I have this cheap binder clip from Amazon, which wasn’t actually cheap imo, but whatever. I like the cat. I’d like to keep using it, but the “brass” paint is rubbing off, and it smells like metal. I think it reacts with the oils in my hands or something. I’ve only been using it for a few weeks.
Is there something I can do to keep it looking nice and perhaps prevent it from wearing down so quickly?
Get clear coat spray. Test a little in a spot that isn’t visible to make sure it doesn’t react with the surface negatively. Spray some onto cloth that won’t leave behind fibers or you’ll be sad, then wipe a little on a corner and make sure the material and surface coloring don’t react or run.
After you’ve let it dry, check it.
Hang it from a wire or something so you can get all sides in one pass.
Spray clear coat LIGHTLY.
Like… SUPER LIGHTLY. One small pass. Let it dry. Spray from about 6-8 inches from the clip and move your hand in one direction smoothly… left to right or whatever. Don’t do the hairspray thing where you’re just dousing it.
Look at the clip again, make sure you’re not messing it up.
Spray again LIGHTLY.
You don’t want to build up a thick goop on the outside or it will be awful looking and you’ll ruin your thing.
Let it dry.
Don’t handle it while it’s drying.
Did I mention to spray LIGHTLY? (It will make all the difference).
Alternatively, there’s always Shellac - it’s kind of a lost artform now but it’s a really awesome material to use.
It’s a lost art form because it’s not easy to work with and you often have to buy it from specialty stores to get the good stuff. It’s made from insect carapaces. I use it when refinishing guitars for an aged, amber appearance.
Ive got an expert spray painter I can call on to help me with this.
Do you think I could repaint some of the brass color that has come off already?
You could, but I think that if you preserve it as-is, you’ll be happier.
I work on vintage guitars and other instruments. Wear and tear is called “patina,” which I’m sure you’ve heard. In years to come, you’ll come to enjoy that little bit that’s gone away… but if you try to fix it, it might get worse and you’ll end up like Calvin trying to cut his own hair.
On one hand, the patina of real brass oxidizing can be pretty nice. On the other hand, the ‘patina’ of brass-colored paint rubbing off of plastic or pot metal or whatever the Hell that thing’s actually made of… not so much.
So, you’re saying that OP, asking for advice on a simple clear coat, should just wing it and try to color match then paint the rubbed off copper themselves?
Cool. Great advice.
How does it clip?
It it’s simple, and you want, take a picture with a zoom lens from a decent distance away, straight on, with no angle at all. Then measure the height, width at widest point, and thickness.
If I have time after the holiday, I could craft that into a 3D model that you could provide to a place like PCBWay to have printed, or even machined in actual brass.
Posting that in a 3D Printing or CAD community might also find you a volunteer that could do this for you with a more definitive timeframe.
That being said, thats easy with a flat piece, but I’m not sure what I’m looking at as a “clip”.
Maybe a couple of coats of slightly thinned clear nail polish?
Don’t do this.
Edit: People, read my post. I’m saying this from experience. Don’t do this. Putting “maybe a couple of coats” of nail polish is a recipe for OP ruin their object if done poorly.
Don’t down vote me because you don’t like my tone. I’m trying to protect OP’s little treasure. Stop being so damned reactive and sensitive.
Haha, thanks for the care you took in outlining steps on your other post. I’ve definitely ruined stuff with the nail polish before. It’s just not very strong, and even if it is ok to begin with, it doesn’t last.
I promise I won’t do this 😂
Nail polish needs UV to cure properly and it becomes glassy and will break over time. It might bond with the surface of the clip and pull little bits of paint up with it, making it look worse… and that’s only if it doesn’t get gooped on and look runny afterward.
What about Etsy and paying someone to recreate something similar in a better material?
That sounds like it would get very expensive very fast.
Yeah, I don’t have the money to do a custom request like that. But I do have the time to fiddle around with my own pet projects, and a little amount of money to get crafty with.
This looks like it would be great as a stamp. Lots of relief.
I agree. Would love a stamp of this.
See if you can find a community college class or go to an art center and see if they can help you out
Similar to the nail polish suggestion, they also make clear spray paint.
Could always use clear nail polish
