water sealing a vase

[John Shillabeer]

Does any one have any ideas about water sealing the inside of a turned vase?

I forced an old drinking glass into a vessel I bought many years ago, but this is not an elegant solution. I am aware that some vendors sell test tube-like things that one can put in a weed pot, but what about a vase?

Can anyone suggest a reliable liquid sealer?

[Mark Burge]

John, I have wondered the same thing and have been thinking about giving this stuff a try. http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip (http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip)
If you try it, please let us know how it turns out.

[Michael James]

I've had that thought too, and the only thing that comes to mind is the liquid plastic used on bar tops, decoupage, etc. I think I've seen it in the woodworkers supply catalog, and mebbe woodcraft too! If you used some hi gloss finish on the piece you could probably get away with the blend at the opening....:eek:

[Greg Just]

Tim Yoder on a recent Woodturning Workshop made a 3 bowl fountain. He used expoxy to seal the bowls. You might want to check out his show on PBS.

[Steve Trauthwein]

I have used epoxy on the insides of goblets to seal them. I used thirty minute epoxy and thinned it with denatured alcohol and applied with a foam brush. Several coats is efficient. I think if I were doing a longer surface I would want an epoxy with a longer open time. The major problem you will have on a larger surface is that the epoxy will sag. It would help greatly if you had a way to rotate the piece very slowly.

Regards, Steve

[John Shillabeer]

Thanks everone for your suggestions. I think that all of you were thinking in terms of an expoxy and I too had wondered about that thick plastic used on bar tops, etc. Michael James suggested Woodworkers Supply and that enabled me to trace the product. It is called "Crystal Sheen" and surprise, surprise(!) it is sold by a local vendor just up the road from here on Vancouver Island. I'll give it a try and let you know.
Be patient. I have another project on the lathe at the moment , then the pair of vases come next.
Regards

[Glenn Barber]

These are a couple of other options for the slow-drying two-part epoxies/polymers.

I have used this as a topcoat for fishing lures in the past: http://www.eti-usa.com/consum/envtex/envlite.htm Very clear. Pretty thin, always used a "drying wheel" for the lures.

Never used, but always got good comments. Several different products: http://www.systemthree.com/

All of these require accurate measuring and thorough mixing to work. Make sure you make more, than too little. :o Read to see if your product is mixed according to volume or weight, won't work if not right. You will get sticky....somehow, someway. Talk to a rep and tell them what you plan to do; i.e., if you can thin the product to get it to flow better, or penetrate deeper, etc. They where helpful with my lure/water questions.

Good Luck,
Glenn

[Bill Bulloch]

I used "Marinepoxy" for a "Stitch & Glue" Sail Boat I made six years ago and it is still running dry. I have also used "System Three Epoxy (more expensive) for other marine projects....these epoxies work to keep the water out, so I am sure they will work to keep it in.

Check it out at: http://boatbuildercentral.com/