_http://www.cutting-mats.net/cutting-mats-1060.html_
(http://www.cutting-mats.net/cutting-mats-1060.html)
and a rotary cutter:
_http://www.cutting-mats.net/5057.html_
(http://www.cutting-mats.net/5057.html)
another site:
_http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/Mat-and-Paper-
Cutters/C
reative-Mark-Self-Healing-Cutting-Mats.htm_
(http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/Mat-and-Paper-
Cutters/Creative-Mark-Self-Healing-Cuttin
g-Mats.htm)
or its tiny url:
http://tinyurl.com/yle5r4z
You can do the same kind of search for ultrasuede, depending upon
where
you're located. What will come up are fabric companies or stores
such as
Joann's here in the US carrying samples ranging from garment
weight to the
heaviest of upholstery weights (all made from Ultrasuede or other
similar faux
suede fabrics). If you can find a store selling a small piece
(half or
quarter of a yard or so, or a remnant..you're already ahead of the
game).
I remember at the time for something around $6.00 I'd gotten enough
swatches of different weights of ultrasuede to have cut chromatic
valves
from...to be able to valve nearly every chromatic I own....definitely
cost-effective, although I wasn't sure which 'weight' to use at
the time. Of course,
the cost of the samples change from company to company. Some will
send you a
single swatch (or two) for free if you're planning a larger yardage
purchase....some will send samples only to design professionals.
Many of the same companies are now making something called
ultra-leather...in differing weights which are beginning to
intrigue me since they have a
fabric coating on the underside. I might just get some swatches of
those to
experiment with as well since the less porous exterior would seem
to then
obviate the need for compression...so might be worth looking into.
Here are a couple of links to ultrasuede, but you can explore
further
from there, do a google search for your own area, see if any of
the online
companies will ship for free (or at least inexpensively) to where
you live:
_http://www.fieldsfabrics.com/ultra/shopping/sampleset.htm_
(http://www.fieldsfabrics.com/ultra/shopping/sampleset.htm)
_http://www.ultrasuede.com/where_to_buy/index.html_
(http://www.ultrasuede.com/where_to_buy/index.html)
As far as waterproofing - Scotchguard or a newer product: NikWax
(supposedly more environmentally friendly but still not to be used
indoors because
of its potential to damage one's lungs) is probably simple
enough...and as
far as compression with heat...what could be easier (for fabric
such as
ultrasuede) than an iron, remembering to always press through a
cloth (I use a
linen dish towel no matter what I iron). I'd iron first THEN
waterproof
(you don't want the heat to release any potentially toxic fumes
you might then
inhale) ...but frankly I'd probably not use a waterproofing material
inside my own chromatics depending on the stiffness of the fabric.
The MAAS polish I've long suggested as a terrific cleaner for other
musical
instruments, jewelry and especially nice for harmonicas, is
designed to
leave behind a very thin protective film (after buffing) if you
don't do a
last wipe-down with rubbing alcohol....(I will use the alcohol for
a last
wipedown on the mouthpiece and outside cover plates but leave the
MAAS buffed
on the inside) which seems to help prevent tarnishing and give
that same
beading up response one gets with wax. I'm personally more
comfortable with
this polish since it was specifically developed to be less toxic
than other
metal/jewelry polishes then on the market, and would seem to me to
be less
toxic than a floor wax...but that's just my opinion. Your mileage
may vary.
BTW there's something else to consider other than waterproofing the
ultrasuede. I'm thinking one could 'starch' the fabric before
cutting, either
with a presoak or with use of an iron-on spray. There's nothing
toxic in
starch as far as I know since there are even food-grade versions
available..and
could possibly make the whole process much simpler to my mind.
Elizabeth
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