@@MidwinterMinis What about freshly ground coffee? that is even drier right? it would probably work if you dry it some more on the oven or is there something special about "used coffee grounds", like some acids or something that is released?
@@nameisbad I use about a 70/30 mix of PVA to water (and have even used Isopropal Alcohol) and add coffee until its a thick consistency like in Guys video. I use the grounds fresh from the container, not used ones. The the coffee actually turns the glue mix a nice natural brown colour. You can also add any paint you want in as long as its a dark paint.
Okay in my defense I'll say that the teapot I have can't be put on the stove (I have induction) because it's made of glass,so I just boil the water and put the tea on the net it has
To everyone who says "coffee based bases could not grow mould" I am saying "it happened to me". I tried a similar technique years ago. I however did not super heat them and was not too careful painting it, as I was going for a brown effect (nor did I use varnish). The result was mould patches with some models actually having mould climb on them. I should add I was also living in a Hebridean cottage (so damp climate and lots of sources of mould). So yes - in some circumstances if you are not too careful following the recipe you can end up with problems. On the plus side - I managed to clean them off with isopropyl alcohol and start over, but it was a rather unpleasant surprise (sadly it was not Nurgle models). I have however since switched to plastic grounds. But maybe this better recipe will make me try again!
Considering how much coffee I drink, and I'm running low on sterlund battlemire (which. Using to base my blood angels army, still in progress), looks like this just solved my problem. Thanks Guy! This is awesome!
I’m a biochemist. I agree with this statement. Dry them out in an oven or microwave. Seal them to your minis with PVA, Paint, superglue, acrylic medium, Mod Podge, varnish, etc.. etc.. and you’re good to go!
Thank you for this video, it combines two of my favorite things -- miniature modeling and coffee! I think if one was concerned about the coffee rehydrating, I suppose you could hit it with a spray of matte sealer? Eager to try this one out!
I'd never thought coffee could give a cracked earth effect, thanks! I've used coffee and gesso for years and never had any rot. I like to use fresh coffee cus it makes the terrain smell amazing!
Duuudee... i mean.. Maatee you are awsome. I have wasted tons of coffee beans not knowing what to do with them after drinking my two daily cups. Excelent advice. Cheers
I’ve been using dried coffee grounds for my texturing bases/terrain for aaages and it works great! Mixing with paint is a great idea but you can also use PVA, Superglue, Mod Podge & Filler/Spackle. Can even be mixed with tile grout for larger pieces of terrain to REALLY seal it in! I really endorse using coffee grounds for your mini projects!
thank you so much for this video. I have been using spent coffee grounds on my bases in various ways for years, I am happy to see people get this idea shared with them!
I gotta be honest I'm not into miniatures and I found this channel through your moka pot video, but I keep watching these cus your voice is so relaxing aaahah
I got back into painting just before the pandemic after a 10 year break. When this came out I thought it was the best idea since the moka pot. I've been doing this method since and just started using Mr Kipling cake tins to mix in. I add a little water to thin the paint so makes a softer paste material.
I came across your channel a few months ago and you've inspired my to get my old models out the attic and get painting again! Almost finished my sandstone necrons and I think this coffee base will look great with my orks. Your video quality is also amazing! Thanks Guy!
Hi guys, Guy here from Midwinter Minis. All you need to do is walk around Colchester until you've found enough hobby supplies on the floor or in bins, and then you'll just need to throw them in the vague direction of your models. Then, you clean up any mistakes you've made, and in less than 18 seconds, you've got a fully painted 2,000 point army.
I just realized the perfect reason to watch any Warhammer guide You are listening to people reading from a script so you can perfect reading yourself Which means a perfect excuse for watching Goober, Midwinter, Miniac, etc.
"...or 210 in old money" I love ya, Man! Great vid...consider spent tea leaves as well, though the consistency can vary by type and use, they also can serve this or another purpose at hand, following pretty much the same routine and caveat. CHEERS!
If you were super worried about the coffee rotting, you could cover the dried base in super glue to basically seal it shut. I do that with wood all the time to basically turn it to plastic and it has shown no signs of rotting or degradation over the last 8 months or so.
