The Return of the Thing in the Jar

[anniv111701]

Hey All,

I'm gathering supplies for a "thing in a jar" project & I had a couple of quick questions I was hoping someone could lend their expertise on.

Is there a clear fluid that won't grow mold like water can, but also won't degrade polymer clay/acrylic paint/latex etc.? Maybe rubbing alcohol or vodka or some such?

Also, I've bought liquid latex in the past that dried pretty clear, but with a slight "milky-yellow" tinge that got increasingly opaque as the layers built up - which was perfect, but now I only seem to be able to find this opaque white latex; does anyone know where I can get the previous type (or brand names that fit the bill)?

Any help anyone could provide would be very much appreciated - Thanks!

Take care,
Mike

 

[darthgordon]

I don't think alcohol would be the way to go. It'll eat up latex. Nothing petroleum based either. Perhaps a silicone based oil... they're kind of pricey though.

 

[anniv111701]

I don't think alcohol would be the way to go. It'll eat up latex. Nothing petroleum based either. Perhaps a silicone based oil... they're kind of pricey though.

Hmm... How about no latex?

The only critical things would be the clay & the paint - the latex was just a nice effect; basically I just need to shape it, paint it, and submerge it...?

 

[Contec]

What about mouthwash?

 

[darthgordon]

What about purified water with a small amount of concentrated Lysol dissolved in it.

 

[Sidewinder]

Salted water?

SAS

 

[Robot Monster]

I have been thinking of things like hair gel, the large amounts you can get at a dollar store. Just to give things a different look.

That about Ammonia? Just tossing things out there.

For the latex you are talking about, I think the one that is a mold builder and comes in a blue jar might be the one you need. I have seen it in hobby stores.

 

[motman241]

Many years ago this Halloween store I worked at sold 'space aliens in a jar' - probably about the size of a big mayo jar. Anyhow, the alien was just like a cheap Halloween mask - painted latex. Nothing special as far as i could tell (although, this was many years ago). I filled up the jar with water from the sink in the back, and after a few weeks, the water turned a weird color, and there were small bits of something floating in it (presumably parts of the latex and/or paint). It looked awesome, and everyone wanted to buy THAT one instead of the others on the shelf. I kept having to tell them that there was nothing special about it except the tap water.

Just passing on what I have experienced.

 

[quiznak]

Mineral oil might work. I would run a test to see how it reacts with things you want to put into it though.

 

[Knightjar]

You could use clear resin. Would be expensive and you'd need to watch the exotherm, but it would never deteriorate.

 

[CaptainEO]

If you use distilled water, that should help cut down on the mold. I think a lot of people did that for their facehugger stasis tubes.

 

[dropshipbob]

There is that gel water hobby shops use for flora displays. I think it hardens after a day or two, but to what degree I don't know.
I also don't know how it would react to polymers, clay, paints, etc.

Although you could seal the piece with Envirotex clear resin. It's made to cover bar tops and the like to give it a slick, water proof exterior. I used this on my facehugger which was displayed in a stasis tube with water and it seemed to work fine. The only problem areas I have seen, are those that I missed when applying the resin.

You could do that, and then add the gel water, but I think leaving it in real water gives it a much more organic look once the fungis/mold start growing. Go with distilled water, or use some of that water treatment stuff they sell for old water beds and swimming pools that retards the growth of mold. It won't be 100% effective though and you will have to change out the water at some point.