Questions tagged [preservation]

Protecting an art or craft to reduce damage over time, and/or during the creation process.

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7 votes
2 answers
77 views

Does washing out the exposed photo emulsion damage a wooden frame?

After watching several YouTube videos about DIY Silk Screen Printing, I'm almost ready to give it a go. I've built my own wooden frames. I have almost all the gear I need, just waiting for the photo ...
3 votes
0 answers
124 views

Is it safe to cut into a stuffed futon mattress?

I am attempting to create plans for converting a regular futon frame and mattress into a slide out style sofa bed using the original parts of the futon, an additional iron twin bed frame, and ...
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4 votes
3 answers
170 views

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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1 vote
2 answers
72 views

Old Trunk Preservation vs Restoration

I’ve an old trunk which is covered on the outside with paper or maybe thin printed canvas. Parts of paper are flaking off. I am seeking preservation rather that replacing the paper. I want to keep the ...
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3 votes
1 answer
318 views

How to care for large epoxy tables and counters?

There are many fascinating videos and pictures of people creating gorgeous tables and kitchen counters from epoxy resin. I'm planning on making such a table for myself, but it got me thinking: Is ...
  • 11k
6 votes
1 answer
372 views

What's a good way to preserve live roses?

My grandfather passed away recently. My grandma took a rose from his burial plot after we laid him in the earth. I would like to find a way to preserve it for her or use it in some kind of other craft ...
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6 votes
1 answer
279 views

Is there a way to "revive" or protect hand sewing needles from corrosion?

I often find myself hand sewing small seams or buttons, repairing a garment or embroidering something using standard hand sewing needles. After about 8 hours of active use, the needles start to become ...
  • 11k
4 votes
1 answer
187 views

How to preserve/care for a leather book?

This is not exactly a craft made by me, but this is the best thing I can find to ask this question. I am a new owner of a nice leather bound book, got it a few days ago, and I am wondering how exactly ...
  • 141
9 votes
4 answers
994 views

Future-proofing paper and ink letter

I would like to write a letter, in the present, addressed to my children in the future (no sad reasons involved; I just thought it would be nice to share my emotions of a new parent directly with my ...
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3 votes
1 answer
239 views

How to prevent paint from peeling off of clay christmas ornaments?

Last year I made DIY clay ornaments to give as Christmas gifts. I did some experimentation prior to the important day but still struggled. I have tried an air dry polymer clay by Sculpey, as well as a ...
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1 vote
1 answer
140 views

Conservation of painting on cardboard

Last week I bought a painting on cardboard. The problem is that some divisions of my home have a LOT of humidity. This artwork is intended for my future home, so I need to store it for some months. ...
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2 votes
2 answers
71 views

Solutions or suggestions for removing and preserving label from canned good?

Does anybody have any solutions/suggestions for removing a paper label, whole and undamaged, from a metal can? About the only thing I can think of is heat to try to soften, if possible, the glue. (...
4 votes
0 answers
116 views

How should I maintain a carved wood panel

I bought this wood carving (see below) several years ago from a vintage/antique housewares and decor store. At least one of the cracks predates my purchase, but I don't think all of them do. ...
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1 vote
2 answers
84 views

Can I use Aquadur PU or Camlin Picture Varnish Oil color as a varnish for my acrylic paintings?

I have heard of Aquadur PU by Asian Paints and Camlin Picture Varnish Oil colors. Can I use them to seal my acrylic paintings?
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0 votes
0 answers
31 views

Varnish for Acrylic Painting [duplicate]

I was using the yellow wood varnishes, which are easily available in hardware stores, to seal my acrylic painting. They are cheap but the problem with them is that they leave yellowish shine which ...
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0 votes
2 answers
105 views

Varnish for acrylic painting

I was using a yellow wood varnish which is readily available in hardware stores to seal my acrylic painting. They are cheap and good varnishes, but the problem with them is that they leave a yellowish ...
  • 115
6 votes
5 answers
3k views

How do I prevent pencil colour drawings from fading away while I'm still drawing it?

