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#1
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Hello and question for swimmers/hot-tubbers
This is my first post here, so first of all "Hello" to you all.
I have a question for anyone out there who wears their polymer jewelry while swimming or hot tubing. I make polymer beads and have started making some "surfer" jewelry for my friends, who are also willing guinea pigs for my creations. It will be a while before I know the long term effects that the ocean has on their jewelry. I would like to know if anyone can suggest what is the best finish for beads that will be worn in salt water and/or chlorinized water? I don't think the varnish I use (future floor polish) will hold up to salt water or chlorine in the long run. Also, what kind of cording is the best to use. I don't like the look or feel of hemp and would rather go the direction of leather cord. Does anyone know how that holds up in salt water? I would be open to alternatives if you have found something that works. Thanks for any advice you can give me - Shay |
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#2
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Leather will not hold up to sal****er, I can tell you that. Cotton or Hemp
cording, or a nylon alternative, would be the best. Instead of applying a finish, try sanding/buffing to a high gloss. Eventually, though, you'll get some pitting, etc. from chlorine or the sal****er. I don't think it can be avoided. |
#3
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On Sat, 18 Dec 2004 21:11:40 -0500, Barbara Forbes-Lyons wrote
(in message ): Leather will not hold up to sal****er, I can tell you that. Cotton or Hemp cording, or a nylon alternative, would be the best. Instead of applying a finish, try sanding/buffing to a high gloss. Eventually, though, you'll get some pitting, etc. from chlorine or the sal****er. I don't think it can be avoided. Waxed cotton (linen) or rubber will work, although the waxed cotton will break down in a fairly short time. The rubber will last longer, although I'd replace the cheap base metal hardware with stainless steel wire. I wish I could help with the polymer clay, though. |
#4
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Hi there! Don't know how polymer holds up to chlorine or bromine in hot tubs,
but I can tell you it withstands sea water---I had surf buddies with beads, and the hemp or leather cord decomposes before the beads. However, sal****er will wear off finishes like fimolaquer, varathane, etc. The only longlasting finish that holds through long wear in immersion is sanding and buffing. Sarajane Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery http://www.polyclay.com |
#5
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They make stuff to put on boats. Since some boats have plastic (fiberglas)
finishes, you might check with a marine shop to find a finish compatible with plastic. I think I saw such a finish in the Micromark catalog. They sell various things for model boats. http://www.micromark.com/ Of course, anything would have to be tested for awhile. Susan |
#6
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Hi Shay,
I agree with the other ladies here that the best finish is no finish at all. Sand it real good, buff it, and let that clay shine! And the rubber Buna cord is definitely the way to go. It's a great look for the surfer type jewelry, and even comes in colors now. There's also a product called Softglass that's a hollow rubber type tubing that comes in cool translucent colors and connects with a little barb type thingy...(gotta love my technical terms here) and there's no crimping. Just cut the tube to desired length and connect with the barb. If you do choose the solid rubber Buna cord, make sure you use either stainless or brass crimp ends, the brass being more easily found and more affordable. Good luck and have fun! -- Dawn "Art Insomnia" http://snipurl.com/Art_Insomnia http://snipurl.com/my_ebay "Shay" wrote in message ups.com... This is my first post here, so first of all "Hello" to you all. I have a question for anyone out there who wears their polymer jewelry while swimming or hot tubing. I make polymer beads and have started making some "surfer" jewelry for my friends, who are also willing guinea pigs for my creations. It will be a while before I know the long term effects that the ocean has on their jewelry. I would like to know if anyone can suggest what is the best finish for beads that will be worn in salt water and/or chlorinized water? I don't think the varnish I use (future floor polish) will hold up to salt water or chlorine in the long run. Also, what kind of cording is the best to use. I don't like the look or feel of hemp and would rather go the direction of leather cord. Does anyone know how that holds up in salt water? I would be open to alternatives if you have found something that works. Thanks for any advice you can give me - Shay |
#7
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Hello and thanks so much for all of your replies and helpful
suggestions. I am happy that the opinion is to sand, buff and shine and skip the varnish. Some of the work I do with polymer looks really good with a finish on it, but anything that is colorful seems to look plastic once the varnish is on and that's not the look I want to achieve. Dawn - thank you for pointing me in the direction of Softglass. I checked it out on line and it looks really cool - I also like the little "barb thingy", nice and simple. Guess I will trek down to Michael's to see if they have it in store. Of course once again I am wondering if it would stand up to ocean water. Would putting sea salt in my washing machine simulate the ocean or ruin my washer? ;-) Thanks again - Shay |
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