You are not logged in.
I'm a newbie to PM and I'm trying to make a ventriloquist dummy using it. I used the 'Getting Started with Papier Mache by Jackie Hall' tutorial and it was going well until the third day (I was working pretty slow what with other things like christmas being on its way) but then the flour and water glue went all frothy. Then, a few days later, it really started to stink! It smelt sort of like vinegar or really strong alchohol.
Does anyone know what has happened? Will it still work?
Thanks guys,
Jon
Offline
Yup, it's fermenting. Leave it alone and you might get something interesting! It might grow and crawl around the house!
So, chuck it. Make a fresh (not too much) batch if you want, otherwise use wallpaper paste and some PVA mixed in. That will keep for yonks.
DavidO
Offline
So when I said it smells like alchohol, there was more truth to it than I first thought.
Thanks for that
I'll do it right away
Offline
Hear hear David!
I only put the instructions for flour paste in the tutorial as there as still quite a lot of people who prefer to use this adhesive, or just want to try it.
I personally never use flour. I don't like the thought of using a "food" substance. Also as David says, it goes off much more quickly.
I have never had any problems using wallpaper paste and I always recommend it to others.
Whatever goo you decide to use, make sure you keep it in a cool place. 8)
Offline
I guess it didn't help being on the table near the radiator.
Thanks both of you.
Offline
When I started doing papier-mache about a year ago, I used flour. I was into bas relief figures and made one of a bride and another of a groom for a wedding scene. When I went down to the bowels of the earth (aka my basement) to check how they were drying, the groom was fine but the bride looked all gnawed and crumbly. That's how I found out we had mice! Why they didn't munch on the groom is a mystery; I guess the bride was just tastier. Since then I've used powdered marble and it works just fine, though I do put on a mask when pouring it as it's supposed not to be great for breathing into the lungs.
Cheers,
LampLady (aka Elsa Rubenstein)
Offline
Does anyone else notice that wallpaper paste glue gets stinky too? Would it be better for me to keep it in the refrigerator to make it last longer, or would it not help at all?
How long do most people's wallpaper paste glue last for, or do you only make enough for once session?
Offline
I've never had wallpaper paste go stinky, even after months. I suppose it may depend on what your ambient temperature and humidity is so, yes, probably to keep it in the fridge. Don't make too much at any one time though. Does your paste have fungicide in it or is it a 'pure' sort which therefore could deteriorate a bit more.
David
Offline
You never had it go bad David? Now I am *totally* confused. I make my wallpaper paste from powder and it does have fungicide in it. I keep it in a sealed jar out of the fridge. I do notice that after about a week it starts to smell sour and thins down a little.
I am starting to make it in smaller batches now in hopes that I can keep it fresh a little longer.
Do you think it is still ok to use even if it smells off?
Offline
Butterbee, it may be due to the base from which the paste is made.
I know there are at least three kinds of wallpaper paste: vinyl-based (not recommended for PM, but I've never used it), methylcellulose-based (best for PM), and wheat-based.
Without anything to go on other than your description, I am wondering if you have the wheat-based kind? I don't really know what I'm talking about 
but if you bought the dry kind and mixed it, maybe the fungicide wasn't evenly mixed with the paste mix, or maybe it was standing long enough so the mold overwhelmed the biocide and started to take over. When the mfgrs make the wallpaper paste, they probably expect the user to use it up reasonably soon.
Anyway, that's my guess.
Sue
Offline