue and why some work better for some things and others for others.

Thanks so much for this! I'm new to the hobby and so excited to learn everything!

Black Magic Base Coat™, awesome!

I've been using your base coat mix for a little while, and I am loving the results. I have been using the inexpensive litres of acrylic paint that I buy with a coupon for about $5usd, and it has vastly improved my projects. Thanks Jeremy!

I stumbled on your channel today and although you build far different terrains that I am working on, your tip on Mod Podge is AWESOME! I stood at the Mod Podge section at my local craft store for what seems like an hour trying to figure it out. You explained it in very simple terms therefore I have decided that I'll be covering my 56 square foot styrofoam Christmas Village display with a mixture of Mod Podge and white paint to seal my display. I'll then add a pale blue with a bit of glitter to represent ice in a second step. Wish me well LOL!! Thank goodness I don't have to use plaster of paris or anything else that is super messy. Thank you for doing this video!

Hey, just wanted to say thanks for all the great info on crafting. I've been making terrain with my kids and love it. We play 40k and D&D now, and Thanks to you were have some really excellent stuff. Especially the rock monster, And now I'll definitely be utilizing this new teaching. Thanks For making our Mini Gaming so much better!!!

In addition to Tacky Glue, it dries flexible. I know in this scenario you probably dont want flexible glue. I used it in bookmaking to glue my pages to the spine. Just a tid-bit of knowledge.

It's the glue that holds everything together and also black. Like the binding stones of life itself. Praise be the Black Mod Podge also known as BMP. Praise it!

Looking forward to mixing up my own version and using it on my next foam project.

Love your videos and instruction. I experimented make Mod Podge and inks base coats; give great and economical results. Made red and blue base coats as well.

But how is the taste of MOD PODGE compared to Elmer's?

That was a great explanation on the differences between the diff mediums. Thanks 😊

You should just make a homemade batch of MOD PODGE, mix in some black paint, and sell it as Black Magic Craft Magic Base Coat. You'll make millions! Seriously, though, I just started doing this on my projects. I seriously almost messaged you a couple weeks ago about ratios then just thought, "Screw it!" and dumped some black paint into my MOD PODGE pot.

Your explanation of mod podge does more for me than any of their advertising or official videos explaining what mod podge is The idea that people mistake it for expensive glue all is probably on them for being extremely nonspecific

Thanks. I was just wondering how to make this mix. I’m about to give it a try!

Just so I'm clear, I do this after all sculpting is complete?

Excellent video, man! Thanks for sharing! I a have a question: Can I create my basecoat mixing Mod Podge and Acrylic Paint instead of Carft Paint?

Such helpful videos man! Thank you so much for making these! One question: Terrain Tutor says that using PVA will cause shrinkage in pieces (as it dries, the glue constricts causing warping in especially thinner pieces). Do you find MOD PODGE to do this at all or is it pretty well free of constricting as the moisture evaporates and the MOD PODGE solidifies? Thanks so much for all your great tutorials!

Something else that ModPodge is great for is transferring images from ink jet prints to flat surfaces which lets you do things like grafitti in more modern settings. Print it on normal, white printer paper but with a mirror of the image, and seal the surface of your terrain. Then put a slightly thicker layer of clear mod podge (If the image has white in it, then use the white mod podge) on the surface you want the image on, press the paper, image side down up against the mod podge and work it flat and smooth against it. Let it dry completely. Then use a sponge to remove the paper and the image remains on the mod podge. Then either seal it or weather and then seal it... I believe that Dr. Faust's Painting Clinic has a tutorial as well...

Thank you for this helpful video.

Hey brand new to terrain building, big fan of your videos. I'll be using xps foam. I watched another video of yours, where you built desert themed walls. I'll be building desert themed . I sort of remember you using white base coat. Are there times where a white base coat is favorable to a black base coat? Just about every video I've watched for any build uses a black base coat, with no explanation as to why, but my experience with painting in general is using white primer.

Have you ever experimented with some masonry sealer, like the wet look sealer from behr?

What do you use to seal cardboard such as a cereal box for shingles and so fourth?

@Black Magic Craft.... As a newb, I still don't understand what a Base Coat is, or what it's used for. Now I know how to make it... but when do you apply it and why? Is it like a "primer" so that you paint over it? Or is it for putting on after you've painted it? Sounds like the latter to protect it but just want to confirm before using this method.

Very informative thanks. I am trying to make a rubber foam piece look like coal, so this looks ideal. Does the paint have to be acrylic or will a water based blackboard paint work?

I prefer using a dark grey (such as "Pavement" by Apple Barrel) for my base coat on dungeon tiles. Have you ever mixed other colors with Mod Podge? It appears that the Mod Podge doesn't dilute the paint color at all.

I will have to look for a coupon at the craft store and try this out.

