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Post by airpic on Nov 9, 2011 3:12:31 GMT -8
look for some thing i can use to replace broken antenna, 9/10 papered butterflies i buy end up with broken ones before i get them as they all get checked by customs entering my country and well lets just say they are not the most gentle of people, so if anyone has any ideas on what i could you would be awesome.
i have asked this else where but got no response so hoping more people will see it here
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Post by wingedwishes on Nov 9, 2011 8:15:26 GMT -8
An intellectually dishonest way is to buy a paint brush. Pluck a bristle and singe the end so that it forms a club tip. Dip it in Superglue gel and attach to head.
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2011 10:04:32 GMT -8
1. broken antennae can pieced together, but it takes a ton of patience, a magnifying light, and a slow setting glue. It can be done well ;D or so it looks blocky(where one can see the pieces glued together) 2. I might suggest you start a spare parts box and put damaged/ruined specimens in. When the time comes, it can be very handy. I personally don't get into the fake antennae bit. Better to have one missing than a fake.....just my thoughts.
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Post by dertodesking on Nov 9, 2011 12:51:18 GMT -8
1. broken antennae can pieced together, but it takes a ton of patience, a magnifying light, and a slow setting glue. It can be done well ;D or so it looks blocky(where one can see the pieces glued together) 2. I might suggest you start a spare parts box and put damaged/ruined specimens in. When the time comes, it can be very handy. I personally don't get into the fake antennae bit. Better to have one missing than a fake.....just my thoughts. Hey airpic, Exactly what Bill said. I wouldn't go down the route of an artificial replacement for a broken antennae. Like you I really hate receiving a new butterfly only to find out that the antennae have either become detached or broken into pieces...but you're much better off either gluing the antennae back on if it's in one piece or repairing the broken antennae. I've also got a box of spares, as mentioned by Bill, but will generally only replace with an antennae from the same species. Give repairing a go...with practice and patience I'm sure you'll get the hang of it. Simon
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Post by entoman on Nov 9, 2011 14:29:46 GMT -8
What do you use the butterflies for? Are they for a collection or display? If they are for a collection then I would go along with the previous statements. But if these butterflies are used decoratively just use whatever looks nice. Most people won't even know the difference.
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Post by airpic on Nov 9, 2011 15:12:23 GMT -8
I Frame them in my own special way and then sell them on
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Post by johnnyboy on Nov 11, 2011 7:40:42 GMT -8
It is difficult to replicate antennae. Some people use cotton thread, this doesn't usually look very convincing.
If you have any polystyrene strips (like you get with plastic model aircraft kits) you can, carefully, soften a length over a candle flame then pull the two ends apart, this produces a thin filament of plastic. With practice you can vary the thickness and taper of the filament and add a "club" to the end of the "antenna", using a solvent like toluene or amyl acetate to slightly dissolve the plastic then shaping it with a pin. The length of plastic is light and can be curved by gently rubbing one side with a finger nail. You can then then cut to length and paint them with the correct colour of acrylic paint.
Some people do have boxes of spare antennae from damaged specimens, always the best option if available.
Johnny
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Post by lordpandarus on Nov 12, 2011 17:11:58 GMT -8
ah you posted in 2 different sections .I thought my posts disappeared
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Post by saturniidave on Nov 12, 2011 19:43:38 GMT -8
Personally I find it easier to replace the entire head and antennae together, that is assuming you have an old, unwanted specimen of the same species. I knock the head off that has the broken antennae, then very carefully take off the head and antennae intact from another specimen. Then carefully glue it on to the specimen to be repaired. However I ONLY do this for exceptional specimens or ones that mean a lot to me. Otherwise I jut put up with a missing or broken antenna.
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Post by lordpandarus on Nov 12, 2011 22:15:07 GMT -8
I've never been able to fix an antennae broken in half, only if it's dislodged at the base
The type of glue you use is important too. Some have "milky" look when dry or too shiny. The type of glue I use dries clear and matte so you can't see it
I use Crayola 3D project white glue, it superior to regular Aylmer's white glue in the way it dries
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Post by airpic on Nov 13, 2011 22:28:21 GMT -8
Just to let people know i ended up given the paint brush idea a go and then used grey black nail polish on the end to give it the little bulb look and it looks amazing, if you didnt know any better you would think its real, ill post a before and after photo to show the difference
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