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help with tricky airbrush masking + a tip

updated wed 7 jul 99

 

Robin MacGrogan on mon 28 jun 99

Hi folks,
Our move to the Ozarks is complete, studio set up, garden doing well. Now
to solve a long time problem...

I've been doing complex designs using an air brush for a dozen years. I've
stuck with simple forms... mostly large platters... to accomodate the
nature of my masks and friskets. I have tried so many times to figure out
how to do what I do on the inner curves of bowls, outside of curved
pitchers, etc. I have failed to accomplish what I desire.

I need help finding a material for making a re-usable mask to ideally cover
the entire inside of something like a bowl. My designs are too complex to
piece together with little bits of mask, or to paint on resist for every
piece every time. I'd love to sell pieces for $650 each on a regular basis
to cover my time, but that's not reality! I need re-usable masks. The mask
must be able to be cut with an exacto, not too flexible or thick, and mold
to the curves. I'm willing to throw exact sizes to accomodate the masks.

I've tried paper mache, rubber tires, tried slumping plastics with a heat
gun, pleating and taping together frisket material... none of these work.
Making little single design friskets out of the pouring end of plastic
bottles works great! Just use a heat gun and weld the design (cut out of
plastic) on the neck. Cut the bottle short. Not only does it mask
perfectly, it catches all the overspray. Doesn't solve my problem though. I
need a continuous pattern.

I'll greatly appreciate any suggestions!

Robin

PS: The Ozarks are hot and gorgeous but I've NEVER seen all the bugs in my
insect book in one place at the same time before! My dedication to organic
gardening is being tested!

Penny Hosler on tue 29 jun 99

Robin,
Easy fix. Use latex. Paint it on just like resist, although in
several coats (sometimes lots of coats). When it's dry it just peels
off in one flexible, very durable piece. Even though it'll be full
of cut-outs and holes where your designs are, it should last a very
long time.
Penny

----- Original Message -----
From: Robin MacGrogan
To:
Sent: Monday, June 28, 1999 6:32 AM
Subject: Help with tricky airbrush masking + a tip


> ----------------------------Original
message----------------------------
> Hi folks,
> Our move to the Ozarks is complete, studio set up, garden doing
well. Now
> to solve a long time problem...
>
> I've been doing complex designs using an air brush for a dozen
years. I've
> stuck with simple forms... mostly large platters... to accomodate
the
> nature of my masks and friskets. I have tried so many times to
figure out
> how to do what I do on the inner curves of bowls, outside of curved
> pitchers, etc. I have failed to accomplish what I desire.
>
> I need help finding a material for making a re-usable mask to
ideally cover
> the entire inside of something like a bowl. My designs are too
complex to
> piece together with little bits of mask, or to paint on resist for
every
> piece every time. I'd love to sell pieces for $650 each on a regular
basis
> to cover my time, but that's not reality! I need re-usable masks.
The mask
> must be able to be cut with an exacto, not too flexible or thick,
and mold
> to the curves. I'm willing to throw exact sizes to accomodate the
masks.
>
> I've tried paper mache, rubber tires, tried slumping plastics with a
heat
> gun, pleating and taping together frisket material... none of these
work.
> Making little single design friskets out of the pouring end of
plastic
> bottles works great! Just use a heat gun and weld the design (cut
out of
> plastic) on the neck. Cut the bottle short. Not only does it mask
> perfectly, it catches all the overspray. Doesn't solve my problem
though. I
> need a continuous pattern.
>
> I'll greatly appreciate any suggestions!
>
> Robin
>
> PS: The Ozarks are hot and gorgeous but I've NEVER seen all the bugs
in my
> insect book in one place at the same time before! My dedication to
organic
> gardening is being tested!
>

Dave on tue 29 jun 99

Guess I'll quit lurking and throw in my two cents......the folks who
sandblast monuments have a gummed back rubber, it comes in a roll, can be
cut with an exacto and SHOULD work like a thick frisket.

What did ya expect for two cents?

Dave in cloudy and wet Florida (don't tell the tourists!)
-----Original Message-----
From: Robin MacGrogan
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Monday, June 28, 1999 9:29 AM
Subject: Help with tricky airbrush masking + a tip


----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hi folks,
Our move to the Ozarks is complete, studio set up, garden doing well. Now
to solve a long time problem...

