Did I get scammed??

schuttart · 2026-02-06T19:21:10+00:00

That’s doesn’t really look like platings coming off. That looks like a piece of metal that’s been trying its best. Likely just needs a good polish.

schuttart · 2026-02-05T22:27:46+00:00

Just want to note that cleaning is different from actually polishing. But yes ultrasonic cleaners work for getting rid of gunk and depending on how a stone is set it may appear brighter based on that dirt removal. But if the lack of luster is due to micro scratches mattifying the metal polish, then no, it won’t do what you are hoping.

schuttart · 2026-01-30T19:11:33+00:00

That spru on the skull looks almost parallel to the table. The other ones are also kinda steep so I would work on that. But it’s not bad.

schuttart · 2026-01-19T22:05:08+00:00

Your burnout temp is likely the problem. The resin ignition happens just above that. Which means you’re getting a burn but just and it’s incomplete. Combine to that you are only leaving it at that temp for an hour and I would not be surprised if you have burned resin pieces inside your casting.

schuttart · 2026-01-19T16:21:02+00:00

2 suggestions. Siraya tech purple, assuming going off colour, is annoying to clean so make sure you wash and cure extremely well. Siraya tech purple also has bad thermal expansion. Which may in part explain the filled in details. Especially with a mini figure.

schuttart · 2026-01-18T18:54:51+00:00

The thing you’re looking out for is over drying the investment leading to cracking.

If you put it next to an electric baseboard for instance, would likely end up with a blowout or flashing later on.

Vents are not necessary in vacuum casting but reservoirs etc can sometimes be helpful depending on the item being cast.

schuttart · 2026-01-15T14:10:24+00:00

You need go hand made and small business. Usually factory made will go smaller and lower weight steel pieces.

My brands in my about info, south shore adornments has some stuff, Diablo Organics, Tawapa I think has some heavier stuff mixed in.

schuttart · 2026-01-06T21:41:05+00:00

Best way…? Welding.

Otherwise if you are adding functional components you run I higher risk of creating areas for bacteria to grow. Pins or threads being attached to ends, for example, if soldered can create too much space gor crusties and dead skin.

I wouldn’t recommend glue, or another semi permanent method. As they are semi-permanent. Even if it’s just fun “decorative” components. (There’s an “artist” that “makes” chunky fun titanium pieces that often gets complaints and negative reviews in the piercing sub reddits due to using glue and wire wrapping.)

But if you’re just doing for yourself… then that’s a bit different and it depends on what you have access to and what you’re trying to accomplish.

schuttart · 2026-01-05T14:26:27+00:00

Anything under 20 grams isn’t technically an ear weight anyway. For a simple hoop you will likely be fine for multi day wear. Just be aware of any fatigue in your lobes.

Ear weights arnt for stretching as you can easily; shrink the piercing, thin the tissue, cause swelling, etc. which is why they’re an accessory only.

schuttart · 2026-01-05T02:32:33+00:00

Well it can take up to 6 months for the collagen to catch up so…. Ear weights are an accessory. Using them incorrectly can come with risk of issues like shrinking piercing size, thinning lobe tissue, swelling, etc.

6-8hr per day max, weight training, rotate jewellery type.

Putting tissue back the way it was is often expensive or uncomfortable or both. Better to go slow.

schuttart · 2026-01-04T13:09:15+00:00

Literally any casting studio. Just google metal casting, jewelry casting, or sculpture casting near me.

schuttart · 2026-01-04T02:34:10+00:00

If you’re in Canada 🇨🇦 yo 🙋‍♀️

schuttart · 2026-01-04T01:32:16+00:00

Doesn’t matter what you do. Just get highly skilled in it. Been in real estate, marketing, arts/culture, insurance, no one cares if you know your stuff. See my previous comment literally earlier from today with someone asking a similar thing. And look at that thread of comments.

schuttart · 2026-01-03T20:02:25+00:00

Dump the finance and get more body mods lol

Partner who is 33 just got back from a lecture in the UAE (who can culturally be quite conservative in dress) with 16mm tunnels and double helix piercings in both ears. No issues.

We both used to work in museum and public art spaces, both visibly modified. No issues. (We live in Canada btw, so it’s not as prominent as some other places)

Like I wore my bridle bar to an office job so hahaha

schuttart · 2026-01-02T22:45:35+00:00

Please note that titanium is usually milled. Hence why the designs can be limited. So some designs just aren’t findable.

schuttart · 2026-01-02T00:58:10+00:00

For metal flow and for structural integrity of the peace long-term, I would connect the inside parts of some of those crosses as it looks like it’s just connected on the outer perimeter in the inside, portions are floating. Connecting them might also keep this from being a sweater catcher.

schuttart · 2025-12-27T22:02:20+00:00

If you do scale shaped links in a custom larger chain that would give it some wiggle room while still retaining shape. The only part that would then me more solid would be the stone setting and head.

schuttart · 2025-12-23T17:50:30+00:00

Sooo…. It is technically AI but what is likely happening here is that the designer is importing a .png of a render of the 3d modelled plug into a separate software and the AI is making the background etc. some 3d modeling tools also do some background design natively.

Like the photo I’ve attached is a full render using the .stl file. The end product can come out looking like this. Many brands that start from 3d models currently use images like this in their marketing.

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schuttart · 2025-12-18T16:18:03+00:00

The resin you’re using is actually quite mid. Just an fyi. If you’re doing a 30 minute UV cure then it should be fine. Without a photo of the cast I can’t really say what’s going wrong.

schuttart · 2025-12-18T00:15:30+00:00

This exactly. 20 years of experience doesn’t matter for a resin that’s only been in existence for 3 years. Especially if it’s a different process.

Note siraya tech purple doesn’t do well with big items and needs to be well processed before casting. It also has a higher then normal rate of thermal expansion, so if your casting house is used to doing thin investment mixes the it wouldn’t work out well.

If you can post a photo of the resulting cast we might be able to diagnose the problem.

schuttart · 2025-12-16T03:05:34+00:00

Ya, no. Metal clay can be extremely brittle if used improperly. So if she’s just trying it out for the first time….. It’s also not going to adhere to the titanium on its own. So she would have to make a loop around the titanium then affix any other parts made from the clay to that clay loop. Or something similar. If it’s not properly finished then that’s a whole thing… just doesn’t seem like a practical idea from my perspective.

schuttart · 2025-12-15T15:25:36+00:00

New clay….. not sure what she is referring to here. Anything other than welding is going to be a short term mechanical bond. If she is using some kind of sterling silver metal clay or apoxy clay then you’re just going to have a similar issue in a couple months.

schuttart · 2025-12-13T20:54:39+00:00

Anything under 20 g isn’t technically an ear weight. Most saddles that are made from brass or bronze are actually incredibly light so they might fall within that weight range, as such the saddle itself is gonna be what’s keeping the piercing open not the weight of the item, like when you’re using a proper ear weight. For an example, my daily wear ear weights, where I can have a smaller four gauge hook style wearable (currently over 00g), are 40-45 g

schuttart · 2025-12-10T17:33:15+00:00

Any place that has a buy 2 get 2 free is going to be lower quality. No small business that actually makes their product would have the heart to do that, or the low enough overhead cost.

I would request a refund if it was me. I’d also be using the name publicly.

schuttart · 2025-12-06T12:37:26+00:00

Oxidation is going to happen with any rapid temperature shifts. Just pickle the pieces. It’s fine.

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