How to *properly* use a Wet Palette... And 4 better Warhammer tools to try! 

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This may just be me, but the conversation about using a wet pallet was really informational for me. Probably won’t put it in a fridge but who knows lol

Regarding wet palettes with sponges that can get mouldy, I have an absolute top tip for this one. The first time I saw a wet palette used was a home-made one, years and years ago, that an old art teacher of mine used for painting acrylics on canvas. To avoid mould, he'd put a small amount of bleach in the water he used which worked, but in all honesty I was a bit reluctant to use a harsh cleaning chemical myself. Anyway, fast forward to the first time I used a wet palette in model painting, because since then I'd had kids, we used Milton sterilising fluid a lot for cleaning the kids' bottles and bowls and things like that. Milton's cheap, completely safe and available everywhere in the baby aisle in supermarkets, and a squirt of it in palette water keeps it mould free for months. BONUS TIP: if you get tea or coffee stains in mugs that you can't shift, soak them in a bowl of water with a measure of Milton in it for twenty minutes, cleans them right up like new.

The demo section was the best, it elevated the podcast to the next level. Please make a short demo/explanation a regular segment. Also the side by side picture was great would be good to see that more to show models etc as they are being talked about (the screen at the back is a little small).

There needs to be a siege studios drinking game. Shots everytime James says ‘caveat’ 😂

Wife: need anything picked up for your hobby from the shops? Me: yea, if you could add mini fridge to the bosh drill and maybe a misting spray that would be great.

Joe, James & George - Love the podcast! 😃 New listener and subscriber, but decided to write this little poem to celebrate some of the entertainment I've had so far listening to the back catalogue: We’re under siege boys, no time to spare, Crack out the brushes and show some flair. Who needs more than one to be a hero: I’m painting this Titan with just a triple zero! Let’s up our game lads, give 100%, Leave the sub-assemblies out Joe, get to the main event. Get that model built, every edge neatly trimmed, Let battle commence, over the colour of base rims! This is where the rubber hits the road, the “James-isms” flow, The perspective becomes real, as the paints come and go. You want blacker than black, to stay grimmer and dark, Or leave the 70.950 out, and hide well in the park? It’s a question of taste, not a matter of age, So don’t go writing off the young lad, in a fit of brown rage. Young George makes a stand, as he crunches his Refreshers, He harnesses the sugar, and stands against peer pressure. But all in all, the lads know what to bring, To a chat about painting, by the power of nose rings. Blends and jokes so smooth they’d make a Blood Angel cry, And the shout goes up: “LET THE PEOPLE MAGNIFY!” Keep up the good work lads! Joe C.

The old square Ferrero Rocher boxes were the b3st pallets. The top was hard pallet, the bottom makes wet pallete with some kitchen towel and oven paper and the tray was perfect for washes and glazes.

I always use a diy Palette but I was not aware of the correct way to set it up. Thank you very much!

for liquid mask gloss varnish the model first then keep the brush wet at all times and rinse it regularly throughout, apply it as thick as you can get away with

The amount of people who didn't know how to make a DIY wet palette is amazing. It's like there were no other videos online about it... "You need to remove the air from beneath the sheet or the parchment"... They way it was presented it sounded like no one ever thought of doing that on professional palettes bought from professional manufacturers.

One of my favourite hobby tool hacks are the daler and rowney 0.5mm fineliner. Its an amazing time saver for recessesd shading on my Ultramarines. You don't need to use it for all shading, but it makes some areas really easy to do, like Marine Pauldrons, run it along the inside edge of the gold trim and you get a perfect inner shadow which is a nightmare to do with anything else.

Toothpicks for liquid mask. I use the humbrol version and it's thick enough to use a toothpick and works perfectly.

I use a Redgrass Games wet palette. They seem to be conscious of James' point, as the palette paper pack I have (still the original pack that came with the box) is cut slightly smaller than the sponge, so there's always a little bit of sponge around the perimeter of the paper.

Army painter wet pallette is cheap and works fine, it also comes switch two sponges. I've used the same one for years with no issues and use the lid as a dry pallette. I've had to buy more paper but that's expected

I use magnets for various models and one Hobby Hack I made was hand drilling and glueing 3 x 2mm magnets on my paint brushes to store them horizontally on a piece of metal, also you should do it at the centre of mass and opposite the writing so you can still identify the brush sizes, works great for me

Favorite water pot: Calve Peanut butter glass jars and yes, I keep the lid. Glass jars help me assess whether I have cleaned the brush properly while in the pot, I just bring it up to the glass and twist the brush against it. Reason I keep the lids is it prevents particles of dust from falling in if I need to take a break. Peculiarly, lint and particles still end up painted on the minis... XD

The DYI wet pallet hack was a complete game changer for me. My premium wet pallet never performed the way I needed it to. For the first time, I feel like I can really develop brush control because I know what the paint is going to do. I have made DYI pallets in the past, but seeing the demo was next level.

