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Bronzing shoes is a great way to solidify memories of a loved one. You can bronze your baby’s shoes or bronze the shoes of a deceased friend or family member. After you clean the shoes, you will use a camel hair brush to apply thin coats of liquid bronze to the shoes.
Steps
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Remove dirt and old shoe polish from the shoes. Before bronzing a pair of shoes, you will need to remove any dirt or polish that is on the surface of the shoes. Wet a soft cloth with water. Then take the damp cloth and carefully clean the shoes. [1] X Research source -
Rub the shoes with denatured alcohol. Once you have removed as much dirt as possible with the damp rag, rub the shoes with denatured alcohol. This will remove any remaining wax or polish from the shoes. Take a dry, clean cloth and saturate it with alcohol. Then gently rub the entire surface of each shoe. [2] X Research sourceAdvertisement -
Allow the shoes to dry. Once you are done rubbing the shoes with denatured alcohol, let them dry completely. Allow the shoes to air dry. Do not attempt to bronze shoes that are still damp from the cleaning process. [3] X Research source
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Make a hole in the sole of each shoe. You will be stringing a piece of wire through each shoe, and using the wire to hang the shoes to dry in between coats of bronze. Try using a box cutter, knife, or drill to make the hole. Make sure you exercise caution while cutting the hole, and avoid accidentally cutting yourself. [4] X Research source -
String wire through the hole. Begin by creating a wire loop for each shoe. Take some sturdy, yet flexible wire and string it through the hole in the sole of the shoe. Then twist the wire to create a closed loop that is large enough to use for hanging the shoe. Repeat the process for both shoes. [5] X Research source -
Arrange the shoes. Position the shoes so the laces and tongues are arranged precisely how you want them to be for bronzing. Make sure you tie the shoelaces. Finally, adjust the tongue of each shoe so that it is touching both sides of the shoe. [6] X Research source- Try using a little bit of rubber cement or super glue to lock the laces and/or tongue into the desired position.
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Prepare the liquid bronze in a bowl. Mix bronze powder with a quick-drying spar varnish according to the package directions in a plastic or glass bowl. Stir the liquid bronze thoroughly to prevent particles from settling in the bottom of the bowl. [7] X Research source- You can purchase liquid bronze at a hardware store or print supply company.
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Apply a coat of liquid bronze to each shoe. Hold the shoe by the wire loop with your non-dominant hand. Then use your dominant hand to apply a thin coat of liquid bronze to each shoe with a camel hair brush. Start on the top of each shoe and work your way down the sides toward the sole. Make sure you paint all of the shoe’s surface area, including any part of the shoe’s inside that is visible. [8] X Research source -
Hang the shoes to dry. After applying liquid bronze to the shoes, allow them to dry. Hold the shoe by the wire loop you inserted, and then hang the wire loop on a hook or nail. You should let them dry for at least ten minutes, or longer, in between coats. [9] X Research source -
Apply additional coats as needed. Once the shoes dry from the initial coat of liquid bronze, look to see if there are dull spots on the shoes. This is an indication that the bronze has soaked through the shoes and you will need to apply at least one more coat of bronze.- You will likely need to apply several coats of liquid bronze to each shoe until both shoes are shiny and completely covered in bronze.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionI have a plaster hand of my granddaughter's who past away earlier this year. Could it be bronzed without damage?Community AnswerYes, a mold will be made from the plaster cast and the bronzing can be done. Find a Jr. College or a college with a lab. Ask the teacher who is the best LOCAL person to use for this process.
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QuestionCan I bronze boots?Reina ItogaCommunity AnswerYes, but be sure to get in all the little cracks. With boots, it is more necessary to cover everything due to their size.
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QuestionCan you waterproof a shoe or boot to put on a headstone?Community AnswerYes, you can bronze a pair of shoes or boots to make them waterproof so you can put them on a headstone.
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Things You’ll Need
- Shoes
- Knife, box cutter, or drill
- Wire
- Bronze powder
- Fast drying spar varnish
- Camel hair brush, for painting the shoes
References
- ↑ http://pioneerthinking.com/how-you-can-bronze-baby-shoes
- ↑ http://www.make-stuff.com/projects/bronzeshoes.html
- ↑ http://www.make-stuff.com/projects/bronzeshoes.html
- ↑ http://www.make-stuff.com/projects/bronzeshoes.html
- ↑ http://pioneerthinking.com/how-you-can-bronze-baby-shoes
- ↑ http://pioneerthinking.com/how-you-can-bronze-baby-shoes
- ↑ http://pioneerthinking.com/how-you-can-bronze-baby-shoes
- ↑ http://www.make-stuff.com/projects/bronzeshoes.html
- ↑ http://www.make-stuff.com/projects/bronzeshoes.html
About This Article
Article Summary
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To bronze shoes, start by cleaning the shoes with a damp cloth to remove any surface dirt. Then, buff the shoes with denatured alcohol to remove any wax or polish. After the shoes dry, make 2 holes in the sole of each shoe and loop a piece of wire through the holes. Next, mix bronze powder with quick-drying spar varnish and apply a coat to each shoe. Then, hang them by the wire loop on a hook or nail and apply additional coats as needed, making sure to let the shoes dry between each coat. To learn how to hold the shoes as you apply the bronze, keep reading!
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