Last year, I covered a head (blob) with bitumen and dropped it into a pail of water. Gregory, we would love to see your masks. Believe it or not, a mixture of wood glue and a few slices of white Ironkids bread makes and excellent paper clay. But maybe the thin set over a crumpled foil armature, without any paper at all, would hold up well enough for long-term outdoor use. However i dont know what to use any help guys. I think I put a post here last year using Titebond III on alumium foil together with your paper mache clay. The mask cap is still flexible, but every seam is reinforced with the strong glue and paper. Unfortunately, my local hardware store only carries tiny bottles of it, and I have many more patterns to design for the Lion King characters. As for the “fox” you referred to, I suspect the interior may not have been coat as moisture can saturate the fiber/paper from both inside and out. I haven’t used the wood glue with shop towels, but I know that when I use the joint compound and glue mixture with the shop towels they stay floppy unless the paper is completely saturated. I also added wire for the vanes on the feathers and I wanted the “vanes” to be visible. Hi Brittany. For fun projects, it is fine to use a flour and water mix, but for projects that need to be durable, you should use PVA glues which will double the strength of the paper mache product. The skin is untreated dacron (canvas works well too). It is expensive, I know. For a really solid finish an epoxy resin coat will turn a flimsy paper mache object into a rock hard object. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. These people cover their giant pumpkins with flexible tile mortar. Hello! When used in a very thin layer, it may crack when flexed. Or do you dip the strips in the glue mixture and lay them over the painted layer? This mask should hold up well, even when worn by middle-school kids during rehearsals and during the Lion King play. A higher water to glue ratio does mean longer drying times. I am an art consultant looking to partner with a paper mache artist on a project for a hotel. I tried them both, but the Titebond product worked much better for me. I don’t know what area it would cover. So I ordered my glue online from amazon.com — the larger bottles are a much better value than the small ones. Plaster of Paris. I will look for other projects to share. Adhesives/glues are made to joining things together. You are attempting to upload an invalid image. I ruined one of my bowls by letting the glue dry in it overnight. And if you have any ideas for other projects that would benefit from this method, please tell us about them. I’ve just discovered a glue called Durabond. But when Susan put her wolf outside with three coats of Flex Seal, she said it got mushy and had to be brought back inside. You might want to contact someone in the art department of your local university – they might know of someone who would be able to help you. The blob was built up with aluminum foil. Thank you! Answer Save. Small pieces of paper randomly applied mean the fibres are all over the place, weaving a strong structure. For those of us who don’t live in Australia and can’t get the product you used for your latest experiment. How thick is the titebond when it comes out of the bottle. Article by Jamie. You can either paint the glue onto the armature and then put the dry paper over it, and then do another layer. Jim, thank you so much for your reply. The helmets have lasted years and they have seen a lot of abuse/use from the kids. The choice is project dependent. Producing larger statues may take a bit more work because you will need to create a mould or base to strengthen the paper mache. Be creative, think outside the box. It was recommended to me at a hardware shop for an outdoor wood sculpture. Moisture promotes both the chemical and biological processes and with more moisture these process speed up. I really like experimenting with the new, combining with the old, and learning from my successes (there have been a bunch of mistakes along the way………..likely more failures than success, but that’s how I learn). The Titebond III glue is very strong, so use a throw-away container. This technique is made from scrap paper and a paste. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Hi Jim. 4 layers of newspaper is good, but eight is better. My 32 oz bottle cost about $15, and I think it will be enough for four lion headdress masks. The white pieces remained hard as rock. Dang. The pumpkin people start with foam and then cover it with plaster, and then the thin set. I just made a temporary bowl out of an old yogurt container. It will help show you where you have been before and strengthen the piece. Easy paper cache recipe made from only flour and water. Choice of adhesive can be a personal choice, economic choice, project-driven choice, desired longevity of your work, or any number of other variables. Thanks. The classic craft process of papier-mâché is one way to harden paper. However