Help, Installing a seashell

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Greg Gomon

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
May 15, 2000
Posts
266
Loc
Santa Cruz, California, USA
We have designed a shadowbox and one of the
items to be placed inside is a "Sand dollar."
Any suggestions how best to mount this seashell inside the shadowbox without potentially destroying it. We have ruled out sewing it in place as the threads or fishing line will show. Your ideas are greatly appreciated.
 
I know I'll get flack for this from the purists, but here goes.
I would use about three small dabs of clear silicone glue.
If ever the sand dollar needs to be removed, all it will take is some fine nylon fishing line pulled under the dollar. Any remaining silicone can be rolled off with your finger.
There are a lot of removable acid free glues out there, but most of them require water to soften the glue. Water won't hurt the sand dollar, it will however, play havoc with the background material.

A lot of folks want to turn picture framing into an exact, complicated science, they also want to turn running a framing business into a Harvard business school example.
I'm not among that elite group of experts.

I have found over the years that the best solution to any problem is usually the simplest one. This approach makes going to work a lot more fun.

John
 
I think I remember reading that silicone adhesive disolves the calcium in sea shells. I'd opt for the fishing line; it would be invisible from two feet away and is generically appropriate. Kit

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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
 
This is just a word of caution as to something not to do. Sorry i don't have a lot of knowledge abot the effects on shells.
However ,once a long time ago we had a BUNCH of sand dollars to mount and we decided to use Hot Glue. Well they weren't in the right place so we used a trick we learned to undo Hot glue. We used a hair dryer on hot,to soften the glue. It softened the glue but what we didn't count on was the heat caused the chambers in the dollars to expand until the dollar cracked. Then we were scrambling to replace them with the same size and TYPE dollar. (We now know that there are various types even a Sand Biscut)be sure you know what effects your treatment has on them they are noware as tough as they look.

Ps I think we still have a few sizes and types around here some where.
Beach combing BUDDY
 
My shop is 100 yards away from the Pacific Ocean. I have never had a Sand Dollar or a sea shell come back because the calcium broke down, but who knows, it might happen.
I don't flood the back though, just a few small dabs.
Like I said, I'm no expert, I've just been doing this a long, long, time.

John
 
Thanks everybody!
As much as I would love to use fishing line to stitch it in place, the sand dollar is round and the line will just slip off.

John you laid to rest my worries about silicone glue. Will try your suggestion of a couple small drops.

I have learned in the past to never rely on hot glue for mounting-it is nasty stuff.
 
Greg, an afterthought, lately we have been using " Tacky Glue" for seashells on one of our own projects. It works great, but like hot glue, there is no going back.

John
 
Tacky Glue is water soluble. Though, if you want to remove it without harming the backing your out of luck.
smile.gif




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Sue May :)
"You want it when?!?!?"
 
Wow, I learned something new, we just started using Tacky Glue about a year or so ago, I assumed it was just like any other white plastic based glue. What a great bonus!
Thanks Sue,
John
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Greg Gomon:
Thanks everybody!
As much as I would love to use fishing line to stitch it in place, the sand dollar is round and the line will just slip off.

John you laid to rest my worries about silicone glue. Will try your suggestion of a couple small drops.

I have learned in the past to never rely on hot glue for mounting-it is nasty stuff. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I guess it's too late, but why couldn't you pass the thread through the holes in the sand dollar? If it's white thread it will be nearly invisble unless you're looking for it.
Just a well-meaning framer.
 
Thanks framerdave, it isn't too late as I will be working on this tomorrow (Friday). But your idea really isn't practical. This sanddollar doesn't have holes but more importantly a sanddollar is incredibly fragile. Thanks anyway.
 
Watch the fishing line. It has the potential to stretch. Try silk thread. It is very small diameter and strong.

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Timberwoman
AL
I cut the mat, I pet the =^..^= cat.
 
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