In this section, we will cover everything you need to know about caring for your Degenhart owl. If your owl accidentally gets broken, we will guide you through all the steps to make a successful repair.
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Cleaning & Care
Basic cleaning - Sometimes your Degenhart owl needs a good cleaning. It could be that you just purchased it and noticed some built-up grime, or perhaps you've skipped dusting one too many times and want to give it a fresh start. The good news is that they are a breeze to clean. All you need is an old toothbrush and some dish soap. You only need a small drop of dish soap to get the job done. Hold the owl in one hand and use the toothbrush in the other. Gently scrub the owl in small circular motions, paying extra close attention to tiny crevices. Once the grime is removed, run your owl under lukewarm water to rinse it off. You can then pat it dry with a paper towel or washcloth. That's it! Your owl should now be squeaky clean with a nice shine.
Removing paint - You've just purchased a Degenhart owl and noticed someone else decided to give it a non-professional paint job. We're not talking about a nice, artistically painted owl, but something that was done by a child, etc. If the paint hasn't been airbrushed on and cured by an oven or kiln, it should be removable. The good news is that you can use any of the following to assist with paint removal: paint thinner, nail polish with acetone or Goof off. The paint thinner is the best option, but if it's not available, the other two will still work great. We have successfully used all three to remove paint before. Paint remover should not be damaging to regular glossy Degenhart owls. The color of the glass does NOT rub off, as it's part of the glass itself, not on the surface. This method has ONLY been used on regular glossy owls. We would hesitate to use this on satin finish owls due to the delicate nature of the finish.
To start the paint removal process, it's wise to put on a pair of latex gloves to protect your hands. Lay down something to protect your work area from drips that may damage wood or other surfaces. Start with an old cloth, cotton ball or Q-tip dipped in the paint remover of your choice. Work by rubbing small sections at a time until you are satisfied that the paint is entirely removed. For very stubborn paint, you can soak your owl in a small Ziploc bag or Tupperware container until you see the paint begin to dissolve or pull away from the surface of the glass. Once the paint is loosened, you should be able to scrub it off using an old toothbrush or something similar.
Dusting - It's a chore that no one enjoys, but eventually, you'll find it necessary to dust your owls. We found it easier to remove one row of owls at a time and then dust the entire shelf they were sitting on. You can then wipe or dust them off individually as you go to put them back. Some of our favorite dusting items are an old soft cloth, damp paper towels or a Swiffer duster. Our first choice has been the Swiffer duster hands down! It picks up even the tiniest specs of dust, making the dusting job a quick and relatively painless experience. Our favorite ones have a handle for easy use. To see the ones we use from Amazon, click the link here.
Satin owl care - These beautiful sea glass-looking Degenhart owls need just a little extra pampering. The satin finish tends to be on the delicate side. When displaying them, try to avoid the satin owls bumping up against the other ones to avoid scratches. In other words, they like their space! This is also a great rule of thumb for owls with a regular finish too. Satin owls can be washed with a toothbrush and dish soap just like their glossy counterparts.
Securing Your Owls
Location - "Location, location, location"— That's the age-old question when it comes to displaying your Degenhart owls. Whether you decide to go with a window, wall or cabinet display, you may want to consider a few factors first. Do you have pets or small kids that like to get into things? Cats are notorious for knocking down breakable items. Kids can be drawn to the colorful hues of the glass owls. Before you know it, you have a few broken owls on your hands. If you answered yes to the question above, you may be better off going with a wall or window display that's well out of reach from curious kids and pets.
A locking floor cabinet is another great option. They come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate your needs. Another factor to consider is what area of the house you are most likely to appreciate the display in. Most collectors want their displays where they can enjoy them daily. Some have chosen a wide window that illuminates the colors with sunlight; others have a lighted cabinet in their dining room; while others still have a large wall display in their bedroom that greets them every morning with an array of rainbow colors.
Shelf support - Although each Degenhart owl only weighs around 6 oz (sometimes less and sometimes more), get a large amount together, and they are a force to be reckoned with. Glass can be incredibly heavy. Make sure if you have a wall shelf, that you use heavy-duty support brackets that can handle the weight. If you have to use drywall screws instead of screwing into wood studs, consider extra heavy-duty drywall screws and anchors. There are many options available on Amazon, like the ones here.