I've been doing complex designs using an air brush for a dozen years. I've
stuck with simple forms... mostly large platters... to accomodate the
nature of my masks and friskets. I have tried so many times to figure out
how to do what I do on the inner curves of bowls, outside of curved
pitchers, etc. I have failed to accomplish what I desire.

I need help finding a material for making a re-usable mask to ideally cover
the entire inside of something like a bowl. My designs are too complex to
piece together with little bits of mask, or to paint on resist for every
piece every time. I'd love to sell pieces for $650 each on a regular basis
to cover my time, but that's not reality! I need re-usable masks. The mask
must be able to be cut with an exacto, not too flexible or thick, and mold
to the curves. I'm willing to throw exact sizes to accomodate the masks.

I've tried paper mache, rubber tires, tried slumping plastics with a heat
gun, pleating and taping together frisket material... none of these work.
Making little single design friskets out of the pouring end of plastic
bottles works great! Just use a heat gun and weld the design (cut out of
plastic) on the neck. Cut the bottle short. Not only does it mask
perfectly, it catches all the overspray. Doesn't solve my problem though. I
need a continuous pattern.

I'll greatly appreciate any suggestions!

Robin

PS: The Ozarks are hot and gorgeous but I've NEVER seen all the bugs in my
insect book in one place at the same time before! My dedication to organic
gardening is being tested!

George Koller on tue 29 jun 99

Robin,

First, I am aware of a "removable coating" wax resist (name ACQua 240) which
can be removed with hot or cold water. Michelman, Inc. in Cincinnati, OH make
the stuff, their number is 513-793-7766. I have not used it yet - but they
were good enough to send me a sample for my coming projects. Laruen Lopez is
the rep I worked with.

Now, something a little "wild". I am in the "virtual masking" business for
potentially very involved/complex images. No substantial costs except air &
electricity to use. I can work from vectorized photographs of almost
arbitrary complexity (20,000 objects and more).
Post me off-list if you are interested to learn more - it's software and I'm
not entirely there yet - but getting closer everyday.


Best,

George Koller
In warm, still, and overcast Sturgeon Bay, WI



Robin MacGrogan wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi folks,
> Our move to the Ozarks is complete, studio set up, garden doing well. Now
> to solve a long time problem...
>
> I've been doing complex designs using an air brush for a dozen years. I've
> stuck with simple forms... mostly large platters... to accomodate the
> nature of my masks and friskets. I have tried so many times to figure out
> how to do what I do on the inner curves of bowls, outside of curved
> pitchers, etc. I have failed to accomplish what I desire.
>
> I need help finding a material for making a re-usable mask to ideally cover
> the entire inside of something like a bowl. My designs are too complex to
> piece together with little bits of mask, or to paint on resist for every
> piece every time. I'd love to sell pieces for $650 each on a regular basis
> to cover my time, but that's not reality! I need re-usable masks. The mask
> must be able to be cut with an exacto, not too flexible or thick, and mold
> to the curves. I'm willing to throw exact sizes to accomodate the masks.
>
> I've tried paper mache, rubber tires, tried slumping plastics with a heat
> gun, pleating and taping together frisket material... none of these work.
> Making little single design friskets out of the pouring end of plastic
> bottles works great! Just use a heat gun and weld the design (cut out of
> plastic) on the neck. Cut the bottle short. Not only does it mask
> perfectly, it catches all the overspray. Doesn't solve my problem though. I
> need a continuous pattern.
>
> I'll greatly appreciate any suggestions!
>
> Robin
>
> PS: The Ozarks are hot and gorgeous but I've NEVER seen all the bugs in my
> insect book in one place at the same time before! My dedication to organic
> gardening is being tested!

