Monday 18 April 2011

Good God, it's still too green!


Two images of my 'snooker green' baize cloth after having sprayed it - and it's still too green! The effect I was hoping for can be seen in the middle of the first shot - a pale, mottled, green. Much of it is the colour of the second shot.

The cloth is 16' x 6' 6". I knew that I would have to use a lot of spray paints to get a good effect (it's a big space) but, quite obviously, I have underestimated the amount needed. I started with a tin of black to 'take the edge off' and darken the green. Then a tin and a half of dark brown, then half a tin of beige, then a tin of dark green, then a tin of lighter 'grass' green, then the remainder of the beige, then 3 tins of yellow. When it was hanging on the washing line (for spraying), in bright sunlight, it looked quite light in tone; when I brought into artificial light it's greenness was shocking.

I've ordered another three tins of yellow and a tin of 'caramel'. This should be enough for the finish I'm after - I hope.

My advice to anyone doing this job is to follow the steps I took (darkening the cloth first, with black, dark brown and dark green) as this has given a good depth of shade (I'm not sure that the light green was worth the effort, though the beige worked well) - but when you buy the lightening yellow tone to bring it all 'up' and bind it all together buy lots and LOTS, as you will need cans and cans of the stuff.

For those with a mind to price, the paint bill (including the extra tins) currently stands at £60.00. Not cheap, but the cloth cost me nothing - thanks, Ken.

10 comments:

Ray Rousell said...

It looks fine to me, but I guess its a personal preference?

Timur said...

No. It's just because the 2 armies haven't yet plough the field... :)

BigRedBat said...

Looks very nice! How did you get the free cloth?

Broeders said...

I like it as well!

Christopher(aka Axebreaker) said...

Your right, it's too green. Let's see what your yellows will bring.

Cheers
Christopher

Sgt Steiner said...

Looks fine IMHO
Certainly verdant but very suitable for high summer no ?

Gonsalvo said...

I agree, expect to use many cans of paint of many colors. 2/3 of my cloths started dark green, and after enough coats thewy really look quite good, although in close up pictures of units the hue gets distorted; more easily appreciated in the overview pictures of battles. Mine is considerably more mottled in appearance - suspect a couple more paint sessions will give you the effect you want.

JAMES ROACH said...

Hi BRB,

My friend Ken obtained it directly from the mill through his professional connections. This piece of cloth (7m x 2m bolt) has 'sipping faults' (whatever that is - I can't see them) which would preclude it from use on championship quality snooker tables, but it's just the ticket for a games table.

BigRedBat said...

Thanks James, a very handy friend!

Anonymous said...

Nice idea on the tabletop surface and it looks good.

Slightly off topic but what method do you use for making tree tops? Looks like flock sprinkled onto some sort of stringy underlaying material, wire, steel wool,Scouring pad? and how durable do you find them being picked up and put down etc.