Hot Weather Tips for Using Swellegant

My pal Christi (Friesen, Polymer Clay Queen!) shot me an email this week asking me to remind everyone that there are a few things to keep in mind for using Swellegant Metal Coatings, Traditional Patinas and Dye Oxides in warmer climates or for the rest of us....summertime.  ;-)

First, it's important to remember that the metal coatings are NOT just metallic paint.

They are  special paint that has metal IN IT, with a resin binder.

Okay:   now we know what happens to resin when it gets warm:  it sets up.  Given that fact, we need to remember a couple of important things when using the metal coatings.

1.  KEEP IT SEALED when you are not using it.

2.  DO NOT STORE it for long periods of time in a warm environment.   For example, if you don't have A/C in your workshop or storage room, and let's say it's getting up over 75 degrees or so in there, you will want to keep your product in a nice plastic box to avoid any bubbling up out of the bottle.   You can also store the bottles in plastic bags.

    The best course would be NOT to store the stuff somewhere that gets really warm, or even hot.  It may dry out if you do, and especially if you don't keep it sealed.  Also, you should be shaking it up well everytime before you open the bottle, and then, when you do, open it away from your face, in case the paint burps a little.

ALSO:  it is very important to keep the patinas cool and moist as you work with them, especially if you are working with them on POLYMER CLAY.

I like to speed the process of using the patinas and dye oxides over METAL with my heat gun, so for use with metal, I don't think it's so much of an issue in that case.

But if you are using it over clay, there will be times you will want to keep the piece moist.  A gentle spritz over water from time to time directly onto the piece as the patina is working, can actually keep the patinas blooming, if that's what you're going for.

Another suggestion, especially when you use this product with media other than metal, would be to add the last metal coating and patina in the evening before you finish up for the day.   Leave a couple of wet sponges around the piece, and let it work its Swellegant magic over night.

All that having been said:  this is ONE FINE PRODUCT!  and continues to outstrip the sales of Gilder's Paste and the new Vintaj/Ranger 'patina' ink-metal paints at B'sue Boutiques

You will find Swellegant here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/mmp_swellegant_products.shtml

And here is a video to help you learn more, in case the product is new to you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir7LDGellDU

and one to show you how it plays with other patina and colorization products:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDafQii3TM4

And it's all been restocked today at B'sue Boutiques

Someone left a comment on one of the Tubes to mention that Christi didn't develop Swellegant.  I beg to differ:

We only know that it's a Sculpt Nouveau based product because *she told us*.  Otherwise, no one would even know that.   She is also not the first person to private label product, and I'm grateful to her that she did.  When I first found out about it, I was ECSTATIC, because she took on a very large responsibility here.

She took a large, confusing line of highly professional products and through her own diligent experimentation, found out what would work  best on her forte, polymer clay....as well as metal work. 

Because she did that, now YOU don't have to roll through that line, buy huge sizes you won't use, only to find out that some of it is too noxious for safe home use or is not the right thing for what you want to do with it.

Christi discovered what was safe and easiest to use, as well as practical.  Everything she selected is perfect for the home craftsroom, low toxicity, and the fact that it is now in SMALL bottles is great for those who want to learn how to use it and be able to try a lot of colors and types without breaking the bank.

So....to me....YES.  She did discover and develop Swellegant.   If she had not we'd all still be banging our heads and spending too much money on product.

Thanks, Christi!

Comments

[Beetique]

I really like the swellegent but I also wanted to try the vintaj stuff and still like the gilders as well.

[beadybaby]

suggestion...move to alaska! :-)