I really love your Chanel ! Like how creative it is and the way you give us the opportunity to bypass the fancy and expensive products. This are the tips that we always wanted ! Thank you 👏
Please do get sciency. I'm thinking about the water in the acrylic paint, which will definately evaporate, but also partly be soaked up by the coffee grounds. You then seal it with practically no air leaving it with few but still some "main" materials for organic decay. So it depends on the amount of water in the grounds and the amount of air sealed with it. And how strong the layer sealing it is. I wouldn't worry, but it seems the conditions for organic decay are there - at least on paper. Perhaps give it a good layer of varnish between the paint/grounds medium and painting it? Inspiring and thought provoking video, thanks!
Brother! U r a mad genius. I always look for ways to recycle trash for buildings and bits but this is on a whole other level. I will never waste coffee grinds again😂
I take a break from painting for a couple months and just now see this?!? This is BRILLIANT! It'll save so much money on texture paint, especially since the pandemic has a lot of people including me out of work.
Hey Guy (and Penny) All of your videos have really helped me get into Warhammer. I really enjoy the 'Poorhammer' videos as some of the real terrain is really pricey. Thanks so much!!!!
This is fantastic and I am so happy I watched it. Now I just need to get up in the middle of the night and do this myself to avoid getting strange looks from my family.
Definitely beats buying some damn snow terrain for 6 bucks plus an insane $12 shipping and handling fee yeah no thanks I’ll give this a try! Thanks man!
A bit of boric acid will help keep creepy crawlies from eating your bases. My favorite recipe is unsifted beach sand minus large chunks of shells, acrylic caulking, cheap craft paint and a bit of glue. For smoother base or for gap filling I use talcum powder instead of sand. Works great, looks great and is cheap.
I've just tried this and it worked pretty good (only problem is the dried mixture not binding to the plastic, thinking of putting PVA into the mix to fix that because currently I'm just using superglue). I've got 3 bases complete now with 20 more ready to be painted. I also now have a new Moka pot and coffee to enjoy in the meantime.
Add a 1/5 of craft paper glue 4/5 of paint to the mix with equal part coffee to see what happens. Also I am using a mix with plaster, coffee and alcohol. Another use is to spread a layer of of wood glue, dust of some coffee and apply another un-even layer of glue and coffee, it gives the effect of smooth dirt or city street texture. Very important in all my tests I used coffee that has been used and dried out outside.
For anyone who is interested, three nespresso style pods provided ample ground coffee for an entire Warhammer Recruit set, plus an extra Canoptek Doomstalker! So 20 bases plus a large one!
MM, Yes, its great. Been sing it for years and doubles when my coffee goes stale. Yes, it does because sometimes Ill buy a crappy brand or when crappy brand goes on sale, Ill purchase and add to my stash. You can even grind to different coarseness by using a coffee grinder to get finer from a coarse grind. So YES, very good alternate that is typically available for most coffee drinkers!!! Now experiment with other recipes, ie drywall and wall patch, premixed tile grout, glycerin, gloss and matt mediums, liquitex mediums, acrylic paint as mentioned in your video....... Good video!
You could always cut out that whole brew and dry out the coffee and just buy a bag of decaf. A nice idea. You could do your own line of coffee ground bases.
I used to mostly use Model Railway Gravel/Ballast, but also some Cork and Lichen which are still OK after forty years! My recycling tip was using tooth brush bristles to make flower Stems.
I was wondering this myself recently. Good to know it's actually feasible! Although I've already got my models on bases, so I'll have to try and work around that. Should be a fun challenge!
I’ve been using various Tea blends as bases for years and the amount of watered down PVA glue it takes to hold it all together is more than enough to stop decomposition.
I've been using coffee for years. use it as dirt , mudd , sand , moss and all sorts. mix it wit pva or sprinkle it on a base coated wit mod podge for nice dry dirt look. it works great.
I have been using coffee as a basing material for a few months now. No sign of rot so far ! You can seal it with PVA + water and it becomes hard as wood !
Maybe mixing a tiny bit of isopropyl alcohol or antimicrobial dishsoap into the mix might help against spoilage. I.e., make sure the mix is disinfected until finally dried, and make sure to seal it well with a varnish in order to avoid it recapturing moisture after that.
When I first got into the hobby in 1990, the only thing I had for basing materials were coffee grounds and those packets of desiccant beads (not used together). I didnt know about PVA glue, so I mixed in craft paint exactly like you have here. When I was done with the models on their bases, I sealed them with Testors Dulcote. For one or two years after, my army storage box smelled heavenly, and then one day it didnt... I live in a rather humid State (Virginia), so that might have had something to do with it. I had to spend a few hours outside breaking off bases because the stench was horrendous. Even with all the paint, Dulcote, the coffee still went bad. No matter how much you prepare or how careful you are; unless you are sealing it in clear resin, organic material is going to go bad. That was my experience with organics.
