Last post I started getting a batch of trees pulled out and started pruning them.
The past few times I made a batch of trees, I used a Tea Pot to steam some of the more curved trees, which seemed to work very well. I held the bent trunks in front of the steam for a few minutes then stretched them tight or held them flat on the counter top to let them cool. This seemed to work to keep them straight.
The internet seems divided on what to use on Super Trees.
Some say to use Glycerin, some say to use Matte Medium, while others say they don't use anything but an adhesive to hold the leaves on, which should be enough.
I've used the Matte Medium before and it seems to work just fine, however, I did not use it to attach the foliage while it's still wet. I used cheap hair spray for the foliage, then for the additional layers/colors, I continued to use hair spray.
I'm curious to see how the Glycerin will work?
I know I saved the bath in a gallon milk jug when I got done with it.
The Matte Medium I also saved but between times of needing it, it had separated and it didn't want to re-mix very well, it was kind of a jelly mess. I even added more water, but it didn't seem to help.
I think the glycerin recipe can be rewarmed if needed and reused? We'll see how that goes.
4 oz of glycerin
8 oz of 70% alcohol
1 qt of water.
Then bring the mix to boil for a few minutes to get it thoroughly mixed.
I let it cool off and soaked a batch of trees for two minutes and laid them out to dry overnight.
The next evening the trees seemed to be very springy compared to what they were like right out of the box. I should say that this box of trees are a little over 8 years old.
Raw tree on the left, painted in the middle and flocked on the right.