Just use the silicon sculpting brushstrokes to apply liquid mask super easy and clean. Also I use high quality mask fluid and never had it be crumbly, sounds like it had gone off.

Ok... I put my wet palette in the fridge last night, and it WORKS, dude. My paints were in perfect condition. I highly recommend that trick, it sounds dumb, but it works like nothing I've ever seen.

Finally took the plunge and followed your DIY wet pallet. So simple yet so effective. Thank you for sharing and loving the podcast! Now I’m off to find the best mini fridge 😂

For a wet pallet, I’m a fan of Ferraro chocolates boxes with Swedish dish clothes. They have a few sizes to fit your needs and the insert can be used to mix up washes.

I'm a noob and have only made a few sets of bases so my experience is obviously limited and there hasn't been much time for paint to chip. That being said, I had a good experience with it. Used cork but I wouldn't have even considered just painting on it directly-the sand/spackle mix goes over top. Started with a normal bottle cork, cut it in three parts and then stuck those in my coffee ginder to make differently sized bits.

For the liquid mask, use cocktail sticks to apply it - just be gentle and push it round where you need it and then bin the stick afterwards.

The cliffhanger at the end of the intros are always 10/10! Keep it up!

Personally I utilize a red grass wet palette and have not had issues with drying out swiftly. Live in a temperate climate. NY USA As holders I use pill bottles I get with my prescription, they work just fine.

I've been looking for a new wet pallet as my Army Painter one feels a bit small. After seeing the step by step instructions I am 100% going for a trip to TK Maxx before I look anywhere else

Model holders - bottle cap on Colgate plax mouthwash with blu/white tac. Perfectly designed to fit the hand. Free byproduct of something I already buy. Great for bases up to 50mm so perfect for army/squad painting. Been using them for years.

Absolutely love the podcast, it helps keep my hobby time interesting! One thing I've always struggled with is clipping out parts off the sprue. No matter how much care and expense I put into this process I always seem to be left with slightly damaged parts. Are there any must haves, tool wise for clipping? And what are the best ways to repair scratched or gouged parts on a model.

Love the show. today's mini fridge under desk tip was ace :D what next - If you want to store your gaming boards, you can put exactly 3 on your snooker table? :D cheers!

I like that you guys mentioned reusing jam jars. Every time I'm eating something that comes with a container of some kind I always end up using it for my painting. I was eating a cheesecake the other day that came with a nice glass container bowl which I've started using as a wet palette.

I have a mini fridge for paint ... and other things. It gets pretty hot here in Australia so it's a must. Great vid cheers 😄 (we also have a cement mixer) LOL

Masterson “Rinse Well” is the ultimate paint pot. When it gets cloudy flush it down and it automatically fills with fresh water. Little nubblies also help with cleaning the brush and the brush holder is icing on the cake. 11/10 Will flush again

Liquid mask is best applyed with a toothpick, and to get it of the model a pencil eraser will work amazing, or you can put a bit of masking tape in the liquid mask and when its dry you can just pull it of by grabbing the tape

Not sure what they look like in the UK, but over here in the States prescription medicine comes in a perfect sized bottle for a paint holder. Flat top, hand sized bottle. Just stick the model on the top and you're good to go!

Haha I use the exact same system of replaceable Doritos salsa jars as George. They ARE the perfect size and shape, and getting a new one involves eating salsa, which is an additional win. It's wins all the way down. The only question is - mild or hot? For me it's hot every time.

"no one paints the inside of a tank" looks at my rhino's with painted interiors

Water cup - an old blue plastic kids mug that was used by my Dad before me, been in use for 60ish years. Originally used with white spirits for enamel paints, the inside is a fairly uniform dark grey.

Nescafe Gold Blend jar is my water bottle and the lid is a mixing pot

Might be the only one but I do actually have a mini fridge next to my painting desk, will be giving that tip a try!

Best episode yet guys, thanks. Great tips and very funny

Should consider clipping out the wet pallette - great explanation! Also random hobby hack, which ive never actually done, pet stores sell cooling plates for gerbils/hamsters/rabbits to help them cool off on hot days that are pallette sized - could be a good base for a pallette on a hot day - especially if you put it in the mini fridge first

I too, have a salsa jar for a water cup, and I keep the lid so my cat doesn't try to drink from it.

Bonsai tree buckled me. I've not been painting for long and I use a spontex sponge, but only one specific shop near me stocks it so could potentially be unreliable. Good to know about the kitchen paper. Good listen once again 🤌

favorite painting handle. 1 inch dowel cut to length, with a piece of doublesided foam tape on top.

