This guide will show you how to get a streak free and flawless finish with Dixie Belle's Gator Hide. No more streaks! Get a beautiful finish the easy way!
The Detailer's Choice Applicator Sponge is also an excellent way to apply a poly topcoat that's easy to do and achieves a streak free, flash, free, bubbless topcoat in a fraction of the time. It has a built in handle and divider that prevents it from absorbing a ton of product and is easy to use over intricate details. It's changed the way i feel about applying poly and I no longer dread it. Add that to this fantastic tip of tinting the poly with the paint and you'll achieve an easy finish of your dreams. Bonus - the Detailer's Choice Applicator Sponges only cost $2 at Home Depot and are available online at Amazon and Ebay. This video, along with what I've discovered through trial and error, is going to make my life so much easier! Thank you!
I would like to thank you. It is wonderful these videos are on so long. I tried everything to put a clear coat on some painted shelves. Every result brought streaking on my new black paint. After watching your video I got brave, mixed some Varathane water-based and a touch of my black paint & rolled everything. It worked with NO streaks! The Gatorhide was disappointing probably because of the sheen, so that is why I chose to use the Varathane Matte finish! Thx so much for this video.
I just recently found and subscribed to your channel, and I tried this technique for my very first time using Gator Hide today, and it came out really good. Way better than I expected! It worked great! Thank you so much for this awesome tip and detailed demonstration. You rock!
Thank you for the great demo. I just painted a hutch in caviar. I did a test side with GH and sponge and it looks like stripes. I am heading out to Lowe’s for a nice foam roller and a tray. Thank you so much. I was about to paint it over and just wax but it needs more than that. You saved the day and the piece. ❤️😇
Great information. Since I saw you do this method with the Gator Hide recently on your website, this is how I apply it to the top of my furniture. This is a so much easier way than with a foam brush. Thanks !!
Just bought some Gator Hide after hearing good things about it. SO glad I came across your vid and can avoid some of the application issues ppl are talking about. Saw some in store pieces w it applied n it looked awesome...hoping for the same results 🙏🏽
Oh my god this was so helpful I am using cobalt Dixie Belle paint on a dresser and then I added some stencil with mermaids tail can I use the gator hide on top of the mermaids tail if I still mix it with the cobalt?
I'm so glad you posted this! I used caviar with gator hide on top for the first time and was not impressed. So the dresser has just sat in my garage. Anyway, what % of each did you use? Like 50/50 of both? Also, is 1 coat sufficient?
SHEILA JENSEN hey there okay so try like 1/3 cup GH to 3 TBS of paint :) you can also warm it up for easier application by putting your jar of GH in hot water (no microwave)!
Thank you so much!! I had almost sworn off black and navy due to all the problems I had with finishing; will definitely give this a try. Do you wash and reuse the rollers or toss?
thanks for this video. I am so frustrated with gator hide right now. I painted my piece with Caviar and it looked great. Applied GH and now it is all streaky. I am afraid to sand it now because it seems to get all dulled and dusty. do I need to apply more paint or can I just sand and then use GH? My piece also has some intricate parts and a single pass with the roller won't get into all the crevices. Any suggestions for techniques to go over these parts? Thank you so much!!
You have inspired me to take on a few projects. I just painted a piece this week in navy blue and sealed it with Dixie's flat seal. I love the matte finish but the down side is that the piece becomes ashy on touch. If I use your method of Gator Hide and paint combination, would you suggest I sand lightly with 320 grit, give it one coat of navy paint and then apply the Gator Hide/pain combination or just apply it over the flat seal? Thanks for your help!
okay so what I would do is sand lightly with you 320, mix a TBS of navy to a 1/2 cup of the gator hide and just do it right over :) now with darker colors I always keep a microfiber cloth handy by the piece or even in a drawer and you can rub the hand marks and stuff of with that after it dries :)
This video is helpful, I’ve been quite frustrated with my results using GH. Question: I have a coat of GH on top of Caviar and it streaked horribly. I sanded lightly, do you think I can now use your approach on top and it will hide the streaks? TIA
@@BellaRenovare Thank you so much, your great advice helped save my project. I was at my wit's end. I used the round foam brush and added the paint and now it looks fabulous! Thank you, thank you!!!
