"Wet Pallet vs. Dry Pallet?" Topic

Thanks to a previous thread, I was recently introduced to wet and dry pallets.

I see what a wet pallet is… link

And I am assuming that Dry Pallets are just put paint on a board and paint from that…

What are the capabilities and advantages of each?

Looking for advice here, as I am always trying to improve my technique and painting skills.

Thanks.

I paint using the "Duke's" method (chalky primer/very thin colors) so a dry pallet is the way I go. I find that not being able to control the amount of solvent(dihydrous monoxide) to ink ratio unproductive.
YMMV,
R.

I think the only advantage to a dry pallette is that you don't have to leave the bottle open, and you can mix up the paint a bit to control consitency.

Personally I have no need for a wet pallette, and paint as above (I try to go for 3 coats of paint to reach adequate opacity, so very thin coats).

Damon.

I think I use the dry palette method. Acrylic paint poured/squeezed into dimples in a cheap plastic palette. I mix other color & water as needed. Also, I like colors to be opaque in one coat if possible – that's why I use certain "name" brands over craft store acrylics. Somtimes I like thinner coats that are somewhat transparent while working the design – like heraldry. Also, I can "wash" it off if it isn't right. Dean

Soooo….
Its just all about consistency and mixing? No other items associated with it?

And is my 'dry' pallet the correct definition?

Thanks.

I have heard that once you go "wet" you never go back.

Just checked your link – there are proper wet pallets out there, not those scratchbuilt things.

Just what are the advantages of a wet pallet?
VR
James Mattes

A wet palette is way better than dry but . . . . the ones on the market take up too much space on my painting table so I tend to use mine for 'special' projects.

A wet palette allows you to put several colors on it at once and they won't dry out. You can mix colors in stages so -- no need for any triads -- you can make your own in a heart beat. You can even make custom colors and quit for the night knowing that in the morning your paint will be ready to go -- same shade as the night before.

Nope there are many many advantages to a wet palette. Down side is size (these things are way too big for miniature painting spaces -- well mine in particular and I have a better set up than most); imperfect sealing (generally operator error); and the learning curve needed to get the most out of it.

mjc

I use an old plastic lid from a coffee can. I have an old plastic lid from a tub of margerine I use when I can't find my coffee can lid.

I have some pallets stacked out back. Normally they're dry, this being a desert, but with the recent rains, they're soaked pretty well through now. But tey'll dry out again.

(Tupperware container, a household sponge, and W&N palette paper is what I use. I can thin paint right on the paper and leave it, as long as I don't forget to put the lid on and burp it.)

Allen

Ah, I already knew what a wet palette was, in fact that's what I use most of the time. But he made a better one that I did. Looks like he used leftover GW model packaging. Although he should be using parchment paper, not paper towels.

Must. Steal. Idea.

quidveritas

You have trouble fitting one on your setup? How big are regular wet palettes? My homemade one takes up about 6x6 inches, or about 15x15 centimeters, and I have no problem fitting it on one huge mess of a painting table.

I use the small flock canisters from GF9 when I choose to go with a wet pallet…they are roughly the size of a hockey puck. Cut sponge and wet pallet refill papers to size, add water and you are all set.

I generally don't bother with a wet pallet. They are very handy for certain projects though. I have wet pallets put aside for my GWS Ogres and some reaper ghouls that had very unusual skin tones that I will need again when I expand my collection.

@Paranoid Painter: Store bought wet pallets have a wide range of sizes. The PP Wet Pallet is on the small side and is about 4"x6" (roughly). The refill papers I purchase are on the large side and are for a 12"x16" wet pallet.

I love my wet pallet. I bought it at Michael's for $5 USD using their weekly coupon. It allows me to paint from the same puddle of paint for a long, long time without worrying about drying out or skinning over. For army painting or doing a lot of the same color it is excellent. You can also cap the pallet, keeping the paint fresh for days. If you custom mix colors and need to paint several figures with the color, a wet pallet will save you headaches.

Don't let the wet sponge sit in the pallet for too many days. Mold will set it and make the pallet funky. Follow the directions.

BTW P3 extols the use of wet pallets in their painting vids.

During summer a dry pallette is impossible for me as the paint can dry before I get a second brush stroke on the figure. Wet pallette is great.

Robert

With a wet palette the paint stays fresh for days, if you have a cover. Consistency is better, too. For example, it's a blessing when doing belts/ piping, etc, especially on 15's.

I was a lid painter for years and dry palette too and switched about a year ago. I will NEVER go back. I am currently on vacation in Florida visiting family for the holidays and brought work with me. I was so frustrated trying to paint with a dry palette I made one within a day of being here.

mine is 12 x 16"

link

It's stinkin big!

Will have to look into smaller setups mentioned above.

mjc

Paintbeast:

Thanks for the insight.

I went from not knowing what a wet palette was to making one of my own on the inside of a few of hours, so I'm not really familiar with what's commercially available. I do know that they can't possibly less expensive than what I made.

quidveritas:

That would certainly explain it.

I like using a sandwich container, a folded sheet of paper towel, and baking parchment paper. I like the paper towel over a sponge because I have to replace the paper towel every now and again, which means there is less opportunity to grow stuff. :-)

I still use my 16 well palette at times. It's useful for washes and for letting my son paint.

Ron

If you are not using a wet palette, you are not serious about painting. Wet palette=Easy to reach colors which stay moist and thin themselves allowing for a streak free cover on the mini showing more detail.

Dry palette=Small mounds of overly thick paint which become thicker as the clock tics. Your troops will end up looking like you painted tooth paste on them-streaky, detail obscured and guey. Yuk!

You can hold on to the way you do things but you are just head strong and unwilling to try something that truly works. Kinda like the guys on here that prime their figures and wait a week before they paint them so to be sure they are really dry or wait 48 hrs before applying a second coat of primer. It is cool! To each his own. There re a lot of old timers on here(including myself) who are set in their ways. Lol…

"Don't let the wet sponge sit in the pallet for too many days. Mold will set it and make the pallet funky."

That may depend on your water. I have to use distilled water for painting, as the tap water here has such high mineral content. I can leave the wet palette sealed up for a month or more--when I lack inspiration--and there's no mold.

Not sure what other vectors there may be--airborne spores, of course--but using distilled or RO water seems to minimize that problem. Licking your brush probably isn;t good for keeping a sterile wet palette, either!

Allen

I use a dry palette.

I have a commercial wet palette still in its shrink wrap; never seemed like the right project to open it up.

You don't need anything from the outside to have a perfect wet palette.

You need the following:

Pringles or butter lid. I use Pringles. Some wax paper. Some tissue or paper towel and some water.

If you can get those you have a wet palette. Lol…

Not too big at all like someone mentions.

You make it by stretching out the wax paper to about a foot. fold into about 6 -8 square. The squares need to be bigger than the lid. You then place the paper on a cutting board and use the plastic lid to trace over the paper with a sharp X-Acto knife. You should end up with about 6-8 round pieces that you will use over the next week or so for you palette. You then fold the tissue/paper towel into about 4-5 pieces and trim to fit the lid. You place water into it and cover with the small cut-out circles of wax paper(save the others) and you are done.
This takes all of about 3 minutes to do.

Try it for two weeks. You will notice a huge difference. I use the back of the brush to transport paint from the bottles to the palette. I Immediately close the paint bottle to avoid the paint from drying out. (How guys paint from the bottle is beyond me. It dries out your paint especially when painting with a fan.)

Good luck and enjoy you will thank me later.