Questions tagged [material-selection]
When you are not sure what material to use as a base for your project or task, such as type of fabric, paper or metal. Try to be as specific as possible to help narrow down choices.
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Looking for snowman hands
I have an Avon Brilliant snowman lamp. Last Christmas I realized that his acrylic arms are missing. I have called several craft stores and Avon regarding replacement arms with no avail. I was hoping ...
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How can I get (something similar to) Day-Glo back-painted glass?
I have a project for a small side table where I would like to use a piece of 3/4” thick back painted glass. Ideally I’d like to go for a Day-Glo orange that gives a glow similar to that of the acrylic ...
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UV permeable transparent varnish for PLA
I would like to coat fluorescent PLA in clear, transparent varnish, and I am looking for a product that does not block UV rays. Is there anything like that?
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How can I stabilize a sign on a dowel in a pot?
I made a pumpkin sign that is secured to a dowel. I want to put it in a pot on my porch. What is the best option to keep it straight and secure?
I thought of using concrete or stones, but I am leaning ...
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Medium for Horizontal Display of Cymatics Patterns
I have been doing some experiments with cymatic patterns in liquid using bass frequencies. I'm finding that the patterns appear on the top surface of a liquid, such that a pattern can only be ...
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How to create a coconut tree trunk?
For one of my art hobby projects, I want to create a miniature coconut tree trunk closely resembling an actual coconut tree. Below is a close-up image for reference:
I am thinking of using some kind ...
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What kind of fabric for an oilcloth hat?
I want to try and make an old-fashioned oilcloth hat shaped like this Dutch Harbor Souwester Hat. The base material is woven cotton, which I would waterproof using oil and wax.
When picking a fabric ...
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Restoration/fixing of an antique chipped beer mug
So I have an old antique beer mug with a large chip on the side. I am sure there must be a way
to patch this up with a suitable, colour matched, ceramic compound so as to restore it.
Can anybody ...
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What is the best cleaning material to use on the individual components of 2 part mold making silicone?
Equipment Maintenance: What is the best cleaning material to use to clean up the two separate components of the generic 2 part mold making silicone used in jewellery making?
For example, to clean the ...
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How can I make well focused and bulbous eyes for my sock puppet?
I have a sock puppet, and I would like to give it some good looking puppet eyes. It doesn't need to be any specific material or shape, but I do want it to:
be capable of good eye focus and
be ...
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How do I get or make large glitter paper sheets for origami stars?
I'm trying to make a ton of origami stars (like how I (and many others) used to in middle school) for a future music/live performance, but I want them to be the most glitzed-out 2000's glitter puke ...
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How to transfer 1.5 x 1.5 mm grid onto fabric?
I want to explore "pattern darning" or "kogin" style embroidery, which looks like this:
The patterns consist of straight lines in a regular grid, like this:
Usually this is done ...
Elmy♦
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Painting/doodling on my white Hydroflask
I'm planning to make multiple small doodles of baby pandas on my new hydroflask. But I'm afraid if I choose a wrong tool to do it, the dishwasher may spoil it. Can you please advice on the following:
...
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Does collagen / agar gelatin decay if not exposed to air?
I am wondering if collagen / agar gelatin can be used as an inexpensive material to suspend objects in, like casting rubber. In the application I have in mind the gelatin will in a fully sealed ...
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Best Material(s) for Casting Large Volume Clear Rubber Object
I am working on a project where I'd like to suspend several objects in a 12" x 12" x 12" clear rubber cube. This is meant to be an art object, so longterm durability is important.
In ...
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Are there epoxies or resins that do not cure hard?
I am wondering if there exists a kind of epoxy or resin that doesn't dry "hard". I've seen so many of the hard variety in stores and online. The thing is, somewhere, somehow, I've gotten the ...
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preparing and painting reclaimed PCV Hose pipe?
I have several coils of yellow agricultural PVC hose.
My intention is to paint them, and to use them to represent thick high voltage cable for a prop. They will be completely static in coils, and will ...
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Surface Treatment to Make Carbon Steel Look Like Cast Iron
I am working on a project building speaker enclosures using hollow carbon steel spheres like the kind listed here:
Source
I am looking to produce these enclosures with a variety of looks / finishes, ...
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How would I go about making this 2mm EVA foam mask sturdier, and what should I use?
I made a plan for my mask to make a template pattern out of in a 3D modeling software, as seen below. The blue model is for scale.
It's pretty big, and the only foam I have right now is 2mm thick, so ...
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How to cut intricate patterns from velvet?
I want to recreate a certain type of costume:
Image source and copyright: Heimatmuseum Dahme
My specific problem is that the black stripes on the skirt are supposed to be velvet. As far as I know ...
Elmy♦
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What are some inexpensive alternatives to epoxy resin for diorama water effects?
I make dioramas and use epoxy resin for water features. However, epoxy is expensive ($80 for a gallon where I live), toxic, and it gets cold where I live, which isn't good for curing. So what are some ...
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Medium to carry glitter in a DIY glitter pen?
I am making a series of models that have sharp edges, and I want to create a thin line of glitter along them so that the edge will sparkle a specific color when turned under a light.
I have tried most ...
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Alternatives to the most-hyped ultra-black paints?
I have a large body of work that I need to complete, and I had been using Stuart Semple's Black 2.0 and Black 3.0. It seems he's out of stock, at the moment, and I'm on a deadline. I have not done ...
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Cotton cord super stiffener
I am making a cat bed using macrame cord with Elmer’s Glue-All mixed with water, and a giant beach ball as a model. I want it super stiff so it keeps its shape. What can I use?
I should mention I’m ...
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What can I use to slow down the curing of 2-part epoxy?
