Want to make your rocks glow in the dark? Then a glow in the dark paint for rocks can help. These paints are specially made to adhere well to rocks and make them glow in the dark.
So, when these rocks are placed in the garden, they make it look like a fairy garden. These paints are made using glowing pigments that do all the work.
These pigments take light and charge themselves only for later, emitting it slowly. Once charged, it starts gradually emitting the charge, thus giving a glow-like effect for hours.
Apart from the quality, its thickness and charge play a crucial role. A glow in the dark paint needs to be applied thickly for the best effect. Without being thick, it won’t glow at its full potential.
Once applied, the final part is charging. Now, charging isn’t as simple as it seems. There are a lot of lights that can charge glow paint. Like, sunlight, lamplight, LED light, high wattage bulbs, etc.
But the best of all is a Blacklight, which can charge the paint in no time and ensure a much better and brighter glow.
Now, the question is – Which glow paint is the best for rocks?
While hundreds of them are in the market, getting your hands on the right one is pretty tricky. Most glow paints have a good consistency to make them easy to apply, so finding a good one was pretty hard, but finally, after testing many glow paints, I found the top three.
After finding the best weapon for painting, you must also know how to paint rocks with glow paint. Now, without further ado, let’s give a quick look at the top paints.
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Wait! Read it. First!
Even though painting the garden pathway rocks and making them glow seems a great idea, it’s not as easy as you think. Most people think you just need to paint these rocks, and they will glow like a gem. But that’s not true.
Firstly, most of the glow paints don’t adhere well to rocks. The reason is that all rocks have a distinct shape, and their surface is not that supportive, so you will have a hard time painting there. To make it supportive, you have to do a base primer of white paint. Doing so will make it adhesive and better glowing.
It may seem a good idea if you have a few stones, but if you think of painting the whole garden, then it’s too laborious. It may take weeks and a countless number of bottles to do so. Once you have your first layer, you still have to do a couple more to get a good glow. A single layer won’t produce a noticeable glow; you need at least 3.
Now you understand how time-consuming it can get. So, my SERIOUS suggestion would be – If you have a handful of rocks, like for a kids project or something, then buy the glow in the dark paint; otherwise, don’t.
If you want to make your pathway or garden glow, I recommend Glow in the dark stones. These are a bit cheap, and you will get around 400-600 pieces that will surely do the work. So, think wisely and choose the best option.
I told you this because I don’t want you to get a glow paint that may not work per your expectations. So, you must know pre hand as to what to expect. Still, below are all three reviews if you want the paint.
3. Ultra Green V10 Glow in the Dark Paint For Rocks –
Want a glow paint that adheres well to rock and glows for hours with minutes of charge? Then Ultra V10 is the right option. It’s one of the most popular glow paints, and there is a reason why.
It made using the highest grade strontium aluminate pigments capable of charging themselves quickly and then using that charge to glow for hours. Most of these glow in the dark paints have an average glow of 2-3 hours, but Ultra V10 can glow Upto 12 hours straight with a single charge. How?
This paint, unlike others, has a lot of glow pigments that help it emit for a long. But as somebody said, “With good comes the evil.” Since there are too many glow pigments, this paint is very gritty, like sand. Actually, you will feel the pigments, and believe me; they are nowhere near smooth.
It feels like you are rubbing your hand on sandpaper, which is not pleasant. But there is a solution. Once you paint it over the rock, do a clear nail polish coat, and it will become smooth and glossy. Plus, it will get weatherproofed, easily tackling the severe weather outside.
This paint is more of toothpaste than water-based, but that actually helps it adhere well to rocks. But make sure to have a white primer over the rocks before using the paint. Its thick consistency is suitable for fishing lures, metal surfaces, signs, star ceilings, etc. So, if some paint is left, you know where to use it.
When applying it to the rocks, make sure to have it thick. These paints work like this; if you use a single layer and wait for it to glow, you will have to wait for your whole life to see it glow.
