Protective coating for stickers?

Crownie

Given some of the problems people are having with the 'non-clear-backed' stickers, has anyone tried using some sort of clear coat on the stickered brick to prevent peeling, ect? (Like an acrylic clear coat found at Art Supply stores / Michael's / Hobby Lobby.)

As long as it's a matte finish (I think that's what you'd want - though it may depend on location), it shouldn't be obvious after it dries...

Thoughts?

bobabricks

I actually can't stand clear backed stickers, the streaks/bubbles annoy me to no end.

monkeyhanger

Small clear stickers are good (Deathstar set #10188), big ones (UCS X-wing #10240 cockpit) are bad. The bigger the sticker, the more likely you are to get bubbles in it.

akunthita

@Crownie‌, I have been coating my stickers for quite some time now. I tried varous top-coats from Michael's, and some of them work better than others. The Liquitex brand is really good and it comes in both matte and glossy. But the best clear-coat I have found is actually clear nail-polish top coat. I use the brand Sally Hansen, but others may work too. Make sure you try it first on an old sticker because some brands can smear the print. Sally Hansen is good though and it won't smear. And whatever clearcoat you use, keep it thin. You need very little to protect the sticker. Just one thin layer over the top. Let it dry flat.

Crownie

Is there reason to think that a nail polish coat might degrade the LEGO itself over time faster than something meant for 'artistic endeavors'? (I guess I always associate nail polish and beauty products with chemicals - acetone, ect.)

Thank you for the solid experience!

akunthita

@Crownie, I haven't seen that being an issue, especially since you are covering the sticker with the top-coat, not the LEGO element itself. Once the top-coat dries, I apply the sticker as normal. The top-coat doesn't seep through the sticker itself, so it never touches the LEGO element.

CCC

Another tip is to photograph the sticker sheet before you peel them. That way you can always print them off again in the future if the worst happens.