This is one of my favorite things.
As many of us have found out the hard way, the edges of encaustic pieces are the most vulnerable and can damage the easiest.
I want to tell you about a tip I do that will change your world and protect those edges.
Pipe Insulation.
Yes. Foam Pipe insulation protects all of my work.
My cradled boards are 2-inches, so I get 1-inch size pipe insulation. This is the size of the pipe that the insulation surrounds. The insulation itself measures about 2-inches, but it’s referred to as 1-inch. If your cradled boards are not as deep the ¾ or ½ inch may work for you.
Make sure you don’t get the pipe insulation that has the self-seal. You want the one that isn’t going to have a sticky adhesive on the edges. These are the ones with either a green or yellow peel off strip to them.
I buy it in 6 ft length and cut them about an inch smaller than my edges.. So, for a 24×24 inch board I cut 4 pieces about 23 inches long.
I find the middle and mark them. Since these are 23 inches long I mark at 11.5 inches.
Open it up. They are not cut all the way through
I want to cut into about ¾ through, so I mark it where I want to stop cutting.
The cuts should be at 45-degree angles, so I mark them out.
A scissors will be fine for cutting.
I now have a protective angle that I can put over the corners of my art.
The one drawback is that they will relax and take the shape of the boards.
So, you will have to tie them down somehow. I put piece of protective foam over the top and use stretch wrap the pipe insulation, so it won’t fall off.
Voilà, I’m now ready to store, transport, or ship the piece.
Tell me, what are the other tips and tricks you have to protect your work. I’d love to hear what you do.
Be well….be creative,
Clare, this tip is GOLD and you are golden! Thanks for sharing your expertise with all of us so generously.
Thank you Emily. It’s probably hands-down the best tip I can share about finishing a piece…..I just forget about it because it’s such a part of my process I never think about it.
Thank you so much, Clare. Such a clever way to protect them!
You are welcome Vicki:)
Clare,
This is a GREAT tip!! Storage is now solved, for making larger pieces. I have been contemplating how to do this. My bakers rack is great for 12″ x 12″, but larger than that just wasn’t sure how I was going to work on a few pieces at a time and protect them. Do you think putting twine around the pipe insulation would work best to hold it on while moving it on and off while the art piece is in process? thank you for this excellent solution!
Twine will work…..they don’t stretch out immediately….so you can use them without twine for a bit. But long term, they will stretch and fall off easily.
Wonderful I have been doing that for a long time at that time I use them for my frames gallery don’t take care of our frames.glad you put it out there keep up your ideas ,if I come up with any thing I will put it out there .i have worked in cold wax for 38 years.i love what eeveryone is doing .
Thanks for your comment Vera. I so love what everyone is doing as well….the creativity is boundless.
thanks very helpful to know about this when I get to storing my art!
Susan, it’s a great trick…..you’ll love it. Someone commented on another site that they use dollar store pool noodles as well.
Great tip. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Carolyn:)
Beautiful Clare – thanks for sharing!
Hope it helps protect your beautiful work.