How can I strengthen my melted bead art?

Question

So I build pixel-esque bead arts for people for gifts and such. But when I need to send them places, they sometimes fall apart.

Charizard Pixel Bead Art

(Example above is not my work. Belongs to another artist.) It is just a referential image.

And I am just wondering how to strengthen the bonds between the beads to make them more durable without changing how it looks since it is meant as an image.

Would really appreciate some help.

Answer 1

I was looking into the type of plastic these are (LPTE?) and found a comparison of different fuse beads:

http://houseofgeekiness.blogspot.com/p/not-all-beads-are-created-equal-when-it.html

This guide casually mentions one technique, also mentioned by Matt in comments: fuse both sides.

The other major factor here is trying out a different brand. The guide recommends Perler, or generally away from the overly cheap beads. Not all plastic is created equally.

If you can try out other brands, that's what I would test first. It's something artists tend to do with supplies, anyway. Different brands give different feels or effects, and some just stink.

Another tactic is to make sure you're melting consistently. If you use a plastic ironing sheet, instead of a paper one, you can eyeball the level of melt in any given section of the piece.

If you don't need both sides of the image to be on display, then I would simply adhere something stiff to the back. It might be possible to use thin, clear plastic sheets, if you can find an adhesive that works and dries clear / without streaks. If so, that would let you add external strength while still viewing both sides.

Answer 2

Two things I can think of:

Make sure the design is not fragile. The dragon of your example looks strong enough, but if you create a deer with thin legs, for example, I think it's more likely to break. Especially if you'd attach a large flower to one of the legs, so there is a thin connection between two heavier parts.

Also, be aware that letters and parcels are not being treated carefully during transport, so make sure you protect your art when you mail it. Do you put it between two pieces of strong cardboard, with some plastic wrap around it, for instance?

Answer 3

This is kind of an expensive option, but I used resin in order to make the beads harder.
It's like 50 euros for a big bottle of resin, but if you're careful enough, you can make a bottle last for a very long time.

The wings I made for my headset (the weird glow on the wings is the resin, by the way).

Answer 4

With your particular project, heating time might be adjusted to a longer heat time (slowly testing) for better viscious welding of the individual pieces.

As with many materials, tempering is the answer. Steel, Brass, Glass, and many plastics.

Heating to a non-melting temperature, then slowly cooling over a long period of time. It is a "recipe" different for each material. One reason blacksmiths were said to have knowledge of the Black Arts

Answer 5

What about using a clear lacquer or resin? If they have a solid layer over them it would make them stronger, I'm guessing they break between the beads when they do get broken. It will add some expense but you could use a caulking gun & silicone to make your moulds if you wanted to pour acrylic over them.

Answer 6

Two methods:

1. Easy, just pour liquid super glue (not the gel-ish but the fully liquid one, like water consistency) all over the art after you've completed it. It's plastic so I'm hoping it will be reversible if you'd try to detach them.
2. A little too over the top, but what you can do is before starting the melting process, just after you're done sorting them according to colors and setting them, make a little hole in them horizontally (like the one that already exists, but from the other side) and then passing a thread through all of them in the exact order, like you would do for a garland. And then tie the thread at the end. This way they'll all be connected after and before melting them (and for the reversible - just cut the thread and they'll easily fall apart) (I personally did this with a bracelet i once made for my girlfriend).