I'm assuming I'd have to lightly sand after this top coat/paint mixture since the top coat would then have chalk paint in it and therefore, a slightly chalky finish. What are the instructions for that step?
okay so watch this video, I just recently did it and I think it is much better, back when this was made I didn't make a lot of videos so I missed some important stuff. You can fast forward through this video because it was a giveaway but it will be MUCH MORE helpful :) ua-cam.com/video/aTarswxsJtQ/v-deo.html
I'm painting a coffee table in Caviar. I would like to use black wax on top of the Caviar; however, since it's a coffee table I would also like to seal the top of the coffee table with Gator Hide. Can I use Gator Hide on top of black wax? I appreciate any suggestions you can share. Thank you.
Yes you can butttt it has to be Dixie Belles water based wax :) make sure you apply, wipe away excess and buff in 15-20 later and then wait roughly 48 hours and you can apply gator hide on top :)
honestly its hard to say because each person's piece is different but lets say you had half a cup of GH you would want abut a TBS of paint :) just enough to tint the GH :)
Hello! Awesome video! The struggle is real when it comes to putting top coats on dark colored paints. I will definitely use your technique next time. Quick question, though. What ratio of paint to Gator Hide should I use? You probably just eyeball it, but any guidance you can give would be a huge help. Thanks... and happy painting!
Hi Bridget!! thank you, sooooo I would say 1 cup to 2-3 Tablespoons to start and kind of go from there if you feel like it needs more paint add a little at a time :) Hopefully that helps :)
Hi Bella Renovare, I was going to ask the same question Bridget did regarding the ratio. Is it 1 cup of paint and then 2-3 tbs of GH, or vice versa? Thanks for sharing your painting tips. 😊 Also, do you have to lightly sand between coats if you are applying multiple layers?
Stacey Shanahan o yes lol sorry not enough coffee this morning so I lightly sand with a 320 grit, wipe the dust away with a damp cloth and do a second coat 🖤
My first chair is Dixie Belle Navy, I wanted the seat to have a shine and put on 1 clear coat. I went back to my teacher and we painted a second chair. She suggested Gator Hide but now I have 1 chair with a flat appearance and 1 with a bit of shine from 1 clear coat. Will they match if I paint with Gator Hide?
Yes ma'am whatever the final top coat is that you put on will be what it looks like so if you want it to match your gator hide chair do the final one in gator hide :)
okay so you can't physically mix them but once any oil based stain is thoroughly dried (roughly 72 hours) you are okay to use water based stains no problem :)
The Detailer's Choice Applicator Sponge is also an excellent way to apply a poly topcoat that's easy to do and achieves a streak free, flash, free, bubbless topcoat in a fraction of the time. It has a built in handle and divider that prevents it from absorbing a ton of product and is easy to use over intricate details. It's changed the way i feel about applying poly and I no longer dread it. Add that to this fantastic tip of tinting the poly with the paint and you'll achieve an easy finish of your dreams. Bonus - the Detailer's Choice Applicator Sponges only cost $2 at Home Depot and are available online at Amazon and Ebay. This video, along with what I've discovered through trial and error, is going to make my life so much easier! Thank you!
I would like to thank you. It is wonderful these videos are on so long. I tried everything to put a clear coat on some painted shelves. Every result brought streaking on my new black paint. After watching your video I got brave, mixed some Varathane water-based and a touch of my black paint & rolled everything. It worked with NO streaks! The Gatorhide was disappointing probably because of the sheen, so that is why I chose to use the Varathane Matte finish! Thx so much for this video.
You are so very welcome!! I am so happy you had success!!!
I'm obsessed with this color. This was so helpful! Thank you!
I just recently found and subscribed to your channel, and I tried this technique for my very first time using Gator Hide today, and it came out really good. Way better than I expected! It worked great! Thank you so much for this awesome tip and detailed demonstration. You rock!
Cool tip for painting with black chalk paint. And i love your projects.
thank you so much Shirley :)
Omg you saved my life! Thank you so much for this tip. It was so frustrating the streaks I kept getting!!!!! This is genius
Erica Carrillo thank you so much!!!!!!!
