Brian Jeffrey 1/30/11

Hello- Fortunately I found this group and hopefully I won't be to self serving.  I'm from the development and manufacturing side of FOSSHAPE and of course pleased to see it is starting to find its way into mountmaking and the museum world. This non-woven was originally engineered for industrial applications and after losing my job from the industrial side a few years ago, I introduced FOSSHAPE and another heat activated product WONDERFLEX (thermoplastic available in sheet form) to Dazian Fabrics, Disney, milliners, costume designers, prop makers etc. and found these folks much more fun than the industrial world....and they were most often willing to share and exchange information.

Not sure how Marla Miles, Cincinnati Museum of Art actually first learned about FOSSHAPE..... but thank you.Marla. Note this link that she sent me on The Mary Baskett Collection http://www.flickr.com/photos/textilemuseum/sets/72157622645475498/

I produce FOSSHAPE in 2 grades at 45" wide.....the 300 grade (300 grams per square meter) and FOSSAPE 600 or twice as heavy at 600 grams per sq mtr.  It is 100% PET or synthetic polyester, but a specialty polymer is utilized that has a much lower melting point than conventional polyester. Although in the inactivated form, FS just looks like a plain flexible felt, but when exposed to heat.... will shrink in and become stiff and rigid.  The degree of stiffness and rigidity is controlled by the heat source. An industrial hot air gun (Lowes, Home Depot etc) works well, but I prefer a less radical approach and use a fabric or costume steamer. Depending on what you are trying to do ...a conventional steam iron works well if your looking for a smoother and harder finish. The key is to use the 20-30% shrinkage factor to your advantage and work slowly during the heat process, especially until you get a good feel for the material and its capabilities.

Although I have not had FOSSHAPE oddy tested, I believe Marla did and found no problem.  Not sure if anyone has oddy tested WONDERFLEX as of yet.  And if anyone has by chance worked with "Fuzzform" from Douglas and Sturgess....yes it is the same FOSSHAPE, but they wanted their own name.

I hope to have my website www.fosshape.com up later this year, but would like to hear the groups thoughts about where or how they would prefer purchasing the product.  Assuming they would want to carry it....would you rather it be available from companies like Talas, Benchmark etc.  Suggestions?  Currently most people are buying on line via Dazian Fabrics www.dazian.com

Should anyone want some free sample swatches of FOSSHAPE  and or WONDERFLEX to experiment with.... just provide me with a mailing address off line and I would be glad to accomodate.  Best contact would be fosshape@gmail.com Look forward to any questions and comments from the group.

Regards, Brian Jeffrey The Jeffrey Nonwovens Group, LLC

Philip Brutz

1/30/11

Has this product been Oddy tested?

Philip Brutz Mountmaker Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 E. Blvd Cleveland OH 44106 216-707-2617

Jamie Hascall

1/31/11

Hi Brian,

Thanks so much for bringing this product to market. I'm sure we are a little more fun to work with than the industrial realm. I've been trying to get a Flickr album of our mannequins posted and will try extra hard this evening to make it happen.

I'm heading to our Conservation department shortly and will take with samples of both Fosshape 600 and Wonderflex to have them tested. We have done FTIR readings on them also but I'll ask that this be done again and we can post the results.

I've got to run to a de-install right now, but I'll have more information later.

Jamie Hascall Chief Preparator Museums of New Mexico Santa Fe 505-476-5079

Shelly

1/31/11

We have some Wonderflex in the "Oddy oven" here at the NMAI right now... will let everyone know how it turns out - Shelly

Shelly Uhlir National Museum of the American Indian Cultural Resources Center 4220 Silver Hill Rd Suitland, MD 20746

Jamie Hascall 2/1/11

I finally got some documentation pictures up of one of my early mannequins. You can check them out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24204269@N06/sets/72157625951028606/

I also brought some samples of Fosshape and Wonderflex to our conservation department to get it into the queue for Oddy Testing. Since Shelly's already got a sample  of Wonderflex in process, I think I'll tell them not to test unless people feel multiple trials seem of value. If anyone has already done the Fosshape, please let me know as they're trying to squeeze this in to all the other jobs they've got going.

Philip Brutz

2/1/11

RE: [mountmaking-forum] Re: FOSSHAPE Information & samplesCool photos!  Our textile conservator is oddy testing Fossape.

