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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What kind of dye or paint for t-shirt design?

I'd like to create a t-shirt with colour blotches on a plain black t-shirt, a bit similar to: The t-shirt is cotton. Now my question is what type of colour to use. I'm considering synthetic resin ...
foo's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
306 views

What material should I use for the frame of my lighter-than-air craft?

I'm toying around with the idea of making an RC lighter-than-air craft, probably a Zeppelin or Blimp shaped one. I'm pretty sure I'll just use a candle or two to get the lift so it isn't a Hydrogen ...
Ceramicmrno0b's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
74 views

What can I use to make watercolour brushes?

I'm trying to find a way to make my own watercolour brushes, and Google is most unhelpful in finding the raw materials or advice; it just keeps showing me more brushes that are already made. Does ...
Nareik Seivad's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
120 views

Will (acid-free) paper turn yellow over time if I use tape (not acid-free) on it? [closed]

More context: I’ll stick the tape on the back, then the paper (lignin-free, acid-free cellulose, 120gsm) is painted on the front.
Carlo Yu's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
297 views

Add support to large collage to prevent warping and tearing

I had been working on a huge painting made on about 15 separate sheets. After the work was finished I glued together all the paintings, but now after the paint has dried I find that the paper is kind ...
MKX's user avatar
  • 161
5 votes
2 answers
5k views

Different materials that can be used for origami

I really like making origami and have been doing it for a while now, and to be honest I'm kind of bored of only using paper (I must say I haven't really experimented with different kinds of paper yet: ...
Hiya's user avatar
  • 51
2 votes
1 answer
87 views

What artistic elements to add to a car to diminish a difference in color shade?

I've got a used car that had a lot of oxidation on it so I sand it, applied a primer and a cheap paint on it. Although the color code on the spray can matched the original code on the car, it seems ...
CuriousPaul's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

I am looking to melt some leftover acrylic into a mould, at home. Are there fumes that I should be worried about?

So, the title just about sums it up. I've cut some acrylic sheets to make vitrines for some painting frames and I have some leftover strips of acrylic. I have an idea of what to use the acrylic for, ...
Valeriano's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
179 views

Picture Frame/Mount for Mosaic, ~28" x 34" (Max Size) , <$20

I started doing mosaics made up of thin scrap aluminum. This question is about my first first mosaic 'prototype' that I am doing which measures 28 x 34 inches. The aluminum scrap material weighs ...
Roger's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
1k views

What's a good non-adhesive plastic sheet to protect soft-back books?

I'd like to use non-adhesive transparent plastic sheet to wrap a soft-back book to protect it for long-term frequent use. I'd like to try the method #3 described in https://www.wikihow.com/Cover-a-...
qazwsx's user avatar
  • 141
3 votes
1 answer
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What kind of resin can be used to fill a gap in a piece of wood?

If filling a piece of natural wood with grooves in with resin - clear or coloured - what is the best kind to use? This would need to allow for the wood to be used as a table top.
Aravona's user avatar
  • 339
4 votes
1 answer
155 views

Engrave a design into slate sheets

I currently have multiple sheets of slate measuring 8"x12" at 1/4" thickness, and various gauges of colored wire (picked up the wire from the Beading section of a hobby store). I have been scaling a ...
AChrapko's user avatar
  • 115
3 votes
1 answer
88 views

How best to fill the bottom of a PVC Tee with resin, plaster or some other material?

There is a tradition in backyard chicken keeping of constructing chicken feeders using PVC pipe. (See: https://www.instructables.com/id/PVC-Chicken-Feeder/ https://www.instructables.com/id/PVC-Chicken-...
mvdct's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
3k views

Food-Safe Plaster-Like Material

Does anyone know of a hard, heavy, moldable material (like plaster or cement) that is also food-safe? I’m looking for something to make bowls and cups without kiln firing like I would have to with ...
Isaac Wasserman's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
353 views

How can I make my wall look like weathered wood?

I'd like to cover one wall in my apartment with something that looks like weathered/distressed wood. The wall is 13 feet wide and 9 feet tall. It's currently just textured and painted. My project ...
CreatedByBrett's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
242 views

Create a head bust (maybe plaster or paper mache)

I got a new headset for Christmas and got the idea to create a holder for it. I was thinking of a bust, on which I can put my headset. I sculpted the bust in the 3D program Blender: Now there are a ...
Marc Teuber's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
148 views

I want to make antlers for a costume, what materials should I use?