Securing the owls - You've finally picked the perfect display to fit your needs. Now you're concerned about accidentally knocking a Degenhart owl off or, heaven forbid, one of your cats suddenly figures out how to reach your shelf, breaking some owls in the process. Fortunately, there's a great solution called "Museum Putty." It's incredibly affordable, and once placed under your owls, they won't budge an inch. Our cats have tested it countless times, and each time it comes out victorious. The best part is that it's also removable and reusable. You can find it on Amazon by clicking the link here.
Repairing Your Owls
Oh no! You've found yourself with a broken owl. How do you repair it? First of all, take a deep breath. Accidents happen. A successful repair is possible. Just follow along, and in no time you will have your owl looking as good as new, or at least close! Try to locate the broken pieces. Be careful of sharp edges on the glass. You don't want to get cut. Gather the following supplies:
1. Latex gloves to protect your hands from glue.
2. A paper plate, a sheet of cardboard or something else that can cover your work area to protect it from drips.
3. toothpicks
4. rubbing alcohol (optional)
5. Paper towels.
6. Epoxy glue. These are our two favorite ones:
Gorilla 2 Part Epoxy, 5 minute set time (Pack of 2): To view on Amazon, please click here.
Devcon Epoxy, 5 minute set time (2 Bottles): To view on Amazon, please click here.
Start by putting on your latex gloves; you don't want to end up with your fingers stuck together! Next (this is optional), some people prefer to clean both sides of the break with rubbing alcohol. This ensures that there's no residue, so you can get a strong connection between the pieces. If that's something you'd like to do, simply stick a Q-tip in a small amount of alcohol, gently cleaning both sides of the glass that will be rejoined. Let both pieces completely dry and move on to the next step.
Get your epoxy glue out and mix thoroughly according to the directions. A paper plate makes a great palette to mix it on. You only need a very small amount of epoxy, about the size of a pea. Most epoxy requires equal amounts of resin and hardener. Use a toothpick as your mixing tool, and mix the resin and hardener for the required timeframe.
Now that your epoxy is mixed, you need to act fairly quickly before it sets up. Use a toothpick coated in a tiny amount of epoxy and coat it on one side of the break. You only need to apply it to one side, not both. Make sure to use a very thin layer; this ensures that the pieces fit cleanly together without leaving gaps. The thicker the layer, the higher the chance of a gap.
Now that you've applied the epoxy, gently but firmly press both pieces together and count to at least 30 seconds. If any epoxy pushes out between the connections, take a damp paper towel and wipe it away. A dry paper towel just gets stuck and doesn't work as well.
Your epoxy (if it's one of the recommended ones above) should set in about 5 minutes. It will still be malleable after this time frame, so use caution not to accidentally bump the newly attached pieces.
Set your owl off to the side in a safe location where it won't be disturbed. It needs to sit, preferably for 12 to 24 hours, to allow the epoxy to fully cure and reach maximum hardness. After that, the repair should be just as strong as the rest of the glass.
Congratulations! You have repaired your owl. You can now enjoy it for many more years to come. :)
One last note: Sometimes owls are unrepairable for one reason or another. Perhaps the pieces that broke off were lost, or they shattered into a million unrecoverable pieces. Many collectors at least have one such owl in their collection. So what do you do when this happens? You learn to embrace the unique flaws. Just like snowflakes, no two Degenhart owls are identical. Each one is entirely handmade, lending to subtle differences.
Thermal Shock
It's a term that many of us have never heard of. What is thermal shock? Thermal shock is when glass breaks due to an extreme difference in temperature across the surface of the glass. A good example would be when ice cubes are placed in a glass of warm water. They crack under thermal shock as the exterior surface increases in temperature much faster than the interior. The outer layer expands as it warms, while the interior remains largely unchanged. This rapid change in volume between different layers creates stresses in the ice that build until the force exceeds the strength of the ice, and a crack forms, sometimes with enough force to shoot ice shards out of the container. This is exactly what happens to glass when it goes from extremely cold temperatures to sudden warm ones.
What do you do to prevent this? If you have ordered glass during freezing temperatures, chances are your glass has been sitting in an unheated warehouse or the back of a delivery truck at some point during the shipment process. When your package arrives, it may be tempting to open it immediately. However, if your area has experienced below-freezing temperatures, the best thing you can do is set your package aside and let it slowly acclimate to the warmer inside environment for 12 to 24 hours. Ideally, allowing it to remain unopened overnight and opening it the next day would be the best choice. You've patiently waited several days for your special glass piece to arrive; it's worth it to wait one more if it prevents thermal shock from occurring.
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