Comments on: A Silver Rose

Question: A Silver Rose

fucker — Thu, 17 May 2007 20:30:49 -0800

I would like to spray paint a whole rose with metallic silver paint. The intention is that it will encase the rose, fully retaining its pretty rose shape for at least a few days, if not permanently. In reality the rose will probably wilt, or otherwise warp, leaving an ugly silver mess. I don't know. Any suggestions on how to get the results as imagined?

By: Cool Papa Bell

Cool Papa Bell — Thu, 17 May 2007 20:35:46 -0800

Don't spray it. Dip it.

By: cali

cali — Thu, 17 May 2007 20:48:07 -0800

Dried roses have essentially the same shape, and won't wilt. Fake ones too, though I'm guessing that's not the point.

By: numinous

numinous — Thu, 17 May 2007 20:48:48 -0800

Is it a particular, singular rose that is already in your possession that you'd like to treat? If not, would you be adverse to purchasing a silk rose, such as are available at most craft stores, and using it in lieu of a real one?

If not, you could:
• use a silica-based drying medium to draw the moisture out of the rose, thus preserving it (will take a few days, I believe).
• follow up by spray painting it.

By: wfrgms

wfrgms — Thu, 17 May 2007 21:32:27 -0800

Roses are cheap. Can't you just experiment? Here's an idea, freeze a rose then spray paint it and see what happens...

By: krix

krix — Thu, 17 May 2007 21:33:05 -0800

Gold/silver/platinum electroplated roses will last indefinitely.

By: fucker

fucker — Thu, 17 May 2007 22:06:51 -0800

krix that is just the effect I'd like to capture. But with paint instead of gold. numinous's suggestion is helpful, but dried roses are seemingly not as bloomed out as those gold roses. Perhaps they dip, like CPB suggested? Maybe they use some sort of chemical spray to keep the flower solid before applying the gold.

By: Mikey-San

Mikey-San — Thu, 17 May 2007 22:21:20 -0800

Experiment. As another poster said, roses are cheap. Perhaps dip it first in melted wax, let it set, then paint it.

By: Kadin2048

Kadin2048 — Thu, 17 May 2007 22:53:29 -0800

I have no idea if this would actually work, but you might try hardening it using some sort of cyanoacrylate glue. I've seen people do some crazy stuff with that.

Maybe if you got some really, really thin stuff, you could spray it through a pump bottle (would probably clog/destroy the pump bottle almost instantly, though) and do it that way? Or maybe there's some sort of thin epoxy that can be sprayed on...

Just doing a little Googling, something like this might work, but you'd have to spray it on very, very gently ... but maybe if you contacted them and told them what you wanted, they could point you in the right direction?

I'm no expert on epoxies or adhesives but I'd imagine the product to do this has to be out there. If you approach it like you're a moldmaker (how do I coat this in something so that I can make a mold out of it, even though it's very, very delicate), I think you'll find the right kind of stuff.

By: Pallas Athena

Pallas Athena — Thu, 17 May 2007 23:36:54 -0800

If you dry the rose, hang it upside down to dry. That way it won't look wilted.

/hums Der Rosenkavalier

By: hindmost

hindmost — Fri, 18 May 2007 00:35:51 -0800

This and this suggests that poly resin is the way to go to preserve a real flower. Perhaps dip it in resin and then spray?

By: ardgedee

ardgedee — Fri, 18 May 2007 03:45:20 -0800

For your purpose, spraypaint has no structural property. To demonstrate, paint a sheet of newspaper and see if it stands up straight after the paint's dry.

Googling for flower preserve works. There are at least half a dozen methods, plus a table of recommended baking times if you want to use a microwave oven. But the most popular technique appears to be silica gel in a jar.