If you could only find the XPS Foam you wanted to use in Black, rather than in Blue or Pink, how would you alter your Magic Base Coat? (I know one of the reasons you add black paint in is so that you can easily tell when you have coverage.

What If my project includes a panel which is a little flexible, will the black Mod Podge crack or will it bend?

What do i do, when spray on modge podge makes my constructions to where paint does not stick to them?

I'm like 10 hours in a dungeon tile build. Doing 20 3by3 tiles. I painted a layer of black on without any mod podge in it. Should I just move onto the grey brush or would you put a mod podge/black layer on top of the black layer?

Can i mix Mod Podge with Black AK Primer that i dont need anymore?

Hey, everyone! I know this video is "old", but I just started crafting my stuff using BMC's awesome videos, and I just had a "weird" experience with the BMBC. As I was mixing my black paint (Americana black craft paint) with the matte Mod Podge, the stuff started bubbling (kinda slowly, but surely) and it kept bubbling to a point where it spilled over off the small container I was using to test this mix. Is this reaction normal? I haven't seen any comments anywhere about it, nor has Jeremy mentioned this in any video. Just wondering if there's anything wrong with my materials or if this is expected. And to Black Magic Craft/Jeremy: THANK YOU SO MUCH for this incredible content. You gained a new patreon supporter.

Im sorry to comment on a 4 year old video, but I'm running into an issue as a (very) beginner crafter. After I coated the model in this mixture of black paint and mod podge, I can't get any solid color for the next layer. (I am using opaque paints) the black just always comes through as if there's not even a layer over it

Do you think that using black ink instead of black paint is a good idea?

Awesome. Any idea how Mod Podge would mix with exterior latex paint? I.e Behr from HD. In black of course.

What is the best paint for painting miniatures

So, question- I have black poster paint. Can I use that or does it specifically have to say acrylic?

Is this good for priming/base coating other scratch built terrain materil (i.e. card or sprues or aluminum cans)or is simply for use on foam?

An old school warhammer terrain guy I know swears up and down that wood glue with black pigment is the best sealer for foam, but the one time I used it it completely undermined all my detail work. Btw did you make that paint caddy or did you buy it somewhere? It looks great

That's a cool tip, thanks ! I have a question about this technique : I'm currently working on a gaming table for frostgrave. I builded it with polystyrene (the white one with little balls inside) and I want to protect the surface and hide the balls from the texture wile keeping the symbols and drawing that were carved in the polystyrene by the manufacturer ... Does this technique would be adapted? Would you advise me to use another one? Thanks

So, uh, anyone ever have your black acrylic paint and mod podge react and foam up?? Mine exploded. Sargent Art brand black acrylic paint 1 oz, to 7 oz Mod Podge. I shook it. It foamed up and busted the lid off. Now I have a MESS. 🤤🤤

Could acrylic ink be used instead of paint?

Hi, can I use mod podge to varnish a painted piece of polyestyrene or foamular?

Anyone know if this could work for 3d printed minis?

Once this mod podge dries, are you able to use spray paint over the piece? Normally spray paint melts the foam; didn’t know if the mod podge put enough of a protective layer over the foam where you could use traditional spray paint.

So I have the reaper bones Cthulhu. People who have put it together has said that the Wings droop. If I use a coat or 2 if MP on the wings is it possible that it would harden them a bit?

I'm curious if Modge Podge is also an ingredient in your grass/sand mixture from the Ruins video. Thanks!

clear water base varnish + pva glue + water = mod podge

Does this and final spray allow this to be outside? does it weatherproof it at all?

Could tacky glue work?

If you seal with minwax, why do the mod podge step? Legitimately curious.

Can clear Mod Podge also be used as a sealant over painted terrain?

Question would this apply also to like action figure base coats?

Hey! Has your base coat recipe changed since '17?

Do you really spend $6 for a 8 oz bottle? I just got a 2 oz bottle of Mod Podge from Dollar Tree.

Talking hand. Hehehe.

Do you have an affiliate link to Amazon.ca?

Have you tried using acrylic inks instead of cheap black paint? Does it work better or no difference?

I wonder what the reason was for the one dislike.

Thank you!!! You are the first person to actually say what the real difference between Mod Podge and white glue is. I'm forwarding this to several people I know who work in JoAnn's and art stores because they didn't know, either.

Mod Podge has electrolytes. Plants crave electrolytes!

