Frequently
Asked Questions
1.
Can you make more than one Pet-Paw from the same impression?
Yes!
I can make as many Pet-Paws as you like from the same
single impression. They will all be nearly identical except
for the minute differences caused by the casting process
itself and also by the artist's hand. I keep all the wax
patterns for all the paws I've ever made. So, if you want
another paw in the future, I can make it from the wax
pattern - if I can find it amoung all the hundreds of
wax patterns!
2.
Can I get my impression back?
Yes!
Just purchase the "Impression Returns" with
your order and I will send your impression container(s)
back with your finished Pet-Paws.
If your impression container can fit into a Priority Mail
Small Flat Rate cardboard box, then additional shipping
is not needed.
The Priority Mail
Flat Rate Small Box is 5-3/8" x 8-5/8" x 1-5/8"
Sometimes
the original play-doh may not be intact after I work with
it because I must pour molten wax into it. Play-doh may
stick to the wax and pull off when I remove the wax from
the impression. Then the play-doh must be peeled off the
wax in pieces.
3.
What kind/color of Play-doh is best to use for the impression?
Both
home made Play-doh and store bought Play-doh are great!
Either one will capture detail extremely well. If you
like to cook and you have the ingredients, and you don't
have a can of store bought Play-doh kicking around, then
go ahead and make your own Play-doh. If you already have
store bought Play-doh, but it seems stiff, just microwave
it for about 30 seconds to make it softer and more pliable.
You can also add a little water to it. Any color of store
bought Play-doh will work. Store bought Play-doh will
last a longer time than homemade Play-doh. Homemade Play-doh
will eventually develope salt crystals which will distort
the paw impression. However, homemade Play-doh is great
to use if you plan to send the impression right away.
If you are sending your impression
from England or some place far away, and the impression
will take a couple of weeks to arrive, then use store
bought Play-doh. Home made Play-doh can mold over time
or if it gets real warm. Also use store-bought Play-doh
if you plan to store your impression for any time before
sending it to us. Use home-made or store bought Play-doh
if you are going to send the impression right away and
you live within the United States.
Homemade
Play-doh advantages:
- superb detail
- quick and easy to make - most ingredients are already
in your kitchen
- excellent for impressions that are being sent to us
right away
Homemade Play-doh disadvantages:
- does not store for long periods of time (but you can
freeze it to store it)
- salt can crystallize into large crystals within the
Play-doh
- mold can develop on the surface if Play-doh is kept
warm
Store-bought
Play-doh advantages:
- excellent detail
- available to buy at most major retail stores
- no salt crystallization unless it gets dry
- mold rarely forms
- can store for a fairly long period of time if kept cold
and in an air tight container - great for shipping from
other countries, or for storing impression until you are
ready to order. You can freeze your Play-doh impression
to store it.
Store-bought Play-doh disadvantages:
- slightly stiffer than homemade Play-doh, but is overcome
by heating and kneading, or adding a little water.
- color can stain impressions
- you have to go buy it!
4.
Can you make a Pet-Paw from a clay or plaster impression
that I have?
Although
Play-doh is my favorite, I can make a Pet-Paw from ANY
impression material. If you have an old plaster or clay
impression that you would like to have a Pet-Paw made
from, I can do it. But, there are a few things to consider:
1. The impression could get damaged or lost in the mail.
If your impression is a sacred item, then it may be risky
to send it in the mail.
2. I will pour hot wax into the impression. To keep the
wax from sticking to the impression, I will have to coat
the impression with a release agent (shellac, saddle soap,
vaseline, or vegetable oil) which may stain the impression.
The wax can stain the impression also.
UPDATE: In most cases, I no longer pour molten wax into
these kinds of impressions. This is because they are usually
very porous and the wax really sticks to them making it
difficult to remove. Instead, I use non-colored Play-doh
and make an impression of your impression. This new impression
is the one I will then use for the molten wax process.
The original impression remains intact with no blemishes.
This process results in the final metal paw turning out
to be an imprint style Pet-Paw (paw pads sunken in) instead
of the usual relief style (paw pads raised up). If you
prefer to have the relief style paw when using these types
of impression materials, you can order the 'Pet-Paw Set'
which gives you both the imprint and relief, or you can
give me the go ahead to pour the hot wax into the original
impression, especially if you are not concerned about
keeping the impression.
5.
What kind of metal should have my Pet-Paw made out of?
The
most popular, and my favorite, is bronze. However, it
is really just a matter of color choice. All 4 metal types:
bronze, brass, copper, and aluminum hold up very well
over time. The only difference is color and weight. Bronze
is mostly brown with a hint of pink or yellow and sometimes
green. Brass is bright yellow. Copper is reddish pink.
Aluminum is silver. All the metals weigh the same except
aluminum is about 1/3 lighter than the other three metals.
6.
How long can the inscription be and can you write it on
the side of the Pet-Paw?
I hand-write
all the inscriptions. The inscription is usually written
in the wax and cast right into the Pet-Paw. I also incribe
the inscription into the metal with a dremel tool. The
inscription can be as long as you like, but it must be
able to fit on the bottom of the Pet-Paw. This can be
a challenge with a small cat paw. If there are multiple
words for a cat paw, I just write them on the bottom of
the paw in a circle around the edge and then spiral inward.
For a large dog paw, just look at the palm of your hand
and determine what you could hand write in that space.
I can also write an incription on the side of the Pet-Paw.
For Pet-Paw sets, I can write one inscription on the top
paw (the relief) and a different inscription on the bottom
paw (the imprint). Most people just want the pet's name.
Others want the life dates as well. Some people like to
write a message such as, "You will always be in our
hearts."
7.
Can you make a Pet-Paw from a different pet such as a
rabbit, or a ferret?
Yes!
The process is the same for any pet including horses and
mice! I also make baby hands and feet. Contact me for
pricing.
8.
Can you make a Pet-Paw with a shape around it such as
an oval or a heart?
Yes!
I can make any shape around a Pet-Paw. The default Pet-Paw
is contoured around the pads and claws. Contact me for
pricing.
