Piglet John - I need a decorators caulk which dries hard rather than flexible?

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

It's for a craft project rather than diy. I read that I wanted decorators caulk rather than acrylic. But the decorators caulk in b&q says on the tube that it's flexible when dry. Any suggestions please?

Dd is wanting to decorate a phone case. So the idea is you splodge caulk on and then stick little decorations in the gunk.

White gripfill?

My husband is a decorater and says there's no such thing as it is a flexible adhesive. Says silicone as long as it isn't to be painted.

But when I google silicone caulk it says it's flexible and rubbery?

Silicone caulk, often referred to as rubberized silicone caulk, remains flexible for most of its lifetime without peeling, cracking, or distorting. It will maintain and keep a waterproof barrier against moisture much longer than acrylic caulking as a result. This trait makes silicone the caulking of choice around showers, bathtubs, sinks, and toilets. Additionally, due to its long-lasting nature and its ability to retard moisture and maintain its strength, silicone caulking is an excellent choice for outdoor use and for protecting the home from outdoor wet-weather conditions. It should be noted that due to silicone caulking’s moisture repelling feature, paint will not adhere to it.

Will google Gripfill.

Thanks both of you.

I use this

www.wickes.co.uk/Polycell-Polyfilla-Trade-Fine-Surface-Filler-500g/p/228107

and this

www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Fine-Surface-Ready-Mixed-Filler-330g/p/154901

neither of which seem flexible - I did buy a 'flexible' one once by mistake, it had a silicone/rubbery feel when dry which wasn't what I wanted. That one was one of the tubes you use with a gun.

Will be 'filling' like crazy this week as we are moving and I need to make good the walls!

Lavender, do you think that Pollyfilla stuff could be put in a decorating bag and squeezed through a nozzle to get nice patterns?

Is the caulk to make the pattern or to stick things on with?

Both.

like this

Ive spent a fortune on wrong stuff. Got brown one first as never realised they came in different colours. Then got a white one and have done the phone case but 36 hours later it's still kind of rubbery.

Look like tile adhesive I reckon

Tile adhesive would be good. Will try that if this doesn't set better soon. Thanks.

This is what you need (watch to the end ) m.youtube.com/watch?v=hkmeoYKYctw

Not sure Simon, I am a fairly clueless DIY er but do most of it around here. You could cut the end off the Wickes one in a small fashion and squirt that one I reckon.

We did something mosaicy using air dry clay rolled thinly with mirrors and pieces of painted clay pressed into it and painted PVA over the top to give it a glaze (and stick the rogue bits back on).

That advert is hilarious.

Reminds me of the Kiwi chalet girl we had one year called Dibby. Dh asked me why I was calling her Dibby. I thought that was her name, turns out she was Debbie!

Did you find anything suitable Simon? I only know of DecoDen bling paste from hobbycraft, but it's bloody expensive so I too am looking for an alternative for my daughter

I'm going to try tile adhesive but am going on holiday on Friday so will have to wait a couple of weeks!

I'd use a glue gun.

(Unless your DD is only 5 or something.)

Mini glue gun £5.99.

Not sure the glue gun would work as the sticks look kind of clear, and dd wants the stuff to be white as its meant to look like whipped cream when dry.....

Ive seen the expensive proper craft stuff advertised, may have to order some of that. But I think dd wants to go into business making them to order for people at school so needs to keep costs down!

Oh I see.

Would a white coloured wood filler work? They tend to be sand-able and less flexible than decorator's caulk. The ones that you mix from two parts are the best and most easy to sculpt into shapes.

That sounds a possibility. We've certainly got a couple of options to try out now.