Unanswered Questions
31 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
8
votes
0answers
186 views
Plastics options for molding
I am creating a sword for cosplay, and I need the material used to be clear, rigid, and lightweight, and to cure properly in such a thin mould (and can be poured into the mould I have, as I'd prefer ...
7
votes
0answers
150 views
What is this style of picture frame called?
I have some convex glass silhouette paintings from the Benton Glass Company from the 30s or 40s. They came with metal frames, each bent from a single piece of metal with a hook on one end and a hole ...
6
votes
0answers
35 views
Binding a book against the grain
I have stack of nice paper, but it runs against the grain, when used for handbook binding. When binding, the paper grain needs to be parallel to the book binding edge. What happens if a book is bound ...
6
votes
1answer
152 views
What type of paint for mildly flexible plastics?
I have a couple of roughly fist-sized plastic† pieces that I'd like to paint (I'll post a pic as soon as I can); preferably with a spray but brush is OK too.
First I intend to lay down a primer (for ...
5
votes
0answers
43 views
Detergent residue on the surface before painting - how bad is it?
Before painting a small item (think of a plastic model), I wash it in soapy water to remove oily fingerprints etc. Most commonly I use diluted dishwashing liquid. From experience, washing is important,...
5
votes
0answers
44 views
Gilding with other leaves but gold and silver using traditional water gilding
Is it possible to gild with imitation, or other but gold and silver, leaves using traditional water gilding? If not, how come?
Also, why is it not possible to burnish (using agate stone) when using ...
5
votes
0answers
95 views
What are these blue spots on a AISI 301 steel plate?
Below is a 150x microscope view of a 301 steel plate. It is covered by this type of small blue spots.
It appeared after the steel had been treated at 400°C. The subcontractor thinks that the steel was ...
4
votes
0answers
44 views
How should I maintain a carved wood panel
I bought this wood carving several years ago from a vintage/antique housewares and decor store. At least one of the cracks pre-dates my purchase but I don't think all of them do. Additionally, it just ...
4
votes
0answers
68 views
Tempera Paints for Making Washes?
I do a lot of hobby crafting for tabletop gaming that involves painting miniatures and building scenery (think model railroad hobbyists). In this craft, there is a lot of need for washes of different ...
4
votes
0answers
81 views
Too much vinegar in clay - how to get back plasticity
I've added too much vinegar to my clay and made it too sticky. Is there any fast way to get back the plasticity other than just slowly drying and then adding water back in? Would an alkaline solution ...
3
votes
1answer
77 views
Can you use a standard ceramic kiln to melt bronze for casting?
I'm starting a home foundry, based in the UK to make small metal casts in aluminium and bronze - practicing with aluminium and moving on to bronze once I've got the skills and equipment set up right.
...
3
votes
0answers
34 views
How does Flanders ground connect to cloth stitch?
I am currently in the process of learning the five-hole ground used in Flanders bobbin lace. However, I can only find information on the ground, not on how to transition from the ground to cloth ...
3
votes
1answer
241 views
Paperweights used to hold down Art, Posters, or Maps for framing
My local frame shop uses weighted leather discs to lay prints out flat.
These paper weights are essential for keeping rolled posters flat on a table. I can also see them being used in the map / ...
3
votes
1answer
115 views
Glue for printed vinyl banner
Hey guys I purchased a large printed vinyl banner (3050mm x 766mm). Due to cost reasons, I want to glue this banner to an aluminum sign and it looks like it is coated, maybe plastic or laminate. I’m ...
3
votes
0answers
37 views
Punch needle tool settings do not match kit instructions
I received a couple of needle punch kits from Joann's for Christmas, along with a 2.2 mm adjustable length punch needle (Boye), which was the recommended tool for the kits.
I was reading the ...