That’s why it’s recommended to apply 1/16” or 4 oz per square foot, which means 4-5 coats in simple human language. Anything less may not please you, and anything above will finish the bottle in the blink of an eye.
Once applied, wait for it to dry. Since its a water-based paint, it can be washed off when wet, so wait for it to dry before putting them outdoors. Even though it’s water-based, avoid them on your skin and hair.
They will dry semi-translucent white, which isn’t that visible on white paint. The final thing to do is charge them. You can now use sunlight, high-wattage bulbs, LED light, or a Blacklight. I use a Blacklight and will always recommend it since it’s more powerful than any other source. Here is the blacklight I use; just give it a try.
Users really love that it adheres well, dries pretty quickly, and glows well, but I hate that it’s costly for the quantity you get. Like seriously, but since it can glow up to 12 hours, it’s a little OK, but not completely worth it.
Pros
- Adheres well to stones
- Glows up to 12 hours
- Lots of size options
- It can use on various surfaces.
Cons
- Little costly than other paints
- Very gritty, need a coat.
- Highest Grade Strontium Aluminate Pigments (grade 0, Brightness Rating 33000 mcd/m2) Glow in the Dark Pigment for Paints
- Apply very thick, 1/16" or 4 oz per square foot. This container covers 18 square inches or 0.125 square feet.
- Ideal to paint abusive environments like glow in the dark fishing lures, metal surfaces or signs
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2. AstroGlow Glow in the Dark Paint For Rocks –
AstroGlow is a good option for those having a handful of rocks to glow in the dark. Since it’s available in 0.54 fl oz(16ml), it only fits well for a few rocks. It is suitable for small crafts like your kid’s project, etc. Since it’s completely non-toxic, it won’t harm your boi whatsoever. However, it’s not recommended for kids below three.
This paint has a good consistency. It’s thick but not that much, making it smooth to apply. It isn’t gritty like the previous paint and doesn’t require a coat to feel smooth. However, if you keep it outdoors, having a coat ensures fully weatherproofing. You can either use an acrylic spray or a clean nail polish to do the final coating.
All the glow paints work best on lighter surfaces, so if possible, have a white primer on the rock before applying the paint. This will make it more adhesive and better glowing. You have applied it thickly to see the best glow like every glow paint. Having 4-5 coats works best in my personal experience.
Now since it’s already significantly less(16ml) and on top, you have to apply multiple coats, it finishes pretty fast. So, be clear that it won’t paint all your garden stones. Once applied, it takes a while to dry. It has a greenish hue when dry, especially if you use it on a white surface. I love that it glows brightly, but it doesn’t hold the charge for long.
If charged with an intense light like Blacklight, it can glow for up to an hour or so. It glows very bright for a few minutes, like really bright and then a dim one. Apart from rocks, it works well on plastic, wood, metal, fabric, etc., thanks to its consistency. Since it’s water-based and has a good consistency, you can easily clean it using soap and water if it spills.
Remember, it can only be cleaned when wet; removing it once dry is hard. That’s why if it’s spilled, then clean it asap. Now, it’s good to paint, and you can give it a try with complete peace of mind. You have a 100% money-back guarantee if you don’t like it.
Pros
- Glows very bright
- Adhere well to rock and other surfaces
- Good consistency and easy to clean if spilled
- 100% money-back guarantee
Cons
- Less quantity and glow time
- Extremely Bright Long Lasting Glow! If charged with a bright light it will glow ALL NIGHT and will continue to recharge over and over again. No need for expensive black lights.
- Paint dries virtually clear and is nearly invisible on light colored surfaces. You won't even know it's there!
- Adheres well to plastic, wood, metal and fabric making it great for all projects including fishing lures, starscapes on ceilings, signs, & whatever else you want to make glow
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1. Aurora Bright Green Glow in The Dark Paint For Rocks –
There is nothing better than Aurora if you want a glow paint that adheres very well on rocks and can glow all night with 10 seconds of charge. For the unknown, aurora, by far, is the most loved paint for most surfaces. Apart from rocks, you can use them on wood, plastic, signs, gun sights, fishing lures, walls, etc. It works like a charm.
