Hi. I'm a ceramics and glass conservator and am looking for a material that I can use as a dowel for the arm of this broken chandelier and wondered if anyone from the mount makers forum had any clever ideas. I have specialist resins that I can use to bond the sections but wanted something that would act as an internal support to give additional strength. The arm is hollow and has a cavity that it approximately 4mm wide. I'm considering using a carbon fibre rod but ideally I would like something that I can shape to follow the curve of the arm which would give a more aesthetic finish. The material would have to be inert, not corrode and would not be too expensive - am I asking too much! Thanks p.s I heard about your forum via a talk that Phil Jell from the British Museum gave to ICON.
Just thinking out loud for you. What if you took some 6mil Mylar or thicker if you have it and roll it up as a tube. Stick that clear Mylar tube in one of the broken ends of the glass and use your special resin to hold that in place. Once dry you will have a flange protruding that can be inserted into the other broken end. I don't know if this will work but, it will give you more surface area for your special resin to make contact.
Just a thought... thanks for the brain game.
Is it possible to use PVA AYAC to form an internal structure? What adhesive are you using for the repairs? Hxtal?
I'm assuming that you'd want a translucent material for the internal rod support. Which does limit options. Thus the PVA idea. Or maybe you can inject a two-part clear epoxy into the arm once it's been adhered with a syringe.
What about a clear Polycarbonate rod? There's Polycarbonate plastic rod available that is a slightly smaller diameter (1/8" - 3.175 mm).
https://www.mcmaster.com/7889A92/color~clear/diameter~1-8/
Best,
BJ