Only thing that you would have to worry about spoiling if you add to paint is flour, and you can counteract that with a tablespoon of salt in the mix. Coffee, if allowed to dry in heat like you shown it would not decay. Especially if later added to acrylic paints.
I really love your videos, even if I got my own repertoire of techniques and methods there is always something new to learn, or an entertaining video to watch :D I love the style of your videos and your narrating is so comforting. I hope you are doing well during these times :D
I've been using coffee in my basing for a while now, but I never thought to mix it with paint first... Seems legit. Normally I super glue it to the base, prime it, then dry brush. Makes great rocks or crushed ice.
If you can't get a hold of sawdust, you can use dried coffee grounds as flock. Just mix it with some acrylic paints. Obviously at a dryer ratio that in this video
If you grind them smaller , you can use it for typhus corrosion. Also if you let the coffee grounds soak in water for a day and then dry they won't stain.
Neat! Normally just after a brew I smear the wet grounds over a bunch of paper or card to stain them up for later use in whatever art/craft project that'll come up. But as a texture for bases? Hmmm...would even work out as a textured paint for waddle and daub walls in building terrain (fantasy) or battle damaged walls/streets (urban/sci-fi) too. A bit of sealer or spray on terrain glue should keep everything in place.
This is a fantastic idea, I've been giving my grounds to a neighbour for her garden, but i go through too much for the garden to keep up. I tried pulling together an industrial base the other day using the cracker packet and guitar strings like one of your old videos, it worked great!
So Guy I just attempted this last night. Did this with a Battletech mini and a 3D printed dwarf. The mechs look better then the dwarf. I need to work with this some more but it does work. Looks better after primed black
Great tip. I've been using coffee in a mix with PVA glue for a while now. They look a lot like your first one once painted. The cracked earth effect is awesome though! Woot, thanks for the new technique.
I ran out of stirland mud for a swamp based army so I tried sand, cornflower and brown paint mixed with water and it cracked so I could add nurgkes rot into it it looks brilliant
Having tried it after watching this video, I honestly wouldn't recommend it. I did the drying and mixing pretty much spot on, and the texture looked great, applied great, and painted great, and after some varnish it looked fantastic for almost 2 years after doing a whole army like this. Unfortunately now though, I've been noticing that the coffee grounds unfortunately eventually seem to lose that toughness and become very brittle. The texture on several of the models has begun to separate from the base and it is becoming easier and easier to have chunks of the base break off from minor drops or bending of larger bases. Great short term idea but unfortunately ended up being a headache in the long term for me.
Dude that's a great idea.. maybe after the coffee and paint mixture is dry, maybe cover it in diluted PVA glue? It'd create a barrier against mixture and time getting into it.
"You might end up rotting before your bases do."
Nurgle: Why not both?
Porque no los dos!
Nurgle papa loves me
Best comment on anything ever :-D
Speaking of Nurgle, that second base with the crack filled in with some nurgles rot would look epic!
I enjoyed the part where you painted coffee to look like coffee.
Now I feel bad, haha
Dunnae fash yerself Guy, yer teachin real money savin tricks!
I read this in Pennys voice.
I liked the coffee wash the best.
@@MidwinterMinis What about freshly ground coffee? that is even drier right? it would probably work if you dry it some more on the oven or is there something special about "used coffee grounds", like some acids or something that is released?
I've used coffee grounds for many. many years. I add PVA to help seal it and avoid mould. Maybe overkill, but I have not had a base spoil in 20+ years
what's your exact process if i may ask?
@@nameisbad probably add the glue when you add the black paint
@@notLura yeah thinking that, can any acrylic paint work?
@@nameisbad I use about a 70/30 mix of PVA to water (and have even used Isopropal Alcohol) and add coffee until its a thick consistency like in Guys video.
I use the grounds fresh from the container, not used ones. The the coffee actually turns the glue mix a nice natural brown colour. You can also add any paint you want in as long as its a dark paint.
Using PVA instead of paint makes loads of sense. Then you're just painting over it rather than using paint to bind it.