Extremely Helpful. The info came at just the right time. Thank you so much 😊
Thank you for the great demo. I just painted a hutch in caviar. I did a test side with GH and sponge and it looks like stripes. I am heading out to Lowe’s for a nice foam roller and a tray. Thank you so much. I was about to paint it over and just wax but it needs more than that. You saved the day and the piece. ❤️😇
Diana Fairbrother you are soooo welcome!!!!
Thanks. Just getting ready to use GH for first time and it's over bunker hill blue. Love the mixing tip. you're the bomb!
O perfect!! I hope you find it helpful :)
Great information. Since I saw you do this method with the Gator Hide recently on your website, this is how I apply it to the top of my furniture. This is a so much easier way than with a foam brush. Thanks !!
Gloria Fields you are soooo welcome ❤️❤️❤️
Just bought some Gator Hide after hearing good things about it. SO glad I came across your vid and can avoid some of the application issues ppl are talking about. Saw some in store pieces w it applied n it looked awesome...hoping for the same results 🙏🏽
Just remember thin coats :)
This really help because I going to do my bathroom cabinets in caviar color and I wanted to put a gloss on it with any streak.
Shajuan Williams o yes!!! Just remember thin coats and you got this!!
Oh my god this was so helpful I am using cobalt Dixie Belle paint on a dresser and then I added some stencil with mermaids tail can I use the gator hide on top of the mermaids tail if I still mix it with the cobalt?
Awesome
Can you share the ratio used for the right mix with the gator hide?
I'm so glad you posted this! I used caviar with gator hide on top for the first time and was not impressed. So the dresser has just sat in my garage. Anyway, what % of each did you use? Like 50/50 of both? Also, is 1 coat sufficient?
SHEILA JENSEN hey there okay so try like 1/3 cup GH to 3 TBS of paint :) you can also warm it up for easier application by putting your jar of GH in hot water (no microwave)!
Thank you so much!! I had almost sworn off black and navy due to all the problems I had with finishing; will definitely give this a try. Do you wash and reuse the rollers or toss?
Maggie Vaughn hey there! I don’t reuse them only because I get distracted but you definitely could and I should lol
Great tip!
Glad it was helpful!
thanks for this video. I am so frustrated with gator hide right now. I painted my piece with Caviar and it looked great. Applied GH and now it is all streaky. I am afraid to sand it now because it seems to get all dulled and dusty. do I need to apply more paint or can I just sand and then use GH? My piece also has some intricate parts and a single pass with the roller won't get into all the crevices. Any suggestions for techniques to go over these parts? Thank you so much!!
Laura Kaplan you could use a paint brush as well. Do you have the Howdy doo hemp seed oil?
You have inspired me to take on a few projects. I just painted a piece this week in navy blue and sealed it with Dixie's flat seal. I love the matte finish but the down side is that the piece becomes ashy on touch. If I use your method of Gator Hide and paint combination, would you suggest I sand lightly with 320 grit, give it one coat of navy paint and then apply the Gator Hide/pain combination or just apply it over the flat seal? Thanks for your help!
okay so what I would do is sand lightly with you 320, mix a TBS of navy to a 1/2 cup of the gator hide and just do it right over :)
now with darker colors I always keep a microfiber cloth handy by the piece or even in a drawer and you can rub the hand marks and stuff of with that after it dries :)
@@BellaRenovare You are awesome, thanks!
I wish I would have found this video sooner! Well I know for next time.
Now you have it in your vault!!! :)
This video is helpful, I’ve been quite frustrated with my results using GH.
Question: I have a coat of GH on top of Caviar and it streaked horribly. I sanded lightly, do you think I can now use your approach on top and it will hide the streaks? TIA
Yes you sure can!!! just go over it again with your paint and GH mix and bam!! :)
@@BellaRenovare Thank you so much, your great advice helped save my project. I was at my wit's end. I used the round foam brush and added the paint and now it looks fabulous! Thank you, thank you!!!
dhaffirm1 yay!!! I am so happy!!!
