Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you make more than one Pet-Paw from the same impression?

Yes! I can make as many Pet-Paws as you like from the same single impression. They will all be nearly identical except for the minute differences caused by the casting process itself and also by the artist's hand. I keep all the wax patterns for all the paws I've ever made. So, if you want another paw in the future, I can make it from the wax pattern - if I can find it amoung all the hundreds of wax patterns!

2. Can I get my impression back?

Yes! Just purchase the "Impression Returns" with your order and I will send your impression container(s) back with your finished Pet-Paws.
If your impression container can fit into a Priority Mail Small Flat Rate cardboard box, then additional shipping is not needed.


The Priority Mail Flat Rate Small Box is 5-3/8" x 8-5/8" x 1-5/8"

Sometimes the original play-doh may not be intact after I work with it because I must pour molten wax into it. Play-doh may stick to the wax and pull off when I remove the wax from the impression. Then the play-doh must be peeled off the wax in pieces.

3. What kind/color of Play-doh is best to use for the impression?

Both home made Play-doh and store bought Play-doh are great! Either one will capture detail extremely well. If you like to cook and you have the ingredients, and you don't have a can of store bought Play-doh kicking around, then go ahead and make your own Play-doh. If you already have store bought Play-doh, but it seems stiff, just microwave it for about 30 seconds to make it softer and more pliable. You can also add a little water to it. Any color of store bought Play-doh will work. Store bought Play-doh will last a longer time than homemade Play-doh. Homemade Play-doh will eventually develope salt crystals which will distort the paw impression. However, homemade Play-doh is great to use if you plan to send the impression right away.

If you are sending your impression from England or some place far away, and the impression will take a couple of weeks to arrive, then use store bought Play-doh. Home made Play-doh can mold over time or if it gets real warm. Also use store-bought Play-doh if you plan to store your impression for any time before sending it to us. Use home-made or store bought Play-doh if you are going to send the impression right away and you live within the United States.

Homemade Play-doh advantages:
- superb detail
- quick and easy to make - most ingredients are already in your kitchen
- excellent for impressions that are being sent to us right away
Homemade Play-doh disadvantages:
- does not store for long periods of time (but you can freeze it to store it)
- salt can crystallize into large crystals within the Play-doh
- mold can develop on the surface if Play-doh is kept warm

Store-bought Play-doh advantages:
- excellent detail
- available to buy at most major retail stores
- no salt crystallization unless it gets dry
- mold rarely forms
- can store for a fairly long period of time if kept cold and in an air tight container - great for shipping from other countries, or for storing impression until you are ready to order. You can freeze your Play-doh impression to store it.
Store-bought Play-doh disadvantages:
- slightly stiffer than homemade Play-doh, but is overcome by heating and kneading, or adding a little water.
- color can stain impressions
- you have to go buy it!

4. Can you make a Pet-Paw from a clay or plaster impression that I have?

Although Play-doh is my favorite, I can make a Pet-Paw from ANY impression material. If you have an old plaster or clay impression that you would like to have a Pet-Paw made from, I can do it. But, there are a few things to consider:
1. The impression could get damaged or lost in the mail. If your impression is a sacred item, then it may be risky to send it in the mail.
2. I will pour hot wax into the impression. To keep the wax from sticking to the impression, I will have to coat the impression with a release agent (shellac, saddle soap, vaseline, or vegetable oil) which may stain the impression. The wax can stain the impression also.
UPDATE: In most cases, I no longer pour molten wax into these kinds of impressions. This is because they are usually very porous and the wax really sticks to them making it difficult to remove. Instead, I use non-colored Play-doh and make an impression of your impression. This new impression is the one I will then use for the molten wax process. The original impression remains intact with no blemishes. This process results in the final metal paw turning out to be an imprint style Pet-Paw (paw pads sunken in) instead of the usual relief style (paw pads raised up). If you prefer to have the relief style paw when using these types of impression materials, you can order the 'Pet-Paw Set' which gives you both the imprint and relief, or you can give me the go ahead to pour the hot wax into the original impression, especially if you are not concerned about keeping the impression.

5. What kind of metal should have my Pet-Paw made out of?

The most popular, and my favorite, is bronze. However, it is really just a matter of color choice. All 4 metal types: bronze, brass, copper, and aluminum hold up very well over time. The only difference is color and weight. Bronze is mostly brown with a hint of pink or yellow and sometimes green. Brass is bright yellow. Copper is reddish pink. Aluminum is silver. All the metals weigh the same except aluminum is about 1/3 lighter than the other three metals.

6. How long can the inscription be and can you write it on the side of the Pet-Paw?

I hand-write all the inscriptions. The inscription is usually written in the wax and cast right into the Pet-Paw. I also incribe the inscription into the metal with a dremel tool. The inscription can be as long as you like, but it must be able to fit on the bottom of the Pet-Paw. This can be a challenge with a small cat paw. If there are multiple words for a cat paw, I just write them on the bottom of the paw in a circle around the edge and then spiral inward. For a large dog paw, just look at the palm of your hand and determine what you could hand write in that space. I can also write an incription on the side of the Pet-Paw. For Pet-Paw sets, I can write one inscription on the top paw (the relief) and a different inscription on the bottom paw (the imprint). Most people just want the pet's name. Others want the life dates as well. Some people like to write a message such as, "You will always be in our hearts."

7. Can you make a Pet-Paw from a different pet such as a rabbit, or a ferret?

Yes! The process is the same for any pet including horses and mice! I also make baby hands and feet. Contact me for pricing.

8. Can you make a Pet-Paw with a shape around it such as an oval or a heart?

Yes! I can make any shape around a Pet-Paw. The default Pet-Paw is contoured around the pads and claws. Contact me for pricing.



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Pet-Paws | 20421 SR 194 Pullman, WA 99163 | 509-715-7238 | tracy@starsunmoon.com

 

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