He almost seems disappointed that he has to spell it out for us

So I got curious with this and felt the need to post here. I have been 3D printing my terrain, and that has its own set of challenges. FDM prints have layer lines no matter how finely you print, and they have a capillary effect with paint. So you need to use filler primer, sand it down, prime again, sand it down, etc. On top of that I live in Florida where it's too humid to prime outdoors half the year. So I wanted to try this stuff. While it preserves detail, I felt like the thickness of the fluid would fill those tiny crevasses, and it would act as a primer. So I tried it last night on some 3D printed rock formations for scatter terrain. Stuff I could just throw out if it didn't work. IT WORKED GREAT!!! I coated the rocks in the black mod podge and let it dry overnight. All of those finer crevasses between layers were filled in fairly nicely (I will say some of the tops, I did have to slop it on instead of putting a thin coat). It worked as a both filler AND as a primer, they took paint beautifully. I painted, drybrushed, and flocked them today and I am thrilled with how they came out! GAH I'm so happy!

LOL. The elmer's glue you link in your store is actually 50-90% more expensive by volume than mod podge if you grab the gallon sizes of each.

My fiance and I are just now getting in to this hobby and I have to say your beginner focused videos have been a huge resource for us. We are currently putting together a list of items to purchase for our first build and your guidance has been invaluable.

“It’s simple and you can’t screw it up. “ Famous last words.

I just like saying MOD PODGE MOD PODGE....

Your video's are so informative... thanks to you I dropped a few hundred dollars on gear to get "started" haha... thanks man... keep up the great work!

So, I wasn't buying the Mod Podge and tried your recipe side-by-side along with a wood glue + black acrylic mixture. And you know what, you are right! Your recipe is better! It coats a lot nicer, and does make a good, tough coat. Thank you!

How this Mod Podge is compared to gesso base for canvas (basically gesso, pva glue, acrilic paint and water)? Did you try that last one?? In my country XPS and Mod Podge are rare and expensive... I´m studing cheaper ways to try your black magic... ;)

Great video, can see this being very useful! Quick question, does this work on MDF terrain as a sealer/primer? I'm going to buy a bunch of MDF stuff for use in Necromunda soon and planning out how I'm going to seal then paint it had been a bit of a nightmare. If this would mean I don't have to spray it with PVA then spend a small fortune on spray cans of primer I'd be delighted. I was planning on spraying the MDF with black primer then dry brushing it with a metallic silver craft paint and if this let's me achieve a similar look without all the cans of spray primer that'd be a big time and money saver.

But now I'd really like to know... what does the black color even do? Do you need it? Can it be another color? How does another color compare to black after the project is complete?

Awesome video. Going through all your videos as well as Wylochs and DM Scotty. Question: Is there a shelf life for the mixed black mod podge? Or can it be mixed and left on-hand?

Can't screw it up? Now that sounds like a challenge!

Love the vids. I play them on 1.25 speed. It's not a poke by any means, I think it's just all the matt colville vids I watch that has burned me out on rapid dialogue lol. It allows me to focus on the content and my brain doesn't focus on the speed. I know, it's odd. Keep it up. Crafters Unite!

Now my question is the black base important or is any color good?

Solid video; Could you do a video on painting grass or flocking for outside terrain? I've been getting my dungeon and building game down, but my grass and outside stuff is just underdeveloped

Love your videos. Thank you so much for the basics series - really helps us beginners. I would love to see a video on basic carving: doors, boulders, tables, traps etc. thanks again for your time and effort.

Woooh I can see a very cool piece of terrain in the background. I'm excited to hear about it.

what happens if i use gloss mod podge

I tried this, and while it worked well as a sealer, I left a lot of brush marks on my terrain. Do I need a softer brush, or is there a technique I'm not aware of?

I'm guessing, based on the fact that the Mod Podge packaging recommends a "Clear Acrylic Sealer" after the Mod Podge has dried and that brushes can be washed with soap and water, that it is most likely got an Acrylic medium in it that gives it it's special properties.

“I will never overestimate the inelegance of the (RU-vid Community) again.”

Thanks for all the tips Black Magic. Your videos are playing so frequently in my work shop that they have become background music. Your project ideas will make these weird solitude times that we are all living more fun. And great work by the way. I am a hard critic and a perfectionist but your work is truly amazing. Cheers !

Absolutely love watching your videos and have enjoyed the craft. This video was really helpful!!

Huzzah,,, the Original. * I thought that I had committed on this and liked this all that long time ago. But I'm finding out that this is a common thing with lots of channels that I follow or thought I followed. Now I'm not saying that I've followed your channel from the get go but I know that it's been awhile. Anyways I'm a big big fan.

Thank you so much for breaking this down so clearly. Just discovered you channel and I have to catch up. Hope to find some stuff here in the netherlands. Keep up the great work!

I love The Podge too! Mixing it with paint? Sweet. With Cola? Sweet.

Hey ty the video. Is mod podge suitable for sealing cardboard? I’m making card board boxes to store minis in, I want to paint the boxes black. Would mod podge with black paint give a good finish? Ty in advance :)

Why mod podge over Gesso?

A bit of a trolling question, but have you tried using a motorized egg beater to mix the paint/mod podge?

$4.00 at walmart