long fibred materials when layered first one way then at right angles are even better. In the meantime, if you’d like to make one of the animal sculptures that are on the wall behind me in the video, you can find the patterns here. Although it is an excellent modelling material (easy, safe, cheap) it can be a little weak, so here is how to make papier mache stronger. Paper mache is a very simple crafting technique that may come in handy for those who want low cost and simple items. The Durabond sold here is a powdered drywall joint compound, and that isn’t at all the same as the Selley’s Durabond that you used. C- Release agents. Moisture/water dissolves glues, breaks down organic fibers/cellulose, and promotes growth of mold and mildew. The best way to strengthen paper mache is to use a stronger glue. The sawmill makes lumber and other wood products. Trees get cut and they go to a sawmill. I have had great success making cosplay helmets for my friends children using paper/fiber-based structures coated (smoothed) with a flexible and moisture resistant bathroom tile grout (a paste you can get at Home Depot) coated with Flex Seal, a spray-on rubber material. B- Bowls and plates. In a related question, I assume that a clear gesso, mod podge, polyurethane or varnish finish would strengthen a thin bowl, but if you have suggestions on other ways to do so, that would be welcomed too. Thanks! HI! As they are drying it is a good idea to check on the paper mache and check for any soft spots that were missed when putting the paper mache on. When I did a search to see if your product is available here, I found an article that says Titebond III would be a reasonable substitute in the US. I do post my projects on Facebook, but only sporadically. to make a doll by the first method, Tear some paper into strips… Read More »Paper Mache Dolls JS. To begin making your resin paper mache paste, bring 3 cups of water to a boil in your pot. That may be true with wood glue, too. Krylon coats the rubber material really well and they have a vibrant pallet of colors. Globe Projects Globe Crafts Earth Day Projects Projects For Adults Science Projects School Projects Children Projects Craft Projects Kids Globe. The Dungeon Rats were one project that I did not do any sketches or drawing prior to construction; the inspiration was a small plastic … P.S: If you try Durabond, always wear gloves. one way is by layering strips of paper and glue while the other is to use paper pulp (obtained by boiling or soaking paper) mixed with glue. My Star Wars Kylo Ren helmet is posted on the internet somewhere. I like to keep an arsenal/toolbox of assorted media, adhesives, and sealants. It’s all great stuff. I will post it to your blog when I find it. Both the post and the video seem to be working fine on my computer. What do you think? I’m using it for an outdoor wood sculpture. Maybe the mortar won’t stick to foam. Modroc. All it needs now is a coat of spray primer, some acrylic paint, and the mane. Jonni I am using Titebond 2 and water as my glue/paste. All bad things for ,most projects. Or perhaps she needed to add the Krylon and outdoor latex paint on top of the Flex Seal. Cover your work area in more old newspaper. Paper mache (Papier-mâché) glue: easy method Mix together 1 mug of sifted flour and 1 mug of warm water in a large bowl. You can thin the glue down slightly with some water, but not too much to take away any strength. Fast Easy Paper Mache Recipe. Thanks for the great info! A ball dropped in a bucket of water lasted a week before staring to soften. You can see that I didn’t put paper mache on the inside of my mask’s cap, because I didn’t think it would be needed. What was your original ‘blob’ made with? All Give it another try. You don’t want it so wet that it will saturate the cardboard. This site is owned and operated by Jonni Good. Hence the need/want to waterproof our projects so they last longer outdoors. So far it seems to be working well. Jonni, paper-based anything and moisture do not go together well. Please try a smaller file smaller than 250KB. It’s a good idea to look over the wet mask and use a paper towel to remove any excess glue, so the entire mask will dry at the same time. I've mixed up a paste that is wallpaper paste, pva and a touch of tea tree oil. As the World Turns (And The Wine Pours) - Simple DIY paper mache recipe for school projects. The most important aspect is to make sure ALL the fibers are as saturated with adhesive even if that means thinning out the adhesives which in turn always leads to longer drying times. 