Cold Porcelain Paste

[Katy B.]

Has anyone had a 'bad' batch of paste that they have made?
I have been using School PVA. Yesterday I purchased Wood PVA Glue from
the hardware store and this changed everything in the cooking.
End result overcooked and almost too stiff to handle. Also hard work!
Did I bin it? No. Check out the results as they dry off.
As I use a lot of bases for setting up my finished pieces here's what happened!!
They are bumpy and full of character, so my 'bad result has added to my collection!

[Katy B.]

The eucalyptus is mainly for smell for me Di.
I think the wood glue is meant for the builders trade and I am guessing that is what I got - a builders mix !!!!!!!!!
However adding warm water has enabled me to use it but it is definitely not as nice as my original recipe.
Cheers
Katy

[Diane Stafford]

oh yes, a jolly good idea - to mask the glue smell I take it :-)

[Katy B.]

Actually Di, the glues I use don't have any odor, but the eucalyptus just enhances the smell.
You could probably use any essence oils for perfume while you work. Once the pieces are dry there is no smell at all.
Katy :+)

[Carmen Tyrer]

this reply may be very late.I read in the Cold Porcelain book by Tombi Peck and Alan Dunn that the eucaliptus oil makes the paste more elastic,as they wrote , they were told by a pharmacist"?!
I have used every possible oil and found no difference at all.

[Katy B.]

I have always used the Eucapytus oil and find it suits me fine.
I never have a failure with my recipe.
I also love the smell of Eucalyptus as I work. As I haven't had a cold in years perhaps the big E helps to keep the bugs away too!!!
I guess trial is the best way to find the good the bad the indifferent.

I very recently cooked up a brew of paste with the water added and leaving out the Baby Oil.
Oh, oh, oh. Big mistake!!!!!!!!!
I finished up with a glob of ghastly sticky goo.
So that's definitely a no-no for me.
Enjoy.
Katy

[Beatriz Grimes]

Carmen:
Tambien he tratado muchas cosas diferentes y creo que usando mas glicerina se hace mas elastica la porcelana.

[Val]

Oh dear, that big bottle of PVA that I got is wood PVA too, I will get some school PVA tomorrow I think.
No wonder you were having problems Pene :P
It definately has a coarser look to it going by Katy's photos :)

[LadyP]

We have an Arthur's Emporium just down the road, so I'll get some school PVA next time I'm out.
I wonder if the acrylic paint is adding to the quick drying time too? It will be interesting to see how hard it drys out or whether it's all just going to crumble.........

[Katy B.]

Pene I don't think the paint added would make too much difference as I have seen where Segeeta - from Argentine - actually suggests this.
I like to add the paint as I need it and on some pieces I make I prefer to have the Translucent effect with just a colour and no white.
Val, some wood PVA's are not necessarily the builders mix but I am going to break mine down with water, as I purchased a 4 litre can !!!!!!
Silly me !!!!!

[Val]

I will keep the PVA I have till I get used to using it, it is an exterior one and says it is builders choice but also can be used for crafts :)

I will wait till Pene has worked it out lol!

Lot's of trial and error, but that is how you find things out! Keep it up girls

[Carmen Tyrer]

HI I think the exterior one is not good for the craft as it is cross linked .
is it by any chance Selley's?

[Carmen Tyrer]

Hi: I have always used wood PVA and have got good results.EXCEPT:
the only one that cannot be used is one that is called tradesman as it is cross linked and makes a paste unable to be used at all.So for peace of mind and pocket ease,better use school. pVA.