So what i get from this episode: House plant version Geroge: Treat it with care and love, Bougie setup, mist it everyday Joe: Chuck it to the curb James: Put it in the mini-fridge under your painting desk.

I can't believe I have been called out in the first 3 minutes! I'm booked in for your army painting 2-dayer at BadMoon next weekend, and I have literally sub-assemblied my Rhino so I can paint the interior! (although in fairness I am only doing it because I plan on magnetising it for weapons....) Also its bonne maman, I paid good money for that jam jar!

I was on the Army Painter course and it was great! Well worth it, even though I paint for Warrior Workshop and understand the principles, it was still really worth it. Also, paint pot is a Lego Batman Movie cup from a MacDonalds Happy Meal! and I am now a convert to James' wet palette.. even bought the Blitz paper towels, not sure about the mini fridge..

Rocks were a must for me with Metal Terminators. Great asteroids to for Battlefleet Gothic

Could you please show the "lightbox" cardboard box stand gimmick? I can't visualize the cut from the description, but it might be something of use to me. Love the podcast, can't wait for more

My water goes in a brown clear utility style mug I bought 25 years ago. Just once I have managed to clean it back to original state with no paint crud.

Just let your brush sit in a small amount of white spirit for a while and it usually makes removing the masking fluid from the bristles easy. Goes without saying to never use a decent brush.

My hobby hack would be learn to focus stack your photos I shoot my minis with a macro lens which causes very shallow depth of field, focus stacking isn’t mega hard and enable you to have the entire model in focus! I also use it to see any issues with my more display pieces as I work on it!

A large Ferrero Rocher container with a spontex sponge sheet, covered in mason cash parchment paper for a wet palette.

My water pots (I always have 2: 1 for clean water and 1 for dirty) are sour cream containers. Cheap, disposable, and never mistaken for my tea cup.

Just discovered the podcast and I’ve already listened to every episode in 2024 and slowing making my way through last year’s content. I would love to know how that Tiger Kroot was painted. If I can do it I’ll paint my entire army that color scheme. Also keep the salsa jar lid so you can shake the jar with liquid to clean it.

I used Abteilung 502 liquid mask. The vallejo and mr hobby ones didn't work for me. I rinsed it out just fine. It IS a nice peel, but yes, two layers. The only reason I found one that works is because I was going a knight army and detest doing trim, so I could paint the trim, mask it off, then do the nice blends and whatnot on the armour panels.

I use gu pots for my water, one of them is now a drybrush texture jar

Wet pallette tips are 🔥 thanks!

Old herb/spice jars make great painting handles. I struggle to find something comfy for my big shovels

Liquid mask is for canopys and window on model cars and planes. good for 40k flyers with clear canopy

I'm watching in a random order and my paint pot is a gentleman's hat.

I stick it on the base with PVA, then just pop the model off to take care of the base after I finished the model itself.

No name brand garlic pickle jars are the perfect jar for painting. I will literally buy the pickles just because I like the jar size.

Branston Pickle jar (small chunks obviously)

If you need a sponge for a wet pallette use spontex sheets 👌🏻

The American equivalent of blitz paper towels is the “viva signature cloth”. The label is purple with a green ribbon.

I use a paper clip to put the liquid mask on and I cake on one chunky layer which works for me 👍

Cork is alright if you want to make little rocks on the base!! Or debris but i wouldnt use it for boulder sized things!!

My ghetto painting handle that I really like: an empty spice glass upside down, a beverage karton screwing lid screw glued on and a asortment of lids with poster tack with the models on them. This way i can change the model pretty fast and efficient by screwing the lids on and off, and the handle is the perfect dimension for my hand and has a weight to it becaus it is made out of glass -- plastic shot glasses are too flimsy and light for me.

Thanks to James I've just burned my pile of branded wet pallets in the garden.

Idea for James, a vanguard tactics style jersey with sleeve sponsor DeWALT, back sponsor TK Maxx and obviously an Artis opus chest sponsor

M&S honey jars, they’re slimmer than normal jars so three water pots doesn’t take up too much space on the desk

I use the dowe egberts glass coffee jars for my paint water. They have a nice sealing lid which is very useful when you have two dochebag kittens that love to deliberately spill things.

I have a neighbour with a cement mixer. People are weirdly open about their cement mixers and have to tell you for some reason so if you don't know anyone with a cement mixer you can be sure that you don't know anyone with a cement mixer.