3. Paper mache (papier mache) is basically paper and a starch based glue. Decide what kind of shape you would like to create and use wire to make your idea come to life. Nowadays, two standard systems are typically used to produce a paper machine. If the items need to remain slightly flexible, like a mask, be sure to put an acrylic gesso over the drywall joint compound. Anything waterproof is sealed to keep moisture out. The bottom line here is if you want a project which will last a long time outdoors you need to make/build it with as many water-resistant materials and adhesives as possible, then you need to seal your project with a waterproofing sealant. To see some tips on applying paper mache strips and paste smoothly, click here. Titebond III grabs onto the paper instead of letting it slide around, and in my experience it dries faster than Elmer’s Wood Glue. It would cost too much to pay for the little bottles. Hello! Ah – so the Titebond test has already been done by you, and it didn’t work, even when covered with the bitumin. CRAFT BASICS! 1.7k. I find posting about my work takes away from my time to actually work on them. Flex Seal comes in black and clear, as a spray-on or brush on SEALANT. I would be curious to know if that were the case. If the mixture is too stiff, add a little tap water. Hi – I’m Jonni Good. Instructions Boil 3 Cups of Water Exterior grade oil-based paints are fantistic, dry to a hard finish, and provide a wide pallet of color and finish choices. From the piccy, you can see some places are white where it made a thickish covering. My sequence of build materials usually goes like this: first a structure of a rubber, felt, cloth, or paper material to form the shape of the project; the second layer is the flexible bathroom grout to smooth-out the project (sometimes a silicone product); the third layer is the spray-on rubber material; and, the final layer is Krylon. The extra water helps to saturate the blue shop towels which gives the long term benefit of saturating the paper fibers with glue to make a strong shell. If you’re using it over another kind of armature, you’ll still want to have more glue than water in the mix, to get the strongest bond. Or you can dip the paper into the glue and put them on the armature. I build canoes and kayaks using Titebond 2 and Titebond 3. We receive so many requests for a waterproof coating so paper-based product can stay outside, and I haven’t found any that work indefinitely. I couldn’t open the “how to make paper mache smooth”. For last year’s test, I used a thin cover of either exterior acquadere or Titebond 3. Dan Reeder used wood glue with his cloth mache for an outdoor dragon, so maybe that is the answer. Hi Helen. If saved, this image will not display with your comment. By the way, do you happen to have a website where you share your work? How to strengthen paper mache? The more layers you build up the stronger the finished piece will be. 3 Answers. I don’t know the answer to that. Generally, glues are not waterproof or make good waterproofing. Heads up! After a week, it started to soften. Is it traditional paper strips and paste? Would it work to apply the titebondvto a finished -mâché project to make it water resistant after it’s already been painted or would that destroy the appearance? Please email me at your earliest convenience! Wire Sculpture: In order to create a more interestingly shaped paper mache sculpture, you may need to create a wire skeleton first. Or maybe it needs a more solid base to keep it from cracking. Would another layer of Titebond make then stiffer? But for a project like this, where you really need the mask to hold up even under a bit of abuse, it’s worth the extra cost. Paper mache is a sculpting technique consisting of sheet parts connected by a sticky mixture originating from the French’s chewed paper. I have been making Pumpkinhead masks for my “Great Pumpkin” halloween costume for 27 years. Let the item dry before starting the next layer. A traditional japanese technique that dates back more than 2000 years, building up layers of laquer is a slow, painstaking technique, but one that yeilds beautiful results. How to Make Paper Mache Indian Dolls There are two ways to prepare paper mache. We haven’t received updates from either one of them, and we don’t know how long those big pumpkins held up, either. A- Balloons are cheap and indispensable. Use the raw method to make paper mache paste, as it is stronger. No, no, no, no…… Titebond 2 and 3 are adhesives, not sealants. No release agent needed. I usually dip, just because it’s faster, but many people feel it’s neater to use a brush instead. it has equal longevity in wet environments. Anything water resistant may still be/become susceptible to the effects of moisture. I hope you’ll try again! Repeat to cover and leave to dry before adding further layers. Barry. Perhaps it was because she used the spray cans instead of brush-on. This years’ is my first using blue shop towels – so far so good, more layers to come, I am on my first drying. I’ve never seen anyone first paint on a layer of the mixture, so I’m curious how you go forward after that step. 3- Find a mould. If you’re using it over another kind of armature, you’ll still want to have more glue than water in … Let the item dry before starting the next layer. A good marine varnish will protect wood, but a pinhole or cracks from the sun allow water in to destroy a paper mache sculpture. