polyclay mokume gane (was crafts contest)

Those look really great! I really like how the green ones turned out
and the shape of your heart bead is very nice!!

Can't wait to see them sanded & buffed - they are really going to glow!

Barb


crnaofca wrote:


here they are
they still need a lot of sanding, but i was making photos for a friend
of mine, so why not send them)

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/6262/nausn7zr.jpg
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/5...zicasta5cj.jpg
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/893/ruzmok7rm.jpg
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/8763/ruzmokok0se.jpg
http://img343.imageshack.us/img343/8174/zel3ct.jpg
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/7303/zelcil4sj.jpg
http://img343.imageshack.us/img343/9674/srce8cl.jpg -- this one needs a
lot of sanding, but colors look good in it

I've got a question about the technique. I recently tried it from a
pattern I found online, using 16 layers of clay, flattened to 1/8", and
made impressions using a rubber stamp. Then came the hard part - how to
shave off the impressions? Working with a sheet only 1/8" thick, how do
you hold on to it to shave off a layer?

As usual, I ended up with a bunch of swirled lentils and bicones

Cheers,
Carla

Barbara Forbes-Lyons wrote:
Those look really great! I really like how the green ones turned out
and the shape of your heart bead is very nice!!

Can't wait to see them sanded & buffed - they are really going to glow!

Barb


crnaofca wrote:


here they are
they still need a lot of sanding, but i was making photos for a friend
of mine, so why not send them)

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/6262/nausn7zr.jpg
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/5...zicasta5cj.jpg
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/893/ruzmok7rm.jpg
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/8763/ruzmokok0se.jpg
http://img343.imageshack.us/img343/8174/zel3ct.jpg
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/7303/zelcil4sj.jpg
http://img343.imageshack.us/img343/9674/srce8cl.jpg -- this one needs a
lot of sanding, but colors look good in it

Carla wrote:
I've got a question about the technique. I recently tried it from a
pattern I found online, using 16 layers of clay, flattened to 1/8", and
made impressions using a rubber stamp. Then came the hard part - how to
shave off the impressions? Working with a sheet only 1/8" thick, how do
you hold on to it to shave off a layer?

As usual, I ended up with a bunch of swirled lentils and bicones

uh, im not sure if that is the good way of holding them, but i was
raising part by part of sheet and then shaving them with scalpel. i made
like a wave, so one part was curved and raised, and then gently cut out
top layer. i made a couple of holes, but it turned okay at the end.
sheet was also like 1/8" thick.

--
..~*I'm an angel, honest! These horns are just to keep my halo up.*~.

Barbara Forbes-Lyons wrote:

Those look really great! I really like how the green ones turned out
and the shape of your heart bead is very nice!!

Can't wait to see them sanded & buffed - they are really going to glow!

i really hope so do you have some smart tips on sanding them? i
usually dont do sanding, im to lazy, sometimes i wash them in washing
machine, so they become smoother, but never actually sanded them (shame
on me). ive read a lot about sanding, so i might know what am i doing,
but if there is something i should have in mind...


--
..~*I'm an angel, honest! These horns are just to keep my halo up.*~.

What you want to do is start with a lower grit paper and then sand with
consecutively higher grits. Use Wet/Dry paper, being sure to soak the
paper first, then to make it easier, wrap the paper around a sponge to
create a 'sanding block' that's easy on the hands. Sand underwater in a
bowl or sink. Change the water out as it gets cloudy. Always sand in a
circular motion - back and forth will leave streaks/grooves. The the
piece is pretty smooth, you can usually start out with 400 grit and
progress up to 1200 or 2000 grit. If you have a lot of fingerprints,
etc., start with a lower grit, then move up. You can find the super
high grit paper at automotive supply places - they use it for finish
work on car body repairs and painting.

If you sand in a bowl at a table, make sure the chair is at a good
height where you can rest your elbows on the table and sit up straight.
Sanding can take time, so you want to be comfortable.

After you sand, dry the piece thoroughly and buff with a muslin or denim
wheel or cloth.

And yes, it is worth the work, esp. for a technique like mokume gane or
anything using metallic clays. Sanding and buffing just brings out the
colors, depth and sparkle.

Here are some great sanding tips - :

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/sanding_tumbling.htm

http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/2_rosequartz.html

http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/cy...ding_tips.html

http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/sandpaper.html

----------
Barbara
www.penguintrax.com

eBay & Justbeadsenguintrax

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