Artists use a type of sealant to keep their paintings

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the search for a suitable sealant to preserve a cut potato for an extended period, with a focus on potential materials used by artists for sealing paintings. Participants explore various options and their implications for preserving food versus artistic projects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks a completely airtight liquid sealant to preserve a cut potato for a long time.
  • Another questions the purpose of preserving the potato, suggesting that the intended use (eating vs. crafting) would influence the choice of sealant.
  • A participant clarifies their intention to carve the potato into a candle holder.
  • One suggestion is to use shellac as a potential sealant.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about shellac's effectiveness due to the potato's high water content, proposing lucite as an alternative.
  • A participant mentions the common practice of applying multiple coats of shellac for preservation, though they lack personal experience with it.
  • Elmer's glue is proposed as another option for sealing.
  • Concerns are raised about Elmer's glue not drying clear enough and its long-term durability, along with a humorous commentary on the name "Elmer."

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views on the effectiveness of different sealants, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to preserve the potato.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include uncertainty about the long-term effectiveness of suggested sealants, the impact of the potato's water content, and the lack of consensus on the best preservation method.

KingNothing
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Hi. What I'm looking for is some sort of sealant that will be completely airtight. A liquid.

The idea is to be able to cut a potato in half and completely cover it in some sort of sealant so that it stays that way for a very very long time. I know artists use a type of sealant to keep their paintings and such, but could that really preserve food? I was thinking of maybe using that with an outer coat of epoxy or superglue.
 
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What's the goal in preseving the potato? If it's going to be eaten it'll make a difference what you'd want to use.
 
No, I actually intend on carving something out of it. (a candle holder representing my undying love for potatoes)
 
I'm unsubscribing from this thread now.
 
Shellac would probably do what you want.
 
Potatoes have a very high water content, I don't think shellac would last long, unless it was really thick. You could have it enshrined in lucite.
 
I've never used shellac, so don't know the limitations of it. I thought the idea was to put lots and lots and lots of coats on something to preserve it.
 
Why not use Elmer's glue?
 
Elmer's doesn't dry clear enough and would be hard to get an even yet complete coat. I don't think it could really stand the test of time, either. In addition, I have heard that as a person Elmer is somewhat dry and lacking in enthusiasm. That is not the kind of man I want to support.
 

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