Oh, cool - my current addiction being used in jolly cooperation with my burgeoning new addiction. Thanks.
Praise the coffee my friend...
always praise the coffee
"No mold or bacterial growth"
*sad nurgle noises*
Coffee molds really fast. In a few Days. With some hope the acrylic (plastic) will cover it from air and moisture to prevent it from growing.
"I'm not going to tell you how to make coffee here" - cue flashback of american women brutalising tea with a microwave
No. NOOOOOO. Don't remind me!
Okay in my defense I'll say that the teapot I have can't be put on the stove (I have induction) because it's made of glass,so I just boil the water and put the tea on the net it has
@@LechugaOP That's how tea pots are meant to be used, only thing that would go on the stone is a kettle to boil.
I make tea in a microwave, once you learn how you can cook anything in a microwave, it's just a heating system like any other.
Somewhere there is an nice sweet woman putting a kettle in a microwave.
Next time on MidwinterMinis:
How to sculpt an entire ork army using ONLY coffee?
😂
Make your own uncomfortably energetic ork army.
Who's that handsome man with long hair? 😅
OH BABY
The true handsome long hair guy is bardscraft. Please check and shout him out.
@@Dudenob123 you better watch the video again .. 4:40
Someone write me a nice long smut fanfic involving these two please. "Ohhh daddy, you make my pallette wet!"
@@MidwinterMinis 9 months later, anybody try this and can verify there was no issues with mould?
To everyone who says "coffee based bases could not grow mould" I am saying "it happened to me". I tried a similar technique years ago. I however did not super heat them and was not too careful painting it, as I was going for a brown effect (nor did I use varnish). The result was mould patches with some models actually having mould climb on them. I should add I was also living in a Hebridean cottage (so damp climate and lots of sources of mould). So yes - in some circumstances if you are not too careful following the recipe you can end up with problems.
On the plus side - I managed to clean them off with isopropyl alcohol and start over, but it was a rather unpleasant surprise (sadly it was not Nurgle models). I have however since switched to plastic grounds. But maybe this better recipe will make me try again!
Hi guy I’ve just got into warhammer and you’ve been a massive help in getting into the hobby your my favourite channel
Thanks for the videos!
Thanks very much Amanda! Hope you're enjoying it so far :)
Considering how much coffee I drink, and I'm running low on sterlund battlemire (which. Using to base my blood angels army, still in progress), looks like this just solved my problem. Thanks Guy! This is awesome!
"You might be rotting before your bases do"
From 0 to death threats real fekin quick!
If the grounds are dry, nothing is going to grow in them. People love to get all worked up over stuff but your bases aren’t going to spoil.
ive been using dirt and all kind of crap found in parks and forest, it's all fine really.
I’m a biochemist. I agree with this statement.
Dry them out in an oven or microwave. Seal them to your minis with PVA, Paint, superglue, acrylic medium, Mod Podge, varnish, etc.. etc.. and you’re good to go!
I mean not only have the grounds been cooked, but won't the chemicals in all the paint kill/prevent life as well?
"IF" is the operative word here. you're giving people a lot of credit if you think most people are going to dry and seal the ground properly
Thank you for this video, it combines two of my favorite things -- miniature modeling and coffee! I think if one was concerned about the coffee rehydrating, I suppose you could hit it with a spray of matte sealer?
Eager to try this one out!
Guy, you're a madman
4:41 that's the spirit mate, embrace entropy! 😁
I'd never thought coffee could give a cracked earth effect, thanks! I've used coffee and gesso for years and never had any rot. I like to use fresh coffee cus it makes the terrain smell amazing!
A tid bit late on this one, but how do you go about using fresh coffee? Grind it up, heat it up and then mix with paint?
@@yeetusdeletus108 nothing different, I just pour some out of the bag, mix it with the gesso and brush it on.
@@Berserkerworks Thanks! Being completely new to this hobby, I'm taking every tip I can to keep enjoying the whole process!
Duuudee... i mean.. Maatee you are awsome. I have wasted tons of coffee beans not knowing what to do with them after drinking my two daily cups. Excelent advice. Cheers
I’ve been using dried coffee grounds for my texturing bases/terrain for aaages and it works great! Mixing with paint is a great idea but you can also use PVA, Superglue, Mod Podge & Filler/Spackle. Can even be mixed with tile grout for larger pieces of terrain to REALLY seal it in! I really endorse using coffee grounds for your mini projects!
