Author:
Editor: Dwyn Tomlinson
My method is the glue gun, and five-minute epoxy. (Editor’s note: Further questioning reveals Wendy tacks into position with hot glue, then epoxy into position permanently.)
Some of my jewelry from 1975 is perfectly intact. Some comes back to me for repairs. Collaged jewelry will lose stones. If the glue holds then sometimes the foil back comes off the stones. After all, if you can use epoxy for ships to outer space and underwater, it is the strongest thing.
I love collage jewelry and gluing things together is a great art form. I hope everyone who wants to try it will.
Please be careful with the materials please. It is soooooooo NOT okay to use these things in your basement with no window or ventilator system. Promise me you won’t, not even a little. It is almost spring — if you want to use dangerous glue, do it outside.
I use a glue gun to put each piece into position and then build up the areas around with stones, pearls, and rhinestone chain, like mortar in between bricks. We call it “caviar” — a mixture of small beads and glue.
To me, the epoxy has a fine finished technique, and very durable. As a professional, I find it necessary to use it. I train someone, and they work at home, and I am lucky to have a very good helper now. It is hard to do, and be neat, and not get glue all over everything. We use tooth picks to move the stones. Some people use long thin tools with beeswax to hold the pieces.
The five-minute epoxy is very poisonous stuff. I cannot recommend anyone use it except in very well-ventilated conditions, not around babies or animals or in your kitchen at anytime, tho’ that may have the best exhaust fan in your home. [Many of those stove exhaust fans don’t actually vent to the outside, or are so clogged with grease and fuzz that they can’t vent anything.]
When you mix part A and part B, the chemical created is stronger than anything that can come in one tube (to my knowledge). The worst gas is emitted when you mix it. [Follow the instructions for mixing on the package.]
However, I can no longer work with the stuff after 25 years of using it and being around it. I am allergic and get an immediate headache. My eye tissues swell up sometimes, if I just get near it.
If you use epoxy, wash your hands a lot; if you can work in rubber gloves, do so. When I mix a big batch to glaze an art piece, I go outside and wear a paper suit (available at the hardware store), a respirator, eye-protection and gloves. I have video taped my self doing this, as I look so funny. It is not funny though what these chemicals can do! Read the labels, they are not kidding. I’m sure my immune dysfunction has been effected by it, and it probably led to my heath problems. I am very well now, thank God, though it took years of rest to recover.
I imagine for the crafter at home, the technique that B’Sue uses is quite good. She never uses a glue gun, or epoxy, and has wonderful products. [Although her glue of choice is hazardous too.]
When I work with children, I try to use white glue: Elmers. It is safe, and dries very hard and clear. If you are doing boxes and flat things, I would go for the white glue. Let it dry flat overnight.
Local craft stores have a lot of glues to try.
And for certain projects, hot glue will stick especially well to a porous surface, like wood. Press hard on the piece after you glue it down and say “Stick!!!” like when you teach a dog to “Sit.” It works! LOL.
Thanks to Wendy Gell — Queen of the Wristy
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