The most impressive thing about this paint is that it can fluoresce for 8-10 hours with 10-20 seconds of charge. But the charge must be from solid light, like a blacklight. And since it’s a very thick paint, it adheres very well on the rocks. Combined, these two things make it the best glow in the dark paint for rocks.
Like other glow paints, you have to apply it thickly to see the best effect. Have at least 4-5 coats for it to fluoresce well. Now, it can glow even when wet, so you can charge it to see the glow with the last layer applied. Just get it under the blacklight for 10-20 seconds, and BOOM.
But I would recommend you to place it outdoors only after it dries. Since it’s water-based, it may wash off in the water, but it’s next to impossible to clean it off once dry. That said, I recommend you not to use it on your hair or body. Not because it’s dangerous or something, but because if it dries on the skin, it’s tough to remove.
It’s a non-toxic, non-flammable paint, so it doesn’t harm the skin, but you must clean it asap before it dries. Want a surprise? With this bottle, you get a Lifetime Access To The Exclusive VIP Stencils Membership for free, which will help you make professional art.
Pros
- Fluoresce for hours
- Adhere well to rocks
- Non-toxic, non-flammable, so wholly safe
- Two size and color options
- Lifetime access to exclusive VIP stencils membership
Cons
- Nothing
- Very Strong/Vivid Bright Green Fluorescence (off white/cream color in daylight)
- Glows ALL NIGHT after a 10 second light charge (UV flashlight is best!)
- Included: Lifetime Access To The Exclusive VIP Stencils Membership - Easily Create Professional Looking Wall Art!
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Tips for Glow in the dark Paint for Rocks –
1. Only a thick paint adheres well to rock, so don’t thin it whatsoever.
2. Don’t mix your glow in the dark paint with any other paint.
3. Even though it is rock, you have to apply it thickly, at least three coats, to see the best glow.
4. Make sure to clean the surface well before applying the paint.
5. Doing a white primer on the rock makes it much brighter and adhesive, so if possible, apply white paint before using this paint.
6. Wait for it to completely dry before putting it outdoors.
7. If you keep the rocks outside, having a clear layer on top gives you much better protection.
FAQ –
Can you paint rocks with glow in the dark paint?
Yes, you can, but most glow-in-the-dark paints don’t work on rocks because of their consistency. Most paints have a good consistency to make them suitable for most crafts. That’s why the answer to this question is – It depends on the paint.
With the right paint, you can paint the rocks and vice-versa. Now, I have listed the best paints here; you can give them a look and choose the one you like the most.
What kind of paint do you use on glow in the dark rocks?
I use a glow in the dark paint on the rocks to make them glow. These paints are made using glow pigments that absorb the light and later emit it slowly to produce the glow effect.
But which paint you select determines whether your rock will glow or not. Here, I have listed the top 3 glow paints for rocks, just choose the one, and start painting.
How do you make glow in the dark paint rocks?
To make glow in the dark paint rocks, you need to apply a glow in the dark paint on them. But since rocks have distinct shapes, most of the glow paints don’t adhere well to them.
Therefore, choosing the best paint is the crucial part. With the right paint, you can make it glow easily and vice-versa.
What do you use to seal painted stones?
You can seal the painted stones with acrylic spray or clear nail polish. Both work well, but acrylic spray gives a glossy look, apart from providing weatherproofing.
Conclusion
Ready to make your own fairy-like garden? In this article, I talked about the best glow in the dark paint for rocks you can get right now. Now, it was nowhere near easy to find these paints, so I would really appreciate it if you took a moment to share them with your friends and family.
Great information I just bought the Aurora and what’s the information you provided I can use it properly
Hey Anna
I am happy I helped you in some way. Just shared my experience though.
Hope you have a good day 🙂