Philip Brutz Mountmaker Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 E. Blvd. Cleveland OH 44106 (216)707-2617

Shelly 2/1/11

RE: [mountmaking-forum] Re: FOSSHAPE Information & samples Other recipients: marla.miles@cincyart.org, megan.emery@cincyart.org I could have sworn that the conservation department at the Cincinnatti Art Museum had tested Fosshape for Marla already - Marla and Megan, is my memory correct?

Shelly

4/1/11

Hi All,

Good news on the Wonderflex front. The material has passed the Oddy tests here at NMAI with the following caveat: There must be a barrier layer between the material and the object. The reason is not because of reactivity, but because the material stuck to the metal coupons and the glass during the test.

Have fun! Shelly

Shelly Uhlir National Museum of the American Indian Cultural Resources Center 4220 Silver Hill Rd Suitland, MD 20746

301-238-1417 uhlirs@si.edu

Brian Jeffrey 4/3/11

Thanks to Shelly and NMAI for providing this good news on the WONDERFLEX front.....as several people have asked me if it would pass oddy testing like my FOSSHAPE.

Both heat activated materials are considered thermoplastic, but they're much different in how they react to heat during activation and forming. Unlike FOSSHAPE, the WONDERFLEX has a built in adhesive that is added during the extrusion manufacturing process.

Not surprised to Shelly's comments about it sticking to the metal coupons and glass... as WONDERFLEX was designed to stick to things and especially bond well to itself. My guess is the WONDERFLEX easily un- stuck from the non-porous glass or metal surfaces with a little pressure after it cooled off.  Perhaps Shelly can comment on this. I recall prop makers at Disney telling me they would put items in the refrigerator for awhile after forming... so they could easily remove or "pop-off" the WONDERFLEX from a positive mold.

I think I have caught up on all the sample requests for both products that I received at fosshape@gmail.com so if you have not received by now, please contact me again Regards, Brian Jeffrey The Jeffrey Nonwovens Group, LLC 603-778-0190 phone/fax The Thermoman of Dazian Product Manager- Dazian Fabrics

Shelly

4/5/11

RE: [mountmaking-forum] Re: FOSSHAPE Information & samplesThe glass and the silver popped right off - the copper took a little more work and left a stain. Not a problem, I just bring it up so folks who haven't used this before know to use a barrier layer.

Shelly

Philip Brutz

5/10/11

RE: [mountmaking-forum] Re: FOSSHAPE Information & samplesHi Jamie, Thank you for posting this tutorial on Fosshape it was a great help in making our first Fosshape mount.  We have a large collection of renaissance lace that has never been shown and Fosshape is the perfect solution. I have a question about your Mother-in law's fine old Singer Featherweight.  Someone donated this Singer 15-91 to the Art Museum's textile lab. It appears to be in fine condition but it is missing the 2 screws that hold the hinges into the case. I can't find a common screw thread that fits it. A ¼"-28 is too small and a 5/16"-24 is too big. A metric 7mm- 1.0 is close but starts to bind. Do you know if Singer have their own proprietary thread?  I may just tap it out to metric but I thought maybe you had some experience working on these old machines.  I have attached a couple of photos of it.

Thanks again!

Philip Brutz Mountmaker Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 E. Blvd. Cleveland OH 44106 (216)707-2617

Jamie Hascall

5/10/11

RE: [mountmaking-forum] Re: FOSSHAPE Information & samplesHi Phillip,

That one looks just like the one I grew up with. It had a beautiful bentwood cover to that base. I have no idea what the thread should be on that but It is of a vintage that National Standard threads should have been in use. Considering that you're not trying to do a period correct restoration, I'd re-tap to whatever seems like a good fit. You might also want to check out this article and the related links to see if anything pops up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Thread_Standard

Good luck, Jamie

Philip Brutz 5/19/11

RE: [mountmaking-forum] Re: FOSSHAPE Information & samples Hi Jamie, Thanks for the info.  I did a little more research and found out that Singer had their own thread so I tapped it out to 5/16"-18.  The machine is in like new condition.  The person that donated to us bought it new in the early fifties and decided that she didn't like sewing so it just sat unused since then.  Here is a cool link to a compilation of 27 different thread standards (except Singers): http://www.watchman.dsl.pipex.com/thread.html I have used it many times when I need to find the thread size for an object that I'm mounting. Thanks again Philip