This is one of my main problems. I've been working on quite a detailed sculpture drawing which would take time. I've already coloured the pillars, but while I'm drawing the main temple above it, the ...
2 votes
1 answer
131 views

Paper's preservation (fixative not working)

Apparently, my (acid-free) paper (from 'SoHo Studio'; shown below) is yellowing, I have Krylon Workable Fixatif Spray Coating. Obviously, fixatives prevent this issue to happen, what should I do? Is ...
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4 votes
2 answers
277 views

Adhesive for very old newspaper

I have just found a moon map published in the UK newspaper The Daily Mail from 1969, which I saved because of the first moon landing and an abiding interest in astronomy. However, it's been folded up ...
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8 votes
4 answers
243 views

How to preserve comic pages drawn by pencil?

I bought pieces of comics that are drawn with pencil, and I’m afraid that they get blurred. How can I preserve them? Can this be done the same way as with sketches?
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4 votes
2 answers
348 views

Preparing Canvas to Prevent Yellowing Over Time?

What coat can I apply on a gallery canvas (before painting on top of it) to prevent it from yellowing over time? I'm planning to leave some parts of the canvas unpainted.
7 votes
2 answers
169 views

Should I spray my graphite drawing with fixative before shipping it or should I advise my customer to spray it when it arrives?

I'm about to finish up a graphite drawing I was commissioned to draw and my customer doesn't live close enough to give them the drawing in person. So, I need to roll it up and ship it to them. Will ...
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2 votes
1 answer
480 views

Printed document lifespan

How long will a document (black text) printed on standard paper using an inkjet printer last? I will keep it in an envelope in a normal house hold environment, not overly hot or cold. Looking for tips ...
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3 votes
0 answers
96 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.
3 votes
1 answer
153 views

Preserving paper stickers long term

I'm going to frame a few old video game cartridges in a box frame for art and preservation. I got the idea from a few posts I've seen online of others who have done the same: I'm going use a sheet ...
9 votes
1 answer
475 views

Is hard water suitable for the usage of watercolor?

I do not know whether hard water is suitable for watercolor usage or if it will cause any damage to the color when it comes to archival quality. If it does cause damage, are there suggestions for ...
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2 votes
1 answer
363 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 ...
2 votes
1 answer
456 views

How can I build and attach new plaster hands for a statue?

I have a religious statue made of plaster. Unfortunately, its hands are missing. I need to build new ones, but I am not sure where to begin. I thought I would make new hands out of clay, then cast ...
5 votes
1 answer
610 views

Protection for oil painting on mylar?

I usually work with ink and watercolor on mylar (paper used by architects). I tried to use oil paint on mylar and the effect is real nice. Do I have to protect the finished painting with a varnish or ...
6 votes
2 answers
8k views

How to hang a painting on plywood on the wall?

I have a painting that was done on plywood. The wood is a quarter inch thick and 3 by 4 feet in size. It is not framed, and I don’t want to frame it. I’m hanging it in my living room on a plaster wall....
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3 votes
1 answer
83 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 ...
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3 votes
2 answers
173 views

Rusty axe head restoration

I have an old axe head, kind of a family heirloom, that I want to clean and restore. Given its age (approx. 60-70 years) and condition, my goal is not to make it usable as an axe, but preservation and ...
2 votes
1 answer
455 views

Will commercially produced soap coated in epoxy resin last?

I have started to resin-coat certain novelty soaps. I first coat in mod podge, then I give it 2 layers of epoxy glass resin. It is looking fabulous, but someone told me that soap has too much water in ...
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5 votes
2 answers
140 views

What can I expect from a fixative?

I finished a charcoal drawing and want to paint over it with a clear coating (of acrylic gesso). For that I first used a fixative so that the drawing will not smudge when I apply gesso with a Brush. ...
  • 1,140
8 votes
1 answer
3k views

How can I make egg-tempera that doesn't deteriorate?

