Crystal Crafter Hot Fix Crystal Setter

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Reported by Jenny Barnett Rohrs

Walking around my local quilt expo, I saw a throng of people mobbing a demo table. Curious as to what could cause such a crowd to gather, I sauntered up and came across a shop demonstrating the Victoria Lynn Crystal Crafter. They were setting Swarovski crystals onto art quilts? Oh yeah....had to have it.

(Note: the "Victoria Lynn" line seems to have been discontinued, but the manufacturer, Kandi Corp, still sells the same product under the "Crystal Crafter" name.)

"Hot-fix" crystals are ones that come with a heat-sensitive adhesive on the back- otherwise known as "iron-on" crystals. But instead of trying to lay out your design and heat them all at once with a big, clunky iron, you place them one at a time, creating more precision and less room for crystals nudging out of place. Made sense to me!


So, after returning home, I opened up the package- the kit comes with a package of gen-u-wine Swarovski hot-fix crystals, the setter, and "hands-free" holder, and a set of 7 tips that accommodate different crystal sizes.

I plugged in my wand and let it heat up a bit, and then sprinkled out my crystals on the plastic cutting mat I use as a work surface, faceted side up. You place the wand over the crystal, give it a second to liquify the adhesive, and then pick it up off the surface and place it on your project. I started with fabric for an art-doll I'm embellishing.

It only took a second or two for it to heat, and then, DAB! Right onto the fabric. In another second it was cool. I tried to dislodge it with my fingernail, to test how strong the adhesive was, and it wouldn't budge.

Next I tried it on paper, as a teeny little embellishment on a bookmark. Also good. However, by the time I'd done a half a dozen crystals, there was some gummy residue building up on the wand tip; when I'd place the crystal, it wouldn't come out of the wand! However, there are small slits in the wand, just big enough for a straight pin. Things get a bit tricky when you have to hold the wand with one hand and then use the other to slide a pin into the wand and then gently pry the crystal out. It's a little bit of a juggling act, but still WAY more precise than using an iron.

The other aspect I wasn't thrilled with was the "hands-free holder." It's just a little stand to keep you from scorching your table, but the wand only balances there precariously. I use a ceramic mug filled with vermiculite on my workbench to hold my soldering iron, and I'd recommend that if you don't have a soldering iron stand.
So after trying paper and fabric, I thought I'd try some other, more non-traditional surfaces.



In this photo, I used the crystals on polymer clay. I was a little worried that the heat from the tool might burn the clay, but it worked well.

I also used the setter to attach crystals to embellished guitar picks- which I really liked. The adhesive wasn't as strong on the slick, smooth surface of the picks, and one of the crystals fell off. I'll need to experiment more with that idea.

Pros:

• Heats up quickly.
• Many tips included in kit.
• Easy to use.
• Great price point- under $17.00.

Cons:

• It's hot! Watch your fingers, and use a heat-resisitant non-stick craft mat to work on.
• Stand is sub-standard.
• Extra crystals are sold separately, and they can be pricey.

Available from Kandi Corp, Artfire.com, and Tutu.com.

On the whole, the Crystal Crafter Hot-Fix Crystal setter is easy and fun to use, and is more than worth the money for a cool tool in my craft arsenal! Have you used it? What do you think?