I have this cheap binder clip from Amazon, which wasn’t actually cheap imo, but whatever. I like the cat. I’d like to keep using it, but the “brass” paint is rubbing off, and it smells like metal. I think it reacts with