As a fellow coffee addict, this video speaks to me on a deep, personal level.
Ahhh, I knew you’d get my name right! Artists always do! Thanks a bunch for the lovely content, Guy!
So simple but effective and I loved all the technical know how on paint and coffee properties, awesome video as always =)
Right then, my coffee addiction starts now!
Tell me about it
You won't regret this!!
I just got into painting my tyranids after a 9 year hiatus, your recipes for home-made washes and paint thinning fluid have been a lifesaver!
Congrats on 150K subs, Guy. It's really impressive how fast your channel has grown over the past year.
It's been wild, eh?!
I still think Guy deserves far more subs than a 150k, mostly for his terrain videos and also the new coffee brewing vid.
thank you so much for this video. I have been using spent coffee grounds on my bases in various ways for years, I am happy to see people get this idea shared with them!
Props for the Bialetti coffee machine. Really rubbed my Italian pride
I gotta be honest I'm not into miniatures and I found this channel through your moka pot video, but I keep watching these cus your voice is so relaxing aaahah
Really creative idea! Recycling is one of my favourite parts of the wargaming hobby.
Glad to see that the triangle of quality is still right there, proving itself. It’s easy and it’s cheap, no questions there.
I've been breaking my brain on a quick basing for my minis.
Lo and behold, Guy and Penny ABSOLUTELY DELIVER yet again.
These types of videos are why I enjoyed Lukes APS so much.
And in the words of the orks: "If it ain't workin', you ain't forcin' it 'ard enuff!"
Caffeine, minis and science. Whats not to like. Great results for very cheap.
I got back into painting just before the pandemic after a 10 year break.
When this came out I thought it was the best idea since the moka pot.
I've been doing this method since and just started using Mr Kipling cake tins to mix in. I add a little water to thin the paint so makes a softer paste material.
same, all your videos are great Guy! been watching your channel ever since this channel started!
Thanks matey! :)
I came across your channel a few months ago and you've inspired my to get my old models out the attic and get painting again!
Almost finished my sandstone necrons and I think this coffee base will look great with my orks.
Your video quality is also amazing!
Thanks Guy!
Just begining the hobby and want a simple desert/wasteland base for my necrons, this is perfect, it's mostly fool proof, and very easy.
Hi guys, Guy here from Midwinter Minis. All you need to do is walk around Colchester until you've found enough hobby supplies on the floor or in bins, and then you'll just need to throw them in the vague direction of your models. Then, you clean up any mistakes you've made, and in less than 18 seconds, you've got a fully painted 2,000 point army.
I just realized the perfect reason to watch any Warhammer guide
You are listening to people reading from a script so you can perfect reading yourself
Which means a perfect excuse for watching Goober, Midwinter, Miniac, etc.
"...or 210 in old money"
I love ya, Man!
Great vid...consider spent tea leaves as well, though the consistency can vary by type and use, they also can serve this or another purpose at hand, following pretty much the same routine and caveat.
CHEERS!
So great! Keep up the awesome work Guy!
Your at 150k congratulations!!
I know! CRAZY! Can't really believe it
What a great trick with cool results, I'm sure I'll put it to use soon
If you were super worried about the coffee rotting, you could cover the dried base in super glue to basically seal it shut. I do that with wood all the time to basically turn it to plastic and it has shown no signs of rotting or degradation over the last 8 months or so.
I really love your Chanel ! Like how creative it is and the way you give us the opportunity to bypass the fancy and expensive products. This are the tips that we always wanted !
Thank you 👏
Thanks for the tip, mine are looking awesome. It's amazing what anyone can do with just junk. One mans trash another mans treasure.
Please do get sciency. I'm thinking about the water in the acrylic paint, which will definately evaporate, but also partly be soaked up by the coffee grounds. You then seal it with practically no air leaving it with few but still some "main" materials for organic decay.
So it depends on the amount of water in the grounds and the amount of air sealed with it. And how strong the layer sealing it is.
I wouldn't worry, but it seems the conditions for organic decay are there - at least on paper. Perhaps give it a good layer of varnish between the paint/grounds medium and painting it?
Inspiring and thought provoking video, thanks!
Brother! U r a mad genius. I always look for ways to recycle trash for buildings and bits but this is on a whole other level. I will never waste coffee grinds again😂
Fun tip: those coffee grounds are also good for your sink, they soak up excess grease and work as a soft scrub on the metal
Yes, 5 to one in the morning, the perfect time for coffee.
