"Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

OK so I got about 5 gallons of cigar bands and this is my first project. No I am not out of cigars the name of the painting was "out of the blue" by karen leeds
so it will now be named "out of cigars" this is a start of the project and will be posting pic's as i go.

http://jkva.com/pics/astart1.jpg


and from what I can tell it will take some time

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Sweet, look forward to seeing the progress.
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Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Nice! And here I was expecting a mooch thread.:D:r

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

no sir no mooch here

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Keeping an eye on this one Jason. :tu

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

I enjoy seeing what creative ways people use their bands, they really are little mas-produced pieces of art. And they hold meaning to the person who can reflect back on their experiences with each band. Can't wait to see more!

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

I'm curious to hear how long it took for you to collect those....

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

yea man I call it experience art. seen a guy on a different forum do a Coffey table looked cool but he got blasted because there was cheap cigar bands (puro indos) on it. I stuck up for the man as not everyone starts off with high dollar cigars and I knew it was a experience table tailored from what he had smoked. as far as I go I may or may not put my pi's and twain bands on it have yet to decide but yea I got that experience just not sure if I want to be reminded about it. :r



here is a update so far man it is going to take forever

http://jkva.com/pics/astart2.jpg

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

I started smoking Tijuana cherry's 15+ years ago not many good cigars. I quite cigarettes 3 years ago and started on this down hill slope and started collecting bands then. -(P

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

That's pretty awesome Jason. Looking forward to seeing the finished project! I too started saving cigar bands about a year ago and at somepoint need to decide what I want to do with them. My opinion on it is you might as well use every part of the cigar right? Keep up the good work!

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Looks like it's going to be a very nice project.

Good on your for quitting cigarettes!

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

I did this a number of years ago. I then took photos and made stationary, posters, etc. Some of the guys still use the stationary around here for bombs and stuff.
I'm trying to find the stationary now. Can't find it. Bummer.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

By the end of the year I could probably make one of Acid rings. LOL

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

I've been saving my bands since I started smoking a year ago, just biding my time until I figure out what I'm going to do with them. I like this idea of taking an existing print and using that as a canvas. Also considered a table top and a clock. I'll keep waiting until something just feels right. What kind of glue are you using?

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

I started to do this on my small humi....man I am not a handyman at all I was using superglue and ended up glueing my fingers together and ruining the top corner of my humi...bummer....so I am curious to know what kind of glue you use as well.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

What kind of glue and stuff do you use to make something like this? Is there a particular process to follow?

Do you know if the guy with the coffee table use some sort of polyurethane to put over the bands so it had a nice smooth surface? I've always wanted to do an end table or something like that.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

In the picture, bottom right corner, I see some all-purpose glue and scissors.

As for the table, my wife is kinda artsy and does stuff like that, so I can ask her if she knows what's best.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Didn't even catch the glue in the pic, haha.

I have a crap load of beer coasters too. I'd love to make a table with them, but I have a feeling the polyurethane will soak the coasters and mess up the color of them.

Definitely ask your wife for some ideas, that'd be awesome! Thanks!

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

With cigar bands, I'd glue them as the OP is doing, then coat the whole finished board with either Puzzle Glue (literally what it sounds like and can be purchased at Walmart), or get a proper clear coat for artwork from an art supply store (it's more expensive, higher quality, and wont color the work like hardware store spray clearcoat).

For anything with some thickness to it, if I wanted a clear/clean top, I would either have a glass top made for it, or do the polyu just like you're thinking. It probably *wont* mess with the color, but might give the coasters a wet look. It's basically like a two part, super clear epoxy. Mix the two parts really well, and pour over surface, let gravity level it out.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Any chance you could link to something like that two-part poly? My Google-fu is failing me, but this is exactly what I was thinking with doing a coffee table. Basically like what they finish some bar surfaces with.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

It's sometimes called "bar top coating" or "bar epoxy" or something like that, too. I don't remember for sure (it was a few years ago), but I think this is what I used http://www.uscomposites.com/epoxy.html#kleerkote

I had a small storage ottoman where the top could be flipped over and used as a TV tray. I coated the bottom of the tray with bands and then used the 2-part epoxy to cover it all in.

I would do one layer then epoxy it. Let it dry, and do another and epoxy it. I think I did three layers in all. It gave it more depth with bands appearing to float. I didn't cover the entire space with each layer, but over the course of three layers it covered it all so you could see the different layers of bands below.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

I've not used this brand, I just searched for Bar Top Epoxy

http://www.bartopepoxy.com/?gclid=CL...FRFR7AodaWDpOg

I don't recall the brand I've used. I used to make Home theater subwoofers and I had someone pay me for several of them that needed a black piano finish. So I basically coated them in a "bar top epoxy" and let gravity do the work for me...since I don't have a proper spray booth, nor the patients for spraying paint/poly clear coat.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Awesome, thanks for the link. Do you have any pics of that ottoman? It sounds really cool and I like the idea of multi-layers.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

LOL, Chris beat me to it. I type too slowly I guess.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

I used purple glue sticks when I did mine, they work great.
I made coasters once, too. A bunch of them. I used those glass picture coasters and made inserts that were covered with cigar bands. They turned out awesome.
The only problem I could see is that the coasters had a slot in the side where you put the picture or whatever in them. If a sweaty glass or bottle was on the coaster, the water would run right inside and ruin the picture or whatever was inside.
So once I slid in the card with the bands glued on them, I sealed the seam that ran all around the edge of the coaster. I used 100% silicone, was very careful, and cleaned any excess off with a razor. I cleaned the whole deal with alcohol a couple times before I applied the silicone, too.
I can't find the pics of them, either. :)

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

I swear, I've got to do everything! I find all your threads now I'm posting your old stationary pics.