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. They only adhesive I work with that can saturate blue shop towels and make it waterproof is epoxy. Layering the surface or figure: Smooth it out, using either your fingers or a paintbrush. These all must be applied very thinly. Working with papier mache layers. The cheap options of flour or wallpaper paste are fine in many situations, but switching your glue to white PVA doubles the strength of the finished project. Paste. A 1/8 inch layer should dry rock hard in about 48 hours. I plan on experimenting with art tissue that I have on hand and I'll purchase rice paper if you think that's the way to go. October 7, 2019 admin. While planning/thinking about paper-based project longevity we have to keep in mind paper is a wood product. I’m thinking it’s time for another paper mache clay experiment. See more ideas about paper mache animals, paper mache, paper clay. I applied one coating of Durabond to the head. It really helps if you put one hand on the inside of your mask, to support the cardboard when you press down on the glued paper. I have learned through life the perfect answer to any question is “it depends” because often there are so many variables to consider before figuring out the right answer. The helmet is going on its fourth Halloween and as well as throughout the years. Well, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but it is pretty exciting. So Durabond is a possible answer to waterproofing. So, consider adding a layer or two of cotton or linen in with your paper. Replies to my comments You haven’t lived until you’ve made a giant paper mâché head. Then your paper mache clay was used. Here’s a way to make super-strong paper mache that only needs one layer – and it dries in 12 hours or less. Craft Products That Will Harden Paper Papier-mâché. Welcome – and have fun! If you’ve used wood glue with paper mache before, please let us know about your experiences with it. If you'd like to create a shape (a face, say), bunch the strip into the form you want, place it on your surface, and then layer another strip on top to smooth it out. The glue is not intended to be a waterproofing product, and it does not dry clear. Plaster of Paris is a good option for creating a base form for paper mache projects. I will be using Flex Seal Clear (see image) on my current Pumpkin Head (only because it was given to me by someone who bought too much). As each project is different, the tools and material differ too. While epoxy is great at joining together wood fibers, paper fibers, and fiberglass, epoxy is expensive, not great for the environment, and can be deadly toxic if not handled properly. Watch this video, if you haven’t already. Sorry Jonni this is about clay NOT glue…….we made your favorite FLOUR clay but used TALC instead of flour…………..it’s wonderful! Because blue shop towels are very absorbent I made my glue to water ratio 1-part Titebond 2 to 2-parts water. Sculpting Giant Paper Mache Heads. I usually place my pieces in front of a fan for a couple hours at a time to help speed up the drying process. You don’t want it so wet that it will saturate the cardboard. I’m a sculptor, a grandma, an online art teacher, and the inventor of the famous paper mache clay recipe. The paste should be smooth and batter-like with no lumps. If it is just a small spot, it is likely not going to matter, however, you can add a small piece of paper with paper mache to strengthen it. I would like to chat with you and, per your instructions, connection with you here in comments is better than an email. Includes Jonni’s famous Paper Mache Clay recipe, and tips on choosing the right recipe for your next project. You might want to consider using marine varnish instead, or any clear varnish intended for outdoor use. If you visit the Titebond website or search woodworking websites for Titebond information you quickly learn Titebond 3 was formulated to more water resistant than Titebond 2, but it still not waterproof. So to answer the question “what is the best waterproofing”, “it depends”, and the best way to figure out that puzzle is to experiment and share with others what we find works best (knowing that what works best for one project may not work well for another). I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that helps sites like mine earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also need to remember chemical and biological processes decay/break-down wood (celulose). I find is Titebond 2 is properly finished with a good coat of sealant (poly varnish, spray-on plastic, etc.) Dip the paper strips in the paste, wipe off the excess on the side of the bowl and stick onto your project. Tip on Organizing Your Paper Pieces. Well we have 1 more performance of Lion King to go.We did it!5 Paper mache masks ,5 plastic molds paper mache wall Paste on outside to be smooth.The glue I used was regular Elmers.They were mounted on the head hat to head connection.The Lioness mask were affixed to modified ball caps.Pic of main character masks.