Great job on the CALM donation Guy. Still crossing my fingers Henry gets back to you
Congrats on 150k subs! The bases look great, this may be the start of my own addiction to coffee :)
I take a break from painting for a couple months and just now see this?!? This is BRILLIANT! It'll save so much money on texture paint, especially since the pandemic has a lot of people including me out of work.
Super 👌 idea. I'm a modeller who runs a coffee stall! Perfect 🥰
Hey Guy (and Penny) All of your videos have really helped me get into Warhammer. I really enjoy the 'Poorhammer' videos as some of the real terrain is really pricey. Thanks so much!!!!
This is fantastic and I am so happy I watched it.
Now I just need to get up in the middle of the night and do this myself to avoid getting strange looks from my family.
I’ve been tossing old basing materials for years!!!!! this is an awesome idea
Definitely beats buying some damn snow terrain for 6 bucks plus an insane $12 shipping and handling fee yeah no thanks I’ll give this a try! Thanks man!
A bit of boric acid will help keep creepy crawlies from eating your bases.
My favorite recipe is unsifted beach sand minus large chunks of shells, acrylic caulking, cheap craft paint and a bit of glue. For smoother base or for gap filling I use talcum powder instead of sand.
Works great, looks great and is cheap.
MIdwinter MIni’s every hobbyists favourite cooking channel
I use tea bags leaves !!!
Oh boy the cracked earth ! Love it !
I've just tried this and it worked pretty good (only problem is the dried mixture not binding to the plastic, thinking of putting PVA into the mix to fix that because currently I'm just using superglue). I've got 3 bases complete now with 20 more ready to be painted. I also now have a new Moka pot and coffee to enjoy in the meantime.
Add a 1/5 of craft paper glue 4/5 of paint to the mix with equal part coffee to see what happens. Also I am using a mix with plaster, coffee and alcohol. Another use is to spread a layer of of wood glue, dust of some coffee and apply another un-even layer of glue and coffee, it gives the effect of smooth dirt or city street texture. Very important in all my tests I used coffee that has been used and dried out outside.
Use mod podge instead of paint. It's far more sturdy and dries quicker.
you're a real genius! i drink coffee everyday and i have never thought of this
For anyone who is interested, three nespresso style pods provided ample ground coffee for an entire Warhammer Recruit set, plus an extra Canoptek Doomstalker! So 20 bases plus a large one!
MM, Yes, its great. Been sing it for years and doubles when my coffee goes stale. Yes, it does because sometimes Ill buy a crappy brand or when crappy brand goes on sale, Ill purchase and add to my stash. You can even grind to different coarseness by using a coffee grinder to get finer from a coarse grind. So YES, very good alternate that is typically available for most coffee drinkers!!!
Now experiment with other recipes, ie drywall and wall patch, premixed tile grout, glycerin, gloss and matt mediums, liquitex mediums, acrylic paint as mentioned in your video....... Good video!
You could always cut out that whole brew and dry out the coffee and just buy a bag of decaf. A nice idea. You could do your own line of coffee ground bases.
I used to mostly use Model Railway Gravel/Ballast, but also some Cork and Lichen which are still OK after forty years! My recycling tip was using tooth brush bristles to make flower Stems.
I was wondering this myself recently. Good to know it's actually feasible! Although I've already got my models on bases, so I'll have to try and work around that. Should be a fun challenge!
I’ve been using various Tea blends as bases for years and the amount of watered down PVA glue it takes to hold it all together is more than enough to stop decomposition.
I've used coffee grounds mixed with Woodland scenics grass flock and it makes a very lush looking ground cover.
Look really good and natural imo, didn't knew this method; but i like it.
I've been using coffee for years. use it as dirt , mudd , sand , moss and all sorts. mix it wit pva or sprinkle it on a base coated wit mod podge for nice dry dirt look. it works great.
I have been using coffee as a basing material for a few months now. No sign of rot so far !
You can seal it with PVA + water and it becomes hard as wood !
I've been using coffee for years lol, its a common basing material. Works great. It also smells great.
Maybe mixing a tiny bit of isopropyl alcohol or antimicrobial dishsoap into the mix might help against spoilage. I.e., make sure the mix is disinfected until finally dried, and make sure to seal it well with a varnish in order to avoid it recapturing moisture after that.