Master 1 is 4.46 MB 3888x2592
Master 2 is 10.1 MB 3807x2592

I can't post due to the size. PM me your home email address and I'll email them to you or tell me how I can post them to be seen.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Here's the biggest I could get master 2:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...69/master2.jpg

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Dude take another pic, I wanna see this chit.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

I'll try to get a pic of it for you. Hmm. Wonder what the conversation with the girlfriend will be like as I'm taking pictures of the foot stool ...

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Tell her you want to post it on that interior decorating forum you frequent. :r

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

LOL, another outburst of laughter at work. You guys are going to get me in trouble.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Those are quadrant pics of the whole board. I did a whole bunch of those. I found the thread at pvff, but all the links are broken because I abandoned that internet account when I moved.
I'm not sure if I have the board anymore, I think I threw it out when I moved.
I'll send you my email in a minute.
You don't have the stationary, do you?
I know I have all the originals of this stuff, I'll just have to dig a bit and I can't do it right now.

I found the pics of the coasters.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

wow where to start OK yea I am using normal school glue dries clear. I put some glue on the back spread it out all over very thin and stick it then wipe and press down with wet cloth to clean excess then dry with a dry cloth. it has proven to be a pain but if I was not so neat with the glue it would be faster but messier. I love the other cigar pic very nice and shows me I need to stop worrying about seeing the main part of the band and make sure i leave no blank space.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

SWMBO (The wife) says for projects like these, there is somethng called "Mod Podge" available at Hobby Lobby. You place the bands where you want them, brush it on, and it glues them to the medium (canvas, wood, etc). It goes on cloudy, but dries clear. Once that dries completely, use a Polyurethene coating to make it waterproof.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Interesting, I wonder if it would work on coasters. Be a lot of work since coasters are thicker and bigger.

Thanks for the tips!

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

She says try the mod podge with he coasters. She has no idea how well they'll adhere wih it. Might be too thick, she's not sure. Probably try something small to see how they adhere before you attempt the table. And let her (me) know how it works.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

It's kind of tough to photograph the "layers" but here are a couple. They were taken with my cell phone camera, so the quality is pretty bad.

They are mostly older bands I got on ebay. I used a couple large cigar box inserts along the bottom, too.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-G...0/IMG_0526.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U...0/IMG_0525.JPG

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

some updated pics yea it is going to take me forever
http://jkva.com/pics/upband1.jpg


http://jkva.com/pics/upband2.jpg

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Looks awesome. I've been trying to figure out what to do with my bands as well. Something like this might be the ticket!

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Try the mod podge my wife told me about. You basically place your bands where you want them, then paint over them (carefully) with the stuff. It goes on cloudy, but dries clear. You'll have to brave Hobby Lobby, though. Or any other craft store.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

I did one of these a few years ago, here's a pointer or two I learned.

To ease the pain of the process, stick anywhere from 20-50 bands flattened out in a folded piece of paper (to protect them) in a leather wallet (bi-fold works best) and carry it around with you for a day in your back pocket even. You can use your everyday wallet if you like, or carry a special one. Sit on it like you normally would, etc etc. By the end of they day, those bands will be flat like glass, and MUCH easier to glue down neatly. Be sure to place them where they lay flat in the wallet...if you put them in the fold of the wallet, they just get a mean fold to them.

Buy a rubber ink roller. Trust me, nothing flattens a band out perfectly after placing it like one of these. They're about 5 bucks at Walmart in the craft area. Just be sure to keep it clean so it doesn't stick to bands and peel them back up (you can hold one end of the band with a fingertip to keep it positioned and roll the other end flat, and switch sides).



***TEST THIS A FEW TIMES TO PERFECT IT FIRST***
(It took me about 5-6 attempts to perfect this method, but this is what I did in the long run)

Thin your glue out if you use white glue, because it's way too thick and the bands will absorb too much water while it drys. Take 3 parts white glue and 1 part warm water, mix well. Do a few test strips on a piece of cardboard or paper before you glue bands to make sure you have your consistency right. Use a cotton swab to smear a *thin* layer of glue on the back of the band (emphasis on *super thin*), place it, and flatten them out. Use an electric hair dryer set to a low heat from a moderate distance and carefully blow in circles over the area you just glued. I worked in groups of 20 bands a day, just because that's how many I could carry in my wallet :)

The reason I eventually started using this method was to reduce the amount of moisture that the bands were exposed to by forcing it to dry and cure faster, thus the bands didn't get that "wet ripple" to them as they cured.



Personally, if I did this type of project again (it's coming soon!), I'm definitely going to research into a non-water based glue that I don't have to jump through as many hoops over to make a quality job of it.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

I'm watching this thread!

Just finished doing a clock that turned out great and I'm trying to figure out what I want to do next!

Love seeing these awesome cigar band projects

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Jason,

This is a bit off topic, but I recently damaged my Out of the Blue poster by Karen Leeds. Would you consider parting with the copy underneath your cigar bands?

Rick

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Holy thread revival!

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

No crap!!! Looks like he did a Google search, this thread came up, and he created an account just for the poster.

My :2

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Don't be ashamed. My mix would be about half infused tags and half of the good ol' naturals.
:tu

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

It's not really necessary to respond to every thread with pictures. Honest.

All it's doing is cluttering up the thread with crap and making them more difficult to read, especially for mobile users.

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

Hey Dice, remind me again why I like you?

It certainly isn't for the accuracy of your research. Must be the beer.

:fu2


:D

Re: "Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1
 

:r:r:r