I tend to use old pill bottles for paint handles. One of the benefits of having a daily medication, I guess

55:00 I got a great alternative to cork I recently came up with. It's a bit of work, but get some Das air drying clay, spread it into a sheet over a flat surface. I use a hard plastic lid of unknown origin with some aluminium foil wrapped around it. Tap some texture into it to taste with a chunk of balled up foil or whatever you want and let it completely dry. Break it into bits as you would a sheet of cork! The breakage on the edges will look a lot more like stone, and I will usually layer a bunch of pieces. Make several batches with different thicknesses as you see fit. My thickest run was around half a centimeter, and I done one as thin as 1-2 millimeters and it still holds up nicely! I would recommend a layer of modpodge or thin PVA after you've glued it all to the base for durability, but that was standard practice to me back when I used cork anyway. Bonus DIY basing material: Tea and PVA mix. I had some expired Lipton Yellow Label that I tore out of their bags and mixed in a container with PVA wood glue. The resulting paste is a dream to work with. The tea will absorb the moisture and go soft, which results in it having a lot more "give" while wet, if that makes sense, than the material in classic texture paste. It dries rock solid with very good adhesion and a rough texture. Too rough for like dirt ground or sand, but I use it as a sort of filler mortar glue. Slap some down in places and push rocks and skulls and whatever into it. I then later will add some normal Vallejo texture paste wherever I want normal ground as part of the painting process. It smells really weird, but I would highly recommend just giving it a try and see if it is for you! Just take a single bag of whichever tea you might have that is a relatively fine grind and mix it up with PVA for a small test batch. EDIT: The reason I prefer my tea paste for the mentioned purpose over just slapping thick chunks of texture paste on and sticking rocks and greeblies into it, is that I have found texture pastes to shrink a great bit if applied thickly, which results in weird deep holes around the base. You can always fill them in later, but I found it really annoying. This doesn't happen with the tea paste, and it dries way harder to boot!

My girlfriend is a professional painter, she has a misting bottle to prevent a skin on the top of her paints as well (though she works in much larger amounts than my mini paints lol)

Great episode. Just wanted to say how much the tip about having the paper smaller than the sponge has changed how well my wet palette has performed. Will start keeping jars for paint water too. A question I've had for a while: I'd like to move away from sable brushes because it's an animal product. Do you have any recommendations for good synthetic brushes?

Liquid masks should be applied with toothpick or clay shapers. And you should use just ordinary pencil rubber to remote it by, you guessed, rubbing it.

Salsa jar here too!

Love the podcast and enjoy it every week - cheers! I always keep one eye open for useful ‘rubbish’ that could be re-used for hobby - here are my favourites; Waitrose) tex mex triple dip packaging is great for 3 water pots in one. ‘Thorntons 10 caramel shortcake bites’ have a tray that holds the bites that then nicely stores 10 models on up to 32mm bases. Nescafé Azera has a lid that fits perfectly inside a Doritos dip lid and can then store Vallejo alcohol based old gold / metallics without getting any dust in the paint so you can revive the paint with isopropyl alcohol months later and it’s all good 😊 old blister packs etc are wicked for mixing airbrush paint before pouring it into the cup. Captain Planet would be well proud 😂

When I started painting I just cut a plastic water bottle in half, and I still use that as a water pot. 😂 like one of those cheap $1.00 ones..

Great podcast as always

That was a great episode.

Hi James Was good to see you at element games. Enjoy the Baneblade 👍👍

Question about using a wet palette, I have an Army Painter one, I love using it but when I put the lid on and leave it overnight and come back to paint the next day all of my paint is super diluted and basically unusable. This seems to happen no matter how much water I put on the sponge, anyone have any tips or suggestions?

I was literally just down the shed drilling into a big rock to mount my High Elf Griffon looks way better than cork

My wife saves glass jars for preserves she makes, I just rob them lol

Awesome as always boys . Regarding the masking topic try therapy putty haven't look back since

I honestly don’t know why people don’t start with a fine art wet palette (with some parchment paper) when they’re getting into using one and go straight for the overpriced hobby branded ones. Mastersons are like 1/3 the price and perform the exact same task if you don’t want to make your own and want something premade.

My water pots are fancy whiskey glasses

Don’t listen to them- the mini fridge in the hobby space with some brews is clutch

Nice watch James. I got the hesalite one with tritium indexes myself. Since yours is a fairly new one, what did you use before this one?

Can we also get a live demonstration of James drilling some barrels?🙂

kenco coffee jar for me, i drink a fuck ton of coffee and i want get more value out of them as its expensive coffee :)

Liquid mask is very dependent on manufacturer tbf

I use a gigantic Cabela's coffee mug with a 9mm beretta pistol as a handle lmao

I put my wet pallet in the fridge between sessions 😅

You could keep marines in your minis fridge...