When I first got into the hobby in 1990, the only thing I had for basing materials were coffee grounds and those packets of desiccant beads (not used together). I didnt know about PVA glue, so I mixed in craft paint exactly like you have here. When I was done with the models on their bases, I sealed them with Testors Dulcote. For one or two years after, my army storage box smelled heavenly, and then one day it didnt... I live in a rather humid State (Virginia), so that might have had something to do with it. I had to spend a few hours outside breaking off bases because the stench was horrendous. Even with all the paint, Dulcote, the coffee still went bad. No matter how much you prepare or how careful you are; unless you are sealing it in clear resin, organic material is going to go bad. That was my experience with organics.
Only thing that you would have to worry about spoiling if you add to paint is flour, and you can counteract that with a tablespoon of salt in the mix.
Coffee, if allowed to dry in heat like you shown it would not decay. Especially if later added to acrylic paints.
I really love your videos, even if I got my own repertoire of techniques and methods there is always something new to learn, or an entertaining video to watch :D I love the style of your videos and your narrating is so comforting. I hope you are doing well during these times :D
I've been using coffee in my basing for a while now, but I never thought to mix it with paint first... Seems legit. Normally I super glue it to the base, prime it, then dry brush. Makes great rocks or crushed ice.
If you can't get a hold of sawdust, you can use dried coffee grounds as flock. Just mix it with some acrylic paints. Obviously at a dryer ratio that in this video
This was right on time for my first army. Thanks!
If you grind them smaller , you can use it for typhus corrosion. Also if you let the coffee grounds soak in water for a day and then dry they won't stain.
Coffee definitely can mold but if you’re scared of that and want to speed up drying, use isopropyl alcohol!
You mean mix the alcohol with coffe?
Brilliant. Thanks Guy.
Neat! Normally just after a brew I smear the wet grounds over a bunch of paper or card to stain them up for later use in whatever art/craft project that'll come up. But as a texture for bases? Hmmm...would even work out as a textured paint for waddle and daub walls in building terrain (fantasy) or battle damaged walls/streets (urban/sci-fi) too. A bit of sealer or spray on terrain glue should keep everything in place.
THIS is the combination of passions I never knew I needed. ❤️
This is a fantastic idea, I've been giving my grounds to a neighbour for her garden, but i go through too much for the garden to keep up. I tried pulling together an industrial base the other day using the cracker packet and guitar strings like one of your old videos, it worked great!
So Guy I just attempted this last night. Did this with a Battletech mini and a 3D printed dwarf. The mechs look better then the dwarf. I need to work with this some more but it does work. Looks better after primed black
Great tip. I've been using coffee in a mix with PVA glue for a while now. They look a lot like your first one once painted. The cracked earth effect is awesome though! Woot, thanks for the new technique.
I ran out of stirland mud for a swamp based army so I tried sand, cornflower and brown paint mixed with water and it cracked so I could add nurgkes rot into it it looks brilliant
Having tried it after watching this video, I honestly wouldn't recommend it. I did the drying and mixing pretty much spot on, and the texture looked great, applied great, and painted great, and after some varnish it looked fantastic for almost 2 years after doing a whole army like this. Unfortunately now though, I've been noticing that the coffee grounds unfortunately eventually seem to lose that toughness and become very brittle. The texture on several of the models has begun to separate from the base and it is becoming easier and easier to have chunks of the base break off from minor drops or bending of larger bases.
Great short term idea but unfortunately ended up being a headache in the long term for me.
Right so recently... that’s my brushes sorted and now I can recycle EVEN more when will this madness end! Never I hope! Thanks Guy!
Two videos in one day? Finally some reprieve from general 2020-ishness
I feel so happy for thinking about searching this. I will definitely do this the next time I have to empty the grounds from the coffee machine
Dude that's a great idea.. maybe after the coffee and paint mixture is dry, maybe cover it in diluted PVA glue? It'd create a barrier against mixture and time getting into it.
Guy im from Colombia, and you using coffee to make texture paint just blow my mind ;).
This is the video that I needed to watch! My coffee grounds are piling up and looking for ways to repurpose, reuse, or recycle them. Thanks!
Fantastic stuff! thanks for the video
I made a batch of coffe grinds/pva/cheap acrylic paint and wall filler. 2 years later I'm still using it.