Faux with a Midas Touch: Super-Hide Metallics



(The Wizard of OZ, MGM 1939)

Let's blow off some steam about the new Super-Hide Metallics

Metallics are big again this year and this is Faux Effects latest offering in the metallic product line. These real metal materials provide a dense mid-luster metallic shine with great light reflection.  Super-Hide is available in Silver, Rich Gold, Pale Gold, Copper, and Bronze with tones being similar to the new Metallic Sharkskin paint and the FauxMetals. The sizes range from 8oz tubes at $18.95 to $119.75 for gallons. So we ordered every color and started making samples and completing projects.  The last Contemporary Lux class included several finishes with the product. So what do we think?

 Super-Hide is both a stand alone product and and an additive to create dense metallic plasters and glazes.

As a stand alone product, we love it for stenciling.  The dry texture and heavy nature of the Super-Hides means it won't bleed under stencils and covers in one pass.

Royal Design Damask Stencil in Silver and Rich Gold Super-Hide Metallic

I have used it straight out of the tube to tip furniture giving pieces the look of Dutch Metal without the tarnishing issues. Super-Hide doesn't spread far in this method but I've applied it at the same time as my cabinet stains and the two blend well without becoming mush.

Pale Gold Super-Hide Metallic and Faux Creme Concentrate Stain

Because the Super-Hide dries fast, you can go to your next step usually when you have finished one wall.  In this sample, I used the Rich Gold for the stencil and then went over it in 20 minutes with wet metallic fresco:



Royal Design Damask Stencil

The thing that makes this product different from, say the FauxMetal, is the ability to mix it with water-based products. FauxMetal will tarnish whereas the Super-Hide Metallic will not.  For the most part this has held true.  This is what you will see if the mixed product is left over-night even in an airtight container:

It will become a pale turquoise and you will freak out thinking that it has turned. But surprise! When you poke it with the brush, there is the color.  When I have brushed, rolled, or troweled the product in this state it has still dried true-to-metallic color even after mixed for a week. So far, Venetian Gem Tinting Base is the only product that tarnished when mixed with the Super-Hide Metallic. It continued to turn on the board even after glazing.  Although the colors went slightly verdigris and I didn't mind the results, it should be noted if you don't want a tarnished look.



Palette Deco with Super-Hide mixed with Venetian Gem Tinting Base

We did find that by mixing the Super-Hide Metallics with a variety of products we were able to get a range of coverage from very dense:

Super Hide Silver and Rich Gold on Sandstone Bark finish



Medium Build:



Super-Hide Silver and Rich Gold over our Taffeta Paper Finish

                                                                         

Sheer Build

Royal Design Studio Ribbon Stencil in Super Hide Copper and Rich Gold with Super-Hide Silver pulled over entire finish.



The Super-Hides work equally well under a finish as they do on top of a finish:

Pale Gold Super-Hide under custom tinted Luna





Super-hide custom tinted Copper over custom tinted Luna.

The sample above also demonstrates another quality of the Super-Hide Metallics. You may mix them together for custom colors or you may tint with your Faux Color or Faux Creme Colors. Stain tends to deaden the metallic qualities of the product.

Finally, if you want a solid metallic plaster with a low luster sheen the Super-Hides are an appropriate choice.  I troweled over this sample board of Brown Suede Lusterstone with Lusterstone Tint Base + Super-Hide Silver and the other half with Super-Hide Silver + Aquawax:

                                         

Because of the cost, I find the tubes to be an economical way to use this product which does go a long way.  I use a Tablespoon per 8oz of product when mixing.  Later this week I will post some completed projects using the product with coverage rates listed.

I still prefer the Faux Metals if I want a vibrant metallic with the most depth and was relieved that both products would be available.  Make sure and vigorously shake the tubes before using.  The liquid and solid tend to separate and you will just get "juice"-think about when you first squeeze out ketchup. The only other product that (so far) didn't work with the Super-Hide was the RS Glaze.  The mixed glaze wouldn't activate with the RS Activator. So I tried to use this glaze without activation on my own door project.  At first it looked great but as it dried, the color wasn't even. Top coating made it more pronounced.  I'm sure as we work more with the Super-Hides we will find things we love, things we don't, and sometimes reactions that we can't explain at all.

This is a Gold Label product. We teach with it in our Contemporary Lux class and the new Metallic Furniture Class.