Arts and Crafts Stack Exchange
Arts and Crafts Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [material-selection]

When you are not sure what material to use as a base for your project or task, such as type of fabric, paper or metal. Try to be as specific as possible to help narrow down choices.

232 questions
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What's a flexible, strong string or yarn I can use in this toy?

I made this flexible geometry toy based on one I saw in a learning store. You can bend it into different shapes, and it's fun. Unfortunately, all I had on hand was some yarn to make the inside support. I'm concerned that the yarn is eventually…
user24
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1 answer

What writing utensils would work for concrete walls?

My boyfriend has concrete walls surrounding his at home office. He has expressed interest in using the walls as "story boarding" space for future mobile applications. I'm curious as to what writing utensil would be the very best option for clarity…
wolves_vowels
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Is it possible to buy 'ethical fur'?

I enjoy crafting leather armour. As part of an Orc design I am going for, I would like to buy some animal fur to complete the brutish/primal look. I have bought several faux furs off ebay, but they either look incredibly cheap, or they "shed" a lot…
marts
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1 answer

How to make something look covered in soil, with out risk of staining/marking

For our wedding we are going for a very light 'alice in wonderland' theme, which includes a 'down the rabbit hole' table where we would like guests to drop their well wishes in. The table will be covered in astro turf for a grass effect. But that…
Gareth Davies
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What does a picture of swirled fabric tell me about the fabric

I'm new to sewing and have not handled fabric before. When I go to store pages on the internet, the shop keepers and reviewers often post a picture of a big piece of fabric swirled with assumable two fingers. Since they wouldn't do extra effort for…
Kevin Groenke
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6
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1 answer

Moldable/Printable wood-like material?

I like the look and feel of wood, and it is structurally strong, suitable for architecture and furniture-making. However, to make odd shapes, different from typical woodshop cuts, it either involves more specialized tools, such as lathes and…
user151841
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Medium to carry glitter in a DIY glitter pen?

I am making a series of models that have sharp edges, and I want to create a thin line of glitter along them so that the edge will sparkle a specific color when turned under a light. I have tried most of the obvious options, including painting…
Aaargh Zombies
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What material should I use for the frame of my lighter-than-air craft?

I'm toying around with the idea of making an RC lighter-than-air craft, probably a Zeppelin or Blimp shaped one. I'm pretty sure I'll just use a candle or two to get the lift so it isn't a Hydrogen bomb waiting to go off. Anyway, I've figured that…
Ceramicmrno0b
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Materials for flame proof signage

I want to make attractive signs to point to the locations of fire shelters for our community, in a fire-prone area. I want something that would be visible to rescuers after going through a bush-fire of 1000 degree celsius or so. The simplest…
mc0e
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Seeking a material that is softer than resin, but harder than plaster, for casting in a silicon mold?

I have several silicon molds that I normally used for casting with a two part epoxy resin. I want to use them to make scenery for a miniature diorama at Warhammer 40K scale, but I want to customise the models that come out of the molds. Including…
Aaargh Zombies
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4
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3 answers

Where can I find/make paintable opaque green domes?

I've been looking for an item I need which is a hollow hemisphere with outer diameter of ~25 mm. Ideally, I'd like them in green, but I can only find them in clear. Do these sorts of domes exist in opaque color? Would I be able to just stain the…
David Coffron
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Baby oil or glycerin for snow globe?

According to my online research glycerin is often used for snow globes. However, some mention that baby oil can also be used. Which one is preferable, and why?
user275517
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What are some DIY simple tools to use to make a model scale home?

I am interested in architecture and have been wanting to design a house/building and then create a model for quite some time. I just am now able to do this, but I am not sure where to start. My current resources are Walmart, Home Depot, and…
W.Richardson
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Can I use thinset instead of grout for mosaics?

Do I have to use grout for my mosaics, or would filling in the gaps with thinset mortar (I am using thinset) be sufficient? What is the point of grouting if I can just use mortar to fill in the gaps?
akonsu
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What is the best material to make a fake muffin from?

I want to make a realistic looking muffin but I am uncertain what materials to use. Other than clay or plaster, what solutions are there? Is there something that I could literally bake like a real muffin, that won't go off?
Aaargh Zombies
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