I want them to be very realistic and about the height of my head. My biggest concern is weight, I’m unsure as to what materials to use. I also want the way they are attached to be very discreet and ...
user8683's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
90 views

Where can I find/make paintable opaque green domes?

I've been looking for an item I need which is a hollow hemisphere with outer diameter of ~25 mm. Ideally, I'd like them in green, but I can only find them in clear. Do these sorts of domes exist in ...
David Coffron's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
162 views

Trying to find specific embossed grid paper

I had a notebook a long time ago that was a dotted grid on each page, but the individual dots were embossed, so I could feel the texture of the dots. I used it for a lot of sketches, and I have a few ...
Dan's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
108 views

What sort of fabric could be used for this costume?

I want to make a astronaut costume but I have no idea what fabrics I should use. I would like fabrics that resemble rubber, shiny vinyl that has no texture, and fabric that is good for putting lights ...
James Hanvey's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

How Can I Create the Metal Comb of a Music Box?

I want to design and create my own music box by hand. I'm looking for a way to create the metal comb/teeth. It would need to be a thin but sturdy metal in order for it to make tones. I'm looking for ...
overlord's user avatar
  • 161
2 votes
1 answer
175 views

What glass-like material to use for a weapon prop?

A week ago, I wanted to try to create a prop for a cosplay. The weapon I choose was the Gehaburn from Neptunia: I was able to find how to do most of the prop, apart from the blade. I searched online ...
Enzof2003's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
469 views

Gloss coat then matte coat?

I’ve heard that matte coatings are less durable than gloss ones. The claim was that gloss coatings form a hard protective shell, whereas matte ones do not. The recommendation was to first apply a ...
Andrew Richmond's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
5k views

Masking out non-linear shapes on canvas

I'm painting geometric stuff (in acrylic) and know how to mask out straight-lined shapes using tape on canvas (image on the left). However, have always wondered what would be a clean effective way, or ...
Lucian's user avatar
  • 111
5 votes
1 answer
140 views

Can One Use Nylon Thread to Embroider on Chiffon

I wish to embroider my own stole by hand. A Phulkari to be exact. Plan to purchase 2 yards of chiffon fabric. Nylon thread seems thick and shiny. Would nylon thread embroidery work on chiffon? ...
Marium's user avatar
  • 730
6 votes
2 answers
200 views

Soap not hardening

I am tried to make soap using cold process saponification. I used 25% coconut oil, 25% olive oil and 50% sunflower oil (what I had in my kitchen for this first try) and used a lye calculator to ...
Oneira's user avatar
  • 1,333
2 votes
1 answer
56 views

Cheap Screw-Valve Connectors for Water-Based Crafts

Recently I have made a lot of crafts involving moving water, especially scenes I sculpt out of clay and then paint/seal. I made a mini pond to put on my table, an old country scene with a working ...
Hackstaar's user avatar
  • 185
5 votes
3 answers
306 views

Building an elliptic paraboloid

How would I build a shell of an elliptic paraboloid as accurately as possible (in terms of its mathematical properties (all parallel rays end up in its focal point)). Preferably it should be: Made ...
holzkohlengrill's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
907 views

Transparent resin to fill small acrylic plastic container?

I have a small clear acrylic plastic container, roughly spherical and about 1.5 cubic inches in volume, with a 1/4-inch wall and thinning to about 2mm at the top edge (near the 1-inch diameter lip). I ...
Some Guy's user avatar
  • 191
3 votes
1 answer
94 views

Does boat polyester resin works well for insect/flower encapsulating?

Around here, polyester resin for arts and crafts is usually sold under the name "Crystal Polyester Resin", because of its colorlessness. In automotive-paint/nautical shops there are other polyester ...
IanC's user avatar
  • 133
3 votes
3 answers
535 views

Make Cement with Lots of Holes

What would be a good way to make cement with lots of hollow areas? I want it to resemble a sponge when cured. I’ve see a similar material used as siding in buildings.
Isaac Wasserman's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
544 views

Quality ranking of oil paint brands

Is there a standard quality ranking for oil paints? How do specific oils relate to the quality of oil paints? Can anyone provide a top five or top ten of brands?
ClMend's user avatar
  • 207
1 vote
1 answer
133 views

Layers of liquid with glittered glue and shredded hot glue stick in a test tube

I am trying out the following craft idea, the ingredients and steps are as follows: Ingredients Water (or distilled water) that is dyed using three colors. A Test tube with cork. Hot-glue stick (and ...
user275517's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
5k views

Baby oil or glycerin for snow globe?