I've been working with a traditional egg-tempura technique that I was taught, but I have had some problems with the paintings later on. The recipe is essentially one egg-yolk (without the yolk's ...
2 votes
2 answers
79 views

Advice on preserving an old painting

The image attached is of a painting which is deteriorating around the edges of the frame. The paint appears to be falking off of the canvas. It is between 70 and 80 years old, I don't know what type ...
5 votes
5 answers
2k views

Preserving chalk pastel artworks?

I got multiple chalk pastels sets and I'm really excited to use them, but I'm afraid to see the artworks messed up afterwards. Even though there are probably sprays I can buy to solve this problem, is ...
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8 votes
2 answers
344 views

Making a mold off of bone

I've recently acquired a large bull skull, rather weather-worn and aged. I would like to make a mold of it so that I can cast it in wax, alter it a bit (add more horns, etc.), and then make a mold of ...
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5 votes
1 answer
343 views

Does latex perform well underwater?

I need to build some decorative aquatic animals that will be inside a big fishbowl in a shopping mall. The question is: Can I use latex to create these pieces, or the latex deteriorates when submerged ...
4 votes
1 answer
138 views

How can I avoid fungus in an alien water tank?

I am building an animatronic alien inside a transparent plastic cylinder. The cylinder is filled with water and a few drops of green ink. The problem I have is: in a few days, the water fills with ...
4 votes
1 answer
49 views

Can Rustoleum wood stain bleed through a mounted photograph?

On a piece of pine wood, I want to mount a photograph. I stained the wood with Rustoleum cherry stain. It’s dry now and I am ready to mount the photograph. Do I need to put a layer of paper or lacquer ...
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6 votes
3 answers
8k views

How do I make pom poms not fall apart as easily?

As we learned in How to make a pom-pom? they are fairly easy to make. The problem is that they are just as easy to take apart. So you could get your pom pom trimmed to make the perfect sphere and it ...
  • 11k
9 votes
2 answers
7k views

How can I safely transport a charcoal drawing?

What is the best way of transporting a charcoal drawing over on a long ride? The drawing is fixed with a workable fixative but im still concerned about smudging. I was thinking about rolling the ...
  • 1,140
9 votes
2 answers
723 views

Oil painting in coastal environment

I was given an oil based painting drawn by my relative (very dear to me). I live near the beach and we've had trouble with moisture/dampness. The painting is framed but not covered by glass or ...
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

How do I go about sealing tiles painted with acrylic ink?

I have been painting on ceramic tile's with Liquitex acrylic ink. I would like to seal them so that they could be used as coasters. I want to make them impervious to liquid and coffee cup heat. Does ...
2 votes
1 answer
5k views

How to protect/seal frosted glass spray

The frosted glass is specifically to diffuse an RGB LED lamp thing I made, so every scratch and other degradation on this thing so far is very prominent. There must be 8 coats of Rustoleum frosted ...
6 votes
3 answers
183 views

Which tool to use as watercolor paper press

Is there a tool I could use as watercolor paper press? Most of the time, after my drawing dries, the paper buckles. I would like to have some tool to put paper inside like a sandwich. I guess I need ...
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6 votes
1 answer
80 views

How can I extend the life of clear nail polish?

I use nail polish in several of my crafting endeavors. Example would be its use in converting my ties to clip-on or even to stop ribbons from fraying. Recently I was making construction paper jewels ...
  • 11k
9 votes
1 answer
348 views

Can I cast a glow in the dark flower in resin?

This is my first time experimenting with resin. What I want to create is a glow in the dark version of preserved flower in resin. Based on this thread, it's possible to create glow in the dark ...
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10 votes
1 answer
169 views

How to maximize the post-dried life expectancy of flowers?

I want to make a piece that mixes a drawing on paper, with a flower collage (or flat bouquet?) on top and put it in a frame. I know dried flowers don't last forever, but what is their post-dried life ...
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