Crafts

Last edited Wed Jun 28, 2023, 09:27 PM - Edit history (20)

my thumbs got messed up recently too (from rubber screw on drink covers getting stuck) but also both my wrists have been broken and i've had an aneurysm in my right hand for many years which acts up if i put too much pressure on it...

anyway i do know that if a finish is applied to the hardened paper clay it will then have some protection - i don't know though enough abt what finishes are best (and i have so many allergies which also makes me leery and so little money to be able to experiment a whole lot - so mostly all can do is study as much as possible and or / talk with others about it)...

- i hope your thumb troubles are solved soon!



p.s. speaking of getting old i forgot the other recent wrist thing (i've developed some large odd knotty thing on the left one)...

p.p.s. we were also thinking abt getting some candles for the same reason and / or making candles large for heating and smaller size for seeing in case the power goes out (and also our brand new flashlight just went completely out the second time using it)...

- back to paper clay for a sec. no kneading is necessary (it's pre-kneaded) also paint in some cases depending on the type of paint will also act as a barrier another thing is setting any item in sunlight will cause fading / breakdown of any protecting finish...

one final note on why i love paper clay -- bas relief designs (and the opposite -- i forget the name of that but indention into) can be achieved with only the slightest of touch before or after air drying (complete air drying is 24 hrs. partial air drying can happen very quickly so one must add just the slightest of drops of water to keep it malleable while working -- as well new parts can easily be added to the completely dry parts if desired)...

more more of course there is more:

enamel paint will work on paper clay and also for pipes!

- also you can burn enamel paint in a microwave glass kiln which is way cheaper than a regular kiln (abt. $75) but be very careful with microwave ovens and paint i started a fire trying to do tie dye many years ago mistakenly using metallic paints in just a microwave -- however these small kilns are made for heating glass and metals -- inside a microwave -- which is exactly an oven sealed tight inside another oven -- still anyone trying such things must be careful especially with kids / pets / underfoot / housemates who may be accident prone etc....

but i don't know how to make the tube of the pipe stay clear while firing (maybe you will figure it out) but there is a way because people who make beads this way make holes in them which stay open (some above in this thread mention that) one needs to insert something in the hole to keep it open i remember something oh yes i think one must use something which will burn off in the process so...wait hmmm i'm not so certain abt this i am forgetting something hmmm maybe a metal clay which burns off well anyway seems that i need to refresh my memory but i do absolutely know paper clay and pipes can both be coated with enamel but paper will burn off in a microwave kiln too so i'm wondering how this can be avoided and i'm starting to get burnt out thinking about it also -- haha -- i need lunch i'm thinking...

- and never ever eating from the same microwave oven which has been used for experimentation of course!!!

oh yeah toothpicks! yes some bead makers use (wooden) toothpicks for beads which burn up inside the oven (but paper is wood) so a tube for a pipe would have to be done differently -- maybe a thicker harder metal which won't burn at these lower temps ?? which are much lower than a conventional kiln - maybe hmmm i don't know - i have not yet bought one although they are affordable for me - as i'm too busy getting ripped off buying food and other necessities these days...