According to my online research glycerin is often used for snow globes. However, some mention that baby oil can also be used. Which one is preferable, and why?
user275517's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
150 views

What can I line a collectible card box with that is not felt or flocking?

I made a card box, for holding Magic cards, a while ago, and I lined it with felt. While that does look good all the plastic sleeves I use get caught on the material so it is difficult to put them ...
Matt's user avatar
  • 11k
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

Removing stitching from jacket

I have a sports jacket from a team I used to play for. It's a very high quality jacket and I would like to continue wearing it, but the team name is written in large text across the upper-back of the ...
user9506231's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
91 views

Looking to affix medals in a display case

I previously had medals in a display case. They were originally affixed in a very rudimentary way (I just stuck push pins through the back, which was a thin cardboardish material). I'm putting some ...
Andrew McMark's user avatar
7 votes
6 answers
12k views

How to dye or tint epoxy resin to produce translucent colors?

A while ago I started crafting with epoxy resin. At first I just coated objects with clear resin, but recently I experimented with adding colors to it. I got nice results with powders (like glittery ...
Elmy's user avatar
  • 13k
0 votes
1 answer
83 views

What material is this?

What material is this stuffed toy I finished today made from? I want to know in case I want to duplicate it later and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to find the pattern again. I’ve got 2 more patterns ...
Abraham Ray's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
229 views

Dense, easy-to-access material?

I'm not sure if this is the right forum to ask this on, so please tell me where to put this if not! I'm trying to make weights to lift at home, and I found online that using gallon milk jugs and ...
米凯乐's user avatar
  • 133
1 vote
3 answers
98 views

Can I make handmade invitation cards on a tight budget? [closed]

I'm planning on making DIY cards for invitations to my sister's 8th birthday party. I want it to be special so I decided to do everything myself. But I'm really on a tight budget right now, and so I ...
Ynah Tang's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
48 views

A cork tree made of other materials?

My question is this:regarding this item could it possible to make it out of other solid materials? Theriatically it should be possible to do it with other materials, I just wanted to be sure.
Abraham Ray's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
196 views

Is it possible to recycle the glass bottles and jar in desired shape and size by melting?

I have a lot of glass bottles and jars. I want to convert them into new items of different styles and shapes. Can a glass object be molded into a new shape by melting? If yes, then how?
Anum's user avatar
  • 139
4 votes
1 answer
507 views

How can we cut mirror or glass in a desired shape?

How can we transform the glass in the desired shape or size. If we want to cut a glass which instrument should we use on domestic level.
Anum's user avatar
  • 139
1 vote
1 answer
792 views

Materials for an easy to make knife handle?

I've bought this blade, and I want to make a handle for it. the handle should be easy to make, and easy to maintain, and I also need to make sure it doesn't get in the way of the sheath.# I'm ...
Idan Botbol's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
141 views

Are spray paints effective on laptops?

My younger brother spoiled my laptop with pens. On removing the stains I got marks on the surface of the laptop which make it look dirty. Are spray paints effective for painting laptops or is there ...
Anum's user avatar
  • 139
2 votes
2 answers
254 views

Material that can be cut / carved and doesn't react with silicone

I'm currently experimenting with making silicone molds for casting. I'm not interested in the commertially available molds and want to make my own. For financial reasons I use the cartridges of ...
Elmy's user avatar
  • 13k
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

Aggregate size and mix ratio for concrete sculptures

What aggregate size should I use for making concrete sculptures of humans and animals, 1.2 x Life-sized, poured into moulds? And what ratio should I use for the (white Portland cement) to sand to ...
Johan88's user avatar
  • 257
2 votes
2 answers
67 views

what could be used hanging object such as painting on wall without nails?

Is there any adhesive material through which we can hang painting and photo frames on wall without nails.Such that on removing it not damage the walls?
Anum's user avatar
  • 139
5 votes
1 answer
643 views

creating something like an expanding ring mandrel for my homemade lathe

I am crafting my own drill powered lathe so I can improve my ring making. The problem is, even though I can make a working lathe, I do not have a way to securely place the ring in the lathe to make it ...
AyeJay Jones's user avatar