De-lurking and looking for Flecto Varathane in Philly

Greetings all! I've been avidly reading your posts for the past few
weeks and have gotten so much information from all of you. I've been
using polymer clay for about 7 years. In the past I've mainly done
cane work covering eggs, glass ornaments and candle holders. Last
year I started getting into more sculptural elements and had some
small success at the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society Convention
with Lovecraft inspired Christmas balls. My craftsmanship still needs
some work and that's what led me to your group. I am looking for a
suplier for Flecto Varathane. I'd prefer an off-line source but
anything will help at this point just so long as I don't have to buy a
gallon of it at a time. I'm looking to make some test tiles of
various combinations so I can create a reference for finishes, so 1
quart cans would be ideal. Thanks for your help and thanks for having
such a great group!

Jenn

Here in MD, I found it at Home Depot. Its primary purpose is as a finish
for wood floors.
Just sent in my space reservations for the Philcon art show yesterday. Hope
to see you there!

| On 26 Sep 2003 07:01:51 -0700, (Jennifer_Crimmins) wrote:

Greetings all! I've been avidly reading your posts for the past few
weeks and have gotten so much information from all of you. I've been
using polymer clay for about 7 years. In the past I've mainly done
cane work covering eggs, glass ornaments and candle holders. Last
year I started getting into more sculptural elements and had some
small success at the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society Convention
with Lovecraft inspired Christmas balls. My craftsmanship still needs
some work and that's what led me to your group. I am looking for a
suplier for Flecto Varathane. I'd prefer an off-line source but
anything will help at this point just so long as I don't have to buy a
gallon of it at a time. I'm looking to make some test tiles of
various combinations so I can create a reference for finishes, so 1
quart cans would be ideal. Thanks for your help and thanks for having
such a great group!

Jenn


Helen "Halla" Fleischer,
Fantasy & Fiber Artist in Fairland, MD USA
http://home.covad.net/~drgandalf/halla/

Or you can ask your local hardware store to order a pint of it for you.
Costs about $7.

"Helen "Halla" Fleischer" wrote in message
...
I am looking for a
suplier for Flecto Varathane. I'd prefer an off-line source but
anything will help at this point just so long as I don't have to buy a
gallon of it at a time. I'm looking to make some test tiles of
various combinations so I can create a reference for finishes, so 1
quart cans would be ideal. Thanks for your help and thanks for having
such a great group!

Jenn


Helen "Halla" Fleischer,
Fantasy & Fiber Artist in Fairland, MD USA
http://home.covad.net/~drgandalf/halla/

Or you can ask your local hardware store to order a pint of it for you.
Costs about $7.

"Helen "Halla" Fleischer" wrote in message
...
I am looking for a
suplier for Flecto Varathane. I'd prefer an off-line source but
anything will help at this point just so long as I don't have to buy a
gallon of it at a time. I'm looking to make some test tiles of
various combinations so I can create a reference for finishes, so 1
quart cans would be ideal. Thanks for your help and thanks for having
such a great group!

Jenn


Helen "Halla" Fleischer,
Fantasy & Fiber Artist in Fairland, MD USA
http://home.covad.net/~drgandalf/halla/

Sears and Home Depot are the 2 places I've found it before...

Shayla

I am in Philly also. I have not been able to find the Flecto in
several Home Depots from South Philly to Pottstown. If you were going
to look to a local hardware store to order it, I would suggest
Killian's in Chestnut Hill as they are eclectic and customer service
oriented.

I got some from Polymerclayexpress (decanted into a 4 oz container)
and frankly I don't like it much. There are definitely problems with
putting it on Kato Clay (beads up... this was covered on several BBs
and there are explanations and suggestions). For me it shows brush
marks and doesn't seem right in general. I like Future and I love
buffing with the Foredom.

Sarah

For me it shows brush
marks and doesn't seem right in general.

if it shows brush marks, then its more than likely dried out. Should be the
consitancy of milk, almost, and is self-leveling, som brushmarks dissappear. I
get it by the quart and just pour out what I need into smaller containers with
sealing lids.Usually lasts a year or two with no problems.
Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery
http://www.polyclay.com

view my auctions at:
http://www.polyclay.com/Collage/auction.htm

There are definitely problems with
putting it on Kato Clay (beads up... this was covered on several BBs
and there are explanations and suggestions

Yes, if you want to use Flecto Varathane with Kato brand clay, you'll have to
use the workaround Van Aken suggests, or use Future rather than Varathane (to
avoid beading up and later peeling). . . they may put out a finish of their own
that works with Kato polyclay in time. The Kato clay has a smoother surface
than the other clays and that's what causes the problem.

The info and workarounds are on this page:
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/finishes.htm
(look under Flecto Varathane, then under "Peeling and Cracking")

HTH,






Diane B.
http://glassattic.com --polymer clay "encyclopedia"

E-mail: (don't use AOL address)

Sarajane,
I know you have had such great success with the Flecto. I was
disappointed with the sall container I got online. I don't think it
is dried out, but I might try to get a full quart and check it.

Thanks for the advice.
Sarah

I was
disappointed with the sall container I got online. I don't think it
is dried out, but I might try to get a full quart and check it.


Sarah, by "dried out" I don't mean flakey or solid--just thickened. The only
time I have had brush strokes show it was because I had some older Flecto--it
was more like condensed milk, but not that thick, even. It should be very
runny. If it is fresh, even using a bad brush with nasty plastic bristles, the
Flecto should self level and fill them in. I use a hair bristle brush--not
great quality, just not the plastic craft brushes. Also, if you have brush
marks showing, try rebaking the piece at 250 for 5 minutes or so---they will
often fill in.

good luck, and remember--if you get a quart and don''t love it for clay, you
can always use it on wood, or cloth, or paper!


Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery
http://www.polyclay.com

view my auctions at:
http://www.polyclay.com/Collage/auction.htm