do totems age well?

15 years ago

I'm new to Garden Web and to totems (addicted already, thank you very much).

My daughter attends a small, family run Christian school and next month is their main fund raiser. It's called a Harvest festival. There is a garage sale, an auction, loads of fresh produce, crafts, games and all kinds of fun stuff. Since I am obsessed with making totems, I thought I'd try making some to offer for sale at the harvest fest. But I need to know a little more about them. I've got a few started and can hardly wait to finish them.

My questions about totems are:

-do they get moldy inside from moisture?

-does the GE silicone II hold up after a year or more?

-will it discolor?

-How long can I expect a totem to last, barring breakage from falling or being hit?

- what items are not a good idea for totem use?

-any other dos and don'ts?

I want to be able to tell potential customers all I can about the totems.

I plan to tell them that most of the pieces are used and recycled so there will imperfections.

I think I read that some of you have sold your totems. Can you think of anything else I should consider? Thanks loads! :)

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Comments (6)

Purplemoon
15 years ago
The GE Silicone II sure holds up well here in Phx in spite of 114 summer temps. I've not had any glass 'fade' except a purple one, and I think it might have been coated is why.
No mold here either but not sure about humid areas of the country. Phoenix has real dry heat.

Welcome to our Gang, and hope we get a chance to see what you make.
hugs, Karen
nonacook
15 years ago
Mine have held up well since around 2003. Some were tied to a post during the hurricanes of '05 and '06-Some were taken inside. The only faded piece is one that must have been a painted-coated piece, and one made of plastic plates and bowls. I am in the humid panhandle
of Florida. One piece has collected water inside (condensation) but no mold.
I used clear GE II for windows and doors...
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kelly_oh
15 years ago
hmm, this is my first summer making totems, but I have made the BB's with the GE II silicone, over the last few years. The only issues I have had with the silicone is if it is old, then the two pieces won't stay together. No discoloration.
As far as mold, I would think if you seal it tightly, putting extra silicone where pieces don't exactly line up, you should not get moisture inside. so there shouldn't be any way for mold to get in.
I'm in zone 5/6, also, I was just thinking about the totems the other day and they will definitely go in the shed come winter.
One thing I have done, is to spray any metal or "painted" glass objects with a clear coat. That will probably have to be touched up each year.
amigirl
15 years ago
They will collect moisture and grow mold if they are not sealed properly. Always have the open end of the glass item pointing down or totalling covered with another item. I had a learning curve with them. I put the open end of a glass globe inside the open end of a tall vase and the water got in although I thought it was sealed properly.

The GE II has lasted on all my items outside and I am in Fl on the West coast.

Sue
mommyandme
15 years ago
We made a totem in Spring of '07. We brought it into the basement over the winter & put it back out this spring. It is stuck together with GE Silicone II, which seems to be holding up fine. There is some condensation in some sections, but no mold or mildew.
chickencollecter
15 years ago
Ditto all of the above.

Be Safe, Rach

do totems age well?

Comments (6)

Purplemoon

nonacook

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