I've been repairing a Chinese porcelain tea set for a friend using the faux-kintsugi technique involving gold mica powder and 2-part epoxy, based on Elmy's answer here.
I'm using UHU Plus Schnellfest ...
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Repairing a leather and stainless steel bracelet
I have a leather and stainless steel bracelet that I received as a commemorative gift.
Over time one end of the leather bracelet has come out of the stainless steel clasp.
I am looking for the best ...
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Are there every-day substances that can be used to color 2-component epoxy adhesive?
I would like to repurpose a 2K epoxy adhesive in a kind of casting resin: I've got to pour in a small electrical switch into a wooden hole that was drilled too large. The adhesive is transparent, that ...
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How would one go about creating a "trunk" for a gemstone tree?
I am looking to create a gemstone tree as a gift for someone. I think I have a good game plan ready as they do not seem too complicated, but based on the tree I already have and how I would like to ...
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Covering for office chair
I am looking to add some material to the chair seen below that will hold up better than the current material that is covering the chair.
The chair is pretty comfortable, so I like to keep it like that....
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What is a good adhesive for permanently connecting two vinyl (PVC) inflatable pool floats?
I'm working on a project that involves permanently connecting two vinyl (PVC) inflatable pool toys like these: Pool Punisher
I'm wondering if this is possible by using a PVC cement or some sort of ...
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Does psyllium powder improve air dry clay?
Recipes for air dry clay often include:
Materials to absorb water from ingredients that get blended with high water content.
Materials that swell when wet to add temporary bulk during modelling, and ...
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How to temporary stick paper/card together so it can be removed later without tearing and too much residue
I am making a display/collage and need to stick some art works to mounting card to then be displayed in a frame.
However, it is highly like I'll want to rearrange or reuse the works in a different ...
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Using a brush to apply 2 part epoxy resin without destroying it?
I want to paint 2 part epoxy resin onto a 3D print to hide the layer lines.
Is it possible to do this without it destroying the brush that I'm using?
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What is the result if I use a yarn with smaller TEX than the original pattern?
I've been an amigurumi crocheter for a while, so I've never had to worry about yarn weight/TEX, because we have many yarns that are meant for making amigurumis. But recently I decided to make this ...
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Can I make Das air dry clay firmer, like two part epoxy putty, before sculpting?
Is there anything that I can do to Das air dry clay to give a firmer consistency. Similar to two part epoxy modelling putty?
For example, is there a plasticizing additive that I can mix in to it.
I ...
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Acrylic piece vs Epoxy resin
I'm making some pegs for my music instrument. I have seen in the market a lot of these pieces under the category of " Acrylic". They have a metal rod in the down part inside the acrylic to ...
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Solvent to remove melted Perspex from the blades of metal tools?
Is there a solvent that I can used to remove melted Perspex from tools. For example Perspex that has melted on to a drill bit or saw blade during cutting and then hardened as it has cooled down?
I ...
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When would you use an Ink on a Tamiya 1:48 scale aircraft kit? [closed]
When painting a Tamiya 1:48 scale WWII plastic P51B aircraft kit, which parts would you use an Ink on, rather than paint or a wash in order to replicate the picture on the box for the following ...
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What materials are chosen for poly binders?
Consider the following binder:
Such binders are usually made of a single plastic sheet. The sheet is flexible and durable as you open/close the binder. I think they're formed into their U shape by ...
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Giving epoxy resin an opaque color
I have project in which I want to use epoxy resin. I want to get a white non-transparent color, pretty solid though, and I was wondering if acrylic paint is a good option to mix into the resin?
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How do I paint hot glue so that it's slightly translucent?
I'm going to try to replicate the fire effect that you can see in the picture below using hot glue, to produce a ring of flames around a 3" model.
What kind of paints and/or techniques should I ...
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What precautions need to be observed to create a food-safe silicone mold?
I want to get into silicone casting, in particular to be able to make food-safe items out of (platinum-cure, obviously!) silicone. For various reasons (including simplicity/ease), I expect to be using ...
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How to color food-safe silicone?
I'm looking to get into silicone casting, and eventually I'm going to want to produce food safe products in custom colors. (Food containers, utensils... teething toys. Stuff that needs to be safe for ...
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How should I paint/color my Revan fx lightsaber green button to black?
Attached is a picture of my Hasbro Revan lightsaber. It's almost accurate to the actual hilt of the Knights of the Old Republic game. The one thing I want to change is the green button and make it ...
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Strong lightweight material for an art and craft tray
I teach art and would like to make some strong 14"x 12" trays that the kids could easily carry and that can be easily washed. These are high school age kids and primarily sophomores to ...
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How to make something look covered in soil, with out risk of staining/marking
For our wedding we are going for a very light 'alice in wonderland' theme, which includes a 'down the rabbit hole' table where we would like guests to drop their well wishes in.
The table will be ...
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Method to fix charcoal to an oil painting
I often work with the specular properties of my paintings.
Since charcoal gives me a more matte black than almost any (combination of something with) black oil paint could, I at times want to use it ...
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Materials for inflatable structure
I want to make a sizeable inflatable structure about 15'x 15' with a height of around 15'. I want to extend my classroom's workspace during certain times on various days. I need some help with ...
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Collapsible sculpture
Question:
I want to make a human-shaped sculpture, that will have string or rope coming out of it and that string will be tied to something, which will make that string tight and keep the sculpture in ...
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How could I make a twisted cuboid sculpture like this?
I saw a decorative vase or sculpture shaped like what I can best describe as a silver twisted cuboid, please see this 3D model for what I'm talking about: https://skfb.ly/ouSsD
The horizontal cross ...
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