FlexBond & CrystalGel – Scenic Adhesive, Primer & Clear Coatings
Rosco Coatings · Adhesive, Primer & Clear Coatings
FlexBond & CrystalGel: bond it, prime it, seal it, clear-coat it
The two clear, flexible, water-based workhorses of the Rosco coatings range. Where FoamCoat and FlexCoat harden foam, FlexBond and CrystalGel do the other jobs: gluing mixed materials, priming surfaces paint won't stick to, and building clear, wet and textured effects — across theatre & film sets, props, sculpture, themed builds, displays, exhibitions, events and signage.
Two products, four jobs FoamCoat can't do
Reach for these when you need adhesion, a primer, a clear coat or a texture medium rather than a hard foam shell.
FlexBond (7500)
A water-based scenic adhesive and flexible coating that dries clear and durable. The go-to when a build needs to bond and stay flexible instead of going brittle, so it holds up on fabrics, thermoplastics and mixed-material props.
- Priming and smoothing thermoplastics (Worbla, plastics)
- Flexible coating on costumes, fabrics and wearable props
- Binding scenic textures: sawdust, sand, flocking, dirt effects
- Paper mache and scenic layering techniques
- Bonding mixed-material builds that need flexible adhesion
CrystalGel (7400)
A water-based coating that dries clear, flexible and durable. Use it as a clear protective coat, a primer that helps paint grip tricky foams and synthetics, or a texture medium for glossy, glass-like, wet and dimensional effects.
- Primer for foam and synthetics when paint won't bond
- Clear protective coat over scenic finishes
- Wet, glossy and glass-like effects: water, slime, ice
- Binder for glitter, aggregates, fillers and texture mixes
- Fabric stiffening, or a clear splinter shield on rough wood
Technical specifications
| FlexBond (7500) | CrystalGel (7400) | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Adhesive, sealer & primer | Clear coat, primer & texture medium |
| Finish | Dries clear, flexible | Clear / translucent, slightly glossy |
| Chemistry | Water-based acrylic | Water-based, non-toxic |
| Coverage per 3.79 L | ~23 m² | ~23 m² (standard coat) |
| Dry time | ~30–45 min | ~1–8 hrs (thickness dependent) |
| Full cure | Dry, then topcoat | ~24 hrs |
| Apply with | Brush, roller, spray | Brush, roller, trowel, pastry tube, tools |
| Clean-up | Soap & water while wet | Soap & water while wet |
| Sizes | 3.8 L, 19 L | 3.8 L |
Figures per Rosco published data. Performance depends on substrate, thickness, cure conditions and finishing system.
Which one do you need?
You need to bond or reinforce
Gluing foam to fabric, wood or plastic, priming and smoothing thermoplastics, binding textures, or laminating papier mache. It sticks and stays flexible.
You need clear, primer or texture
A clear protective coat, a primer where paint won't grip, or building wet, glassy and icy effects. Clear and flexible, never a brittle shell.
Seen in the field
Techniques and builds from scenic artists, documented on Rosco Spectrum.
Priming & smoothing props
Using FlexBond to smooth thermoplastics and costumes and prep them for scenic paint.
Read on Rosco Spectrum → CrystalGelCrystalGel as a primer
Priming a build so scenic paint bonds to surfaces it would otherwise slide off.
Read on Rosco Spectrum → CrystalGel3 useful scenic solutions
Barrier coat, fabric stiffening and creative texture mixes using CrystalGel.
Read on Rosco Spectrum → CrystalGelPriming foam carving
Side-by-side priming techniques for carved foam using FoamCoat and CrystalGel.
Read on Rosco Spectrum →Projects and images courtesy of Rosco Spectrum. Links open on Rosco's site.
FlexBond (7500)
Clear, flexible adhesive and coating. See sizes and pricing on the product page.
CrystalGel (7400)
Clear, flexible coat, primer and texture medium. See pricing on the product page.
Hardening rigid or flexible foam instead?
For a hard shell on carved EPS/XPS foam, or a flexible skin on soft props, that is FoamCoat and FlexCoat.
Bonding, priming or clear-coating a build?
Set, prop, sculpture, themed feature, display, exhibition stand or sign — we are the exclusive Rosco distributor for Australia and New Zealand. Tell us your substrate and the effect you are after, and we will point you to the right product and quantity.