Elca Branman on tue 29 jun 99

A friend who does lots of masking uses old phone books. He says the paper
is just perfect,and his whole line is multi sprayed over friskets,...
Elca.. at home in Sarasota,Florida,USA

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Woods on wed 30 jun 99

This reminded me of the sticky rubber strip they held the rubber roof
sections together with, when they put the rubber roof on my mobil home. Has
anyone tried to use that? I'm sure it is thick enough to cut the designs in
and it sure is sticky enough to use so the glaze wouldn't run under it. It
is flexable enough to put in/on curved surfaces. I just wonder what it would
do when taking it off or firing it. Sue
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 8:32 AM
Subject: Re: Help with tricky airbrush masking + a tip


>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Guess I'll quit lurking and throw in my two cents......the folks who
>sandblast monuments have a gummed back rubber, it comes in a roll, can be
>cut with an exacto and SHOULD work like a thick frisket.
>
>What did ya expect for two cents?
>
>Dave in cloudy and wet Florida (don't tell the tourists!)
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Robin MacGrogan
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>Date: Monday, June 28, 1999 9:29 AM
>Subject: Help with tricky airbrush masking + a tip
>
>
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi folks,
>Our move to the Ozarks is complete, studio set up, garden doing well. Now
>to solve a long time problem...
>
>I've been doing complex designs using an air brush for a dozen years. I've
>stuck with simple forms... mostly large platters... to accomodate the
>nature of my masks and friskets. I have tried so many times to figure out
>how to do what I do on the inner curves of bowls, outside of curved
>pitchers, etc. I have failed to accomplish what I desire.
>
>I need help finding a material for making a re-usable mask to ideally cover
>the entire inside of something like a bowl. My designs are too complex to
>piece together with little bits of mask, or to paint on resist for every
>piece every time. I'd love to sell pieces for $650 each on a regular basis
>to cover my time, but that's not reality! I need re-usable masks. The mask
>must be able to be cut with an exacto, not too flexible or thick, and mold
>to the curves. I'm willing to throw exact sizes to accomodate the masks.
>
>I've tried paper mache, rubber tires, tried slumping plastics with a heat
>gun, pleating and taping together frisket material... none of these work.
> Making little single design friskets out of the pouring end of plastic
>bottles works great! Just use a heat gun and weld the design (cut out of
>plastic) on the neck. Cut the bottle short. Not only does it mask
>perfectly, it catches all the overspray. Doesn't solve my problem though. I
>need a continuous pattern.
>
>I'll greatly appreciate any suggestions!
>
>Robin
>
>PS: The Ozarks are hot and gorgeous but I've NEVER seen all the bugs in my
>insect book in one place at the same time before! My dedication to organic
>gardening is being tested!

James Blossom on tue 6 jul 99

Hi Robin.

What an interesting problem. Have you tried latex mold compound?
You could mold it into the inside of one of your platters, remove it
when set up, and then cut out your pattern from the latex. This would
work especially well if you made a slip-cast or hump mold from one of
your pieces before making the mask from the molded platter.
Haven't tried this but sounds like it might work. If you do give it a
go,
let me know via the list.

Mike Blossom
Sleeping Dog Designs
Albuquerque, N.M.

"Nothing is more real than nothing"
--Samuel Beckett
-----Original Message-----
From: Robin MacGrogan
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Monday, June 28, 1999 6:32 AM
Subject: Help with tricky airbrush masking + a tip


----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hi folks,
Our move to the Ozarks is complete, studio set up, garden doing well. Now
to solve a long time problem...

I've been doing complex designs using an air brush for a dozen years. I've
stuck with simple forms... mostly large platters... to accomodate the
nature of my masks and friskets. I have tried so many times to figure out
how to do what I do on the inner curves of bowls, outside of curved
pitchers, etc. I have failed to accomplish what I desire.

I need help finding a material for making a re-usable mask to ideally cover
the entire inside of something like a bowl. My designs are too complex to
piece together with little bits of mask, or to paint on resist for every
piece every time. I'd love to sell pieces for $650 each on a regular basis
to cover my time, but that's not reality! I need re-usable masks. The mask
must be able to be cut with an exacto, not too flexible or thick, and mold
to the curves. I'm willing to throw exact sizes to accomodate the masks.

I've tried paper mache, rubber tires, tried slumping plastics with a heat
gun, pleating and taping together frisket material... none of these work.
Making little single design friskets out of the pouring end of plastic
bottles works great! Just use a heat gun and weld the design (cut out of
plastic) on the neck. Cut the bottle short. Not only does it mask
perfectly, it catches all the overspray. Doesn't solve my problem though. I
need a continuous pattern.

I'll greatly appreciate any suggestions!

Robin

PS: The Ozarks are hot and gorgeous but I've NEVER seen all the bugs in my
insect book in one place at the same time before! My dedication to organic
gardening is being tested!