I'm assuming I'd have to lightly sand after this top coat/paint mixture since the top coat would then have chalk paint in it and therefore, a slightly chalky finish. What are the instructions for that step?
okay so watch this video, I just recently did it and I think it is much better, back when this was made I didn't make a lot of videos so I missed some important stuff. You can fast forward through this video because it was a giveaway but it will be MUCH MORE helpful :)
ua-cam.com/video/aTarswxsJtQ/v-deo.html
This is a game changer. Thank you!
you are so welcome :)
I'm painting a coffee table in Caviar. I would like to use black wax on top of the Caviar; however, since it's a coffee table I would also like to seal the top of the coffee table with Gator Hide. Can I use Gator Hide on top of black wax? I appreciate any suggestions you can share. Thank you.
Yes you can butttt it has to be Dixie Belles water based wax :) make sure you apply, wipe away excess and buff in 15-20 later and then wait roughly 48 hours and you can apply gator hide on top :)
@@BellaRenovare
Thank you so much. This is truly helpful. I appreciate your prompt response.
When you mix gator hyde with the paint, what proportions do you use of each? Thanks!
honestly its hard to say because each person's piece is different but lets say you had half a cup of GH you would want abut a TBS of paint :) just enough to tint the GH :)
@@BellaRenovare Thank you!!!
Happy New Year!!
Hello! Awesome video! The struggle is real when it comes to putting top coats on dark colored paints. I will definitely use your technique next time. Quick question, though. What ratio of paint to Gator Hide should I use? You probably just eyeball it, but any guidance you can give would be a huge help. Thanks... and happy painting!
Hi Bridget!! thank you, sooooo I would say 1 cup to 2-3 Tablespoons to start and kind of go from there if you feel like it needs more paint add a little at a time :) Hopefully that helps :)
Hi Bella Renovare, I was going to ask the same question Bridget did regarding the ratio. Is it 1 cup of paint and then 2-3 tbs of GH, or vice versa? Thanks for sharing your painting tips. 😊 Also, do you have to lightly sand between coats if you are applying multiple layers?
Stacey Shanahan Hi Stacey! So do 1 cup of GH to 2-3 TBS of paint, if you feel like it needs to be darker add a little paint at a time ❤️❤️🖤🖤
Bella Renovare what about the question regarding applying a second layer if need be?
Stacey Shanahan o yes lol sorry not enough coffee this morning so I lightly sand with a 320 grit, wipe the dust away with a damp cloth and do a second coat 🖤
My first chair is Dixie Belle Navy, I wanted the seat to have a shine and put on 1 clear coat. I went back to my teacher and we painted a second chair. She suggested Gator Hide but now I have 1 chair with a flat appearance and 1 with a bit of shine from 1 clear coat. Will they match if I paint with Gator Hide?
Yes ma'am whatever the final top coat is that you put on will be what it looks like so if you want it to match your gator hide chair do the final one in gator hide :)
How much of the gatorhide did you mix in with the paint? I’m doing a dresser for a customer and the streaks from the gatorhide is driving me nuts lol
Try watching this video it may really help :)
ua-cam.com/video/aTarswxsJtQ/v-deo.html
Can you mix the gator hide with the no pain gel stain? I am concerned because one is is oil based and the other is water based.
okay so you can't physically mix them but once any oil based stain is thoroughly dried (roughly 72 hours) you are okay to use water based stains no problem :)
Can you put the liquid gator hide in your paint also if you don't have the powder?
Hi there I am not sure what powder you mean?
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What if I already gave a coat of gator hide with the blue sponge but I hated it...can I still do this?
marcia marin you sure can just do a light sand with a 220 grit wipe it clean and then go for it :)
What is the ratio of paint to GH? Thank you
you don't need much paint, truthfully I would do a tbs at a time and mix once it turns black you are good :)
Vous êtes fantastique. You are amazing. Thank and Thank you. So helpful video.
Thank you! 😃
What if you used this mix and applied with the blue dixie belle sponge?
TrueBlueStables you could do that as well!!!
What is the ratio of paint to gator hide?
I would do 1 cup of paint and 2 TBS of Gator Hide :)
🌈🖖🏽💕