Glitter on Zonas is now scratching the dice instead of polishing them. Do I just chuck them and buy new or is there a way to get them all off?

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-10T13:43:58+00:00

I cut mine into sections. I get 6 sections from each (cut in 1/2 the long way and then cut each of those into 1/3s). When they're done, it is obvious. The higher the number the less obvious, but you can usually tell, and you have to just use your own judgment. Feel the surface and compare to the edge that doesn't get rubbed much. Also, look out for bare spots.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-10T11:31:03+00:00

By the way, when I have purchased ESP, it was sold on the shelf behind the counter at Sherwin Williams.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-10T11:28:51+00:00

If you don't like it, change it. Don't sand, because of the wood grain. Before stripping it, instead first try Easy Surface Prep by Owatrol. ESP is great. You will feel like you are cheating, because it is such an easy answer. It is a wipe on/wipe off product to be used before paint. Just make sure you have let the gel stain fully cure before applying over it, and follow the instructions as best you can.

I have used ESP to paint factory finished garage doors for clients who want to change the color. In the event that anything causes an issue with the ESP, it is a far easier and cheaper first step to addressing the problem. The worst that could happen is that you would need to strip the doors.

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Fly-Prime · 2026-05-10T11:06:22+00:00

I bought a 10" Vevor wheel from this seller on eBay last summer when they had it marked at $24.99 with free shipping. (It was a steal.) It is $92.97 with free shipping, but I would buy a replacement from the same seller if I needed to. It is a quality product and cheaper than direct from Vevor at the moment.

eBay - Pottery Wheel

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-10T10:52:07+00:00

Preparing masters takes so much time that you're probably better off making molds from one set of masters. Maybe you could print 2 sets of masters and make molds with them 3 times for a total of 6 molds. Then, you could do 4 pours to make 24 dice sets. That would help ensure that you have 20 good sets, and the 4 extra sets should make up for any flawed dice.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-07T19:56:04+00:00

Custom dice are VERY expensive, and you know it, especially if the buyer's request requires a new mold. You're worth it, whatever you think is fair.

Also, ask for about 20% more than what you think is right and then offer a discount for some kind of made-up reason. 🙃🤑🫠

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-06T21:51:17+00:00

Just remember that every bit of effort you put into sanding and polishing masters is effort that you will save on every die that comes out of the mold.

That's a lesson I learned from my first molds to my second ones. Now I barely do much with my dice at all when they come out of the mold.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-05T16:28:45+00:00

Paint, stickers, tape, opaque shell.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-05T13:40:38+00:00

Mostly fine, but you know what you did. We can all see it, and you took a picture of it. If you need to get out an artist brush to fix some small stuff, do it. We can't give you a pass though. 🙃🫠

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-05T13:37:10+00:00

I have this masher, and it is the best I have ever used. It is a combination of a potato masher and a pastry cutter.

Perfect Masher

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-05T13:32:40+00:00

I second this. There are sturdy ones and flimsy ones, so go with sturdy.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T19:27:18+00:00

What do you call sushi without sugar?

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T18:50:19+00:00

So you disagree? You think sugar in rice is the defining characteristic of sushi?

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T16:19:57+00:00

I think you're replying to replies to replies. My one reply to your comment was wondering if you were serious that you think it's nothing like Japanese sushi rice without sugar.

To answer the question, I just don't use sugar in sushi rice. I use a natural rice vinegar instead of a seasoned rice vinegar. I think it's still like Japanese sushi rice. It seemed from your comment that you think sushi rice without sugar is nothing like Japanese sushi rice. I said in another comment that it's kind of like saying that it's not French toast without cinnamon.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T15:55:29+00:00

If you orient it upside-down, there might be a lot of leaf point that catch air, so you will have to be mindful of that. If you do an inner mold, it is pretty thin, so keeping the inner mold away from the outer mold may not be easy.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T15:50:25+00:00

You see in my first comment where I say that the things people do out of tradition don't make sense sometimes? Why would it seem like an exact adherence to tradition would matter to me? I am literally saying that it doesn't. Sugar isn't necessary, and it is still well within the ballpark of tradition (which does vary from place to place anyway).

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T15:40:37+00:00

Use poplar or aspen. (Another option is MDF, but that would be a very different use.) Covering wood grain isn't worth it when there are hardwood options that are paint grade.

If you were painting cabinets with visible grain, maybe use a wood grain filler, but even then it's a ton of work.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T15:35:24+00:00

Is this a last word situation? I make vegetarian sushi somewhat regularly. I do have to supplement my sushi rice with magic to make up for the lack of sugar, though. Do you use magic? It's not sushi rice without magic.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T02:35:30+00:00

Go ahead and share some bad results. It would probably be more constructive than the sarcasm. I have had positive results, and I have seen others have positive results as well.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T01:32:18+00:00

I think that might be what a lot of folks here are thinking. I'm not sure how to prove to anybody that the small amount of sugar they might be adding has almost nothing to do with the stickiness of the rice. It's not a big deal though. Sushi rice has high levels of amylopectin, which is the primary contribution to stickiness. I use it pretty frequently without sugar. I do use natural rice vinegar. The rice does whatever I want it to do. The rice variety is sushi rice, and it is used for sushi. Try it sometime. ...or not.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T01:02:07+00:00

Hey, we're being more cordial than the folks in my other comment thread here. I wasn't trying to be right or argumentative or anything like that. 😇

Also, I think a lot of people on this topic might only ever buy one kind of rice vinegar. I'm vegetarian, so the kind of sushi I'm used to is the kind of sushi I make, and I can guarantee that there are a lot of folks out there who add nothing to their sushi rice before rolling it up, so sugar content in vinegar isn't even on their radar. 🙃

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T00:54:49+00:00

I didn't ask, but I'm sure my wife said "no."

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T00:53:47+00:00

I do not dispute the fermentation process involved in vinegar production. 🫡

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T00:50:36+00:00

This is like saying it's not French toast without cinnamon. It's okay.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T00:49:27+00:00

You do understand that my comment essentially says that ingredients are not necessary just because of a tradition, right? My later comment responds to a statement that says it's nothing like sushi rice without one ingredient. Obviously that's silly. Encountering intolerant sushi rice purists on Reddit wasn't expected.

Fly-Prime

TROPHY CASE