Thread: A different method for sticking our beloved rhinestones??

Hello All,

I just thought I would share this with you all, some of you may wish to try it at some point.
For a long time, in fact pretty much every time I work on a new piece that involves rhinestones, I try to explore different methods for sticking.
In my findings so far I have found that although the 'Kandie Kane' is a wonderful tool, the 'ping' factor is very unsatisfactory and often the garment needs regular touch ups. Then there is gem tack, this is a great adhesive and certainly appears to last longer, but unfortunately over time, the glue ages, becomes more brittle and turns yellow...very unsightly.

I decided to contact the guys over at DSI to see what they recommend (these are the people who make all the costumes for Strictly!). They recommended using Beeswax as an adhesive!
It's incredibly cheap to buy (48p per stick) and smells nice too...but that's by the by. To use it, you need to melt some into a small bowl. Do this by placing a glass bowl over hot water. Then apply the melted wax to the area you are adorning and affix the rhinestones.
In all honesty, it is quite a fiddly process but the finished result is quite neat and it seems to have passed my 'ping' test, which is me kicking the crap out of the garment to see if anything falls off!!
I can't tell yet whether there will be any yellowing as the garment ages but so far so good.

So there you go, beeswax eh?! Who'd have thought it!
FL x

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I remember you telling me about this in Manchester - I must really give it a go! Thanks babe!
xx

Wow!...Really?
I must try this!

Really interesting idea, and thanks so much for sharing, but my dirty mind comes up with a few quibbles ( although am happy to be corrected).
The Strictly frocks only get worn 2 or 3 times ( rehearsals plus live show); they then put a new crotch in the leotard and flog the costumes on, as they [DSI] own the costumes afterwards, not the BBC. ( Chrysanne, who also make some of the Strictly frocks, do the same). My stuff often has to do 8 shows a week for a 6 month run.

Some of those frocks have literally thousands of cristals put on them. Proper glue-backed crystals to use with a Kandi Kane would be really expensive, plus there's the slight time delay for the wand to melt the glue on every stone before applying, which slows things down considerably; if they were using non-backed crystals and ordinary glue - be that PVA or whatever - it would be an incredibly time-consuming business, too, and by squeezing some glue out first and dabbing each stone there would be the problem every ten minutes or so of the glue starting to go off.
I think the beeswax must make things really quick for 'instant stoning', as it can be kept easily at the correct temperature all day long - just dab and place, dab and place - and it means they can use the ( much cheaper) non-backed stones and be so much faste. I do wonder how well it endures in the long run, though.

Would love to know, as I've a jewelled catsuit coming up for someone. Doesn't it leave a slightly waxy/fatty mark, though? And if they do it on a stand, with the costume in 3-d, doesn't the spare wax transfer to the stand? Really important - is the costume subsequently washable?

Thanks so much for sharing. More info please!!!

I always use Bostick rather than PVA for storse without a glue backing : it's really long-lasting, washable and non-yellowing. Was taught this by the woman who made all the jewellery for the Royal Opera House. When doing large areas of glue-backed stones I don't use a Kane : I use a cheapo frying pan on a electric ring, and put all the stones on glue-side upwards. Once melted and kept warm, the glue stays liquid for hours, so you just pick up and place with tweezers.

I have a friend who makes some of the frocks for 'Dancing On Ice'. They cannot risk stones coming loose, as if one went under one of the blades of the skates it could cause a serious accident, apparently, so they all have to be sewn on individually. Imagine...!

Vx

Has anyone here used ordinary superglue? I want to try it but the logical part of my mind is telling me that if it were that simple everyone would be affixing rhinestones with it!

Originally Posted by Lia Lita

Has anyone here used ordinary superglue? I want to try it but the logical part of my mind is telling me that if it were that simple everyone would be affixing rhinestones with it!

It works out very expensive, and very un-finger-friendly!

Vx

I tried superglue and had to keep tearing my fingers apart. It bleeds in to the fabric and I now have a very crusty wedding dress and the rhinestones still fall off.

I have found that superglue just completely ruins the fabric. It just isn't compatible with superglue and just as Crimson said, the rhinestones will fall off.

Give the beeswax a try and if it's not for you then hey ho.

Thanks for answering! I figured it would be too good to be true, haha. I'll try beeswax instead.

This wax idea is intriguing! Am I right in thinking you cover the area of fabric with wax, then stick the rhinestones into it? If so, I'm guessing you end up with visible wax in between the stones?

I've tried a few gem glues over the years, and by far the best so far is the Impex Trim It Glue - easy to apply, dries clear and is strong. I'd never use superglue, as it's quite brittle once dry - you need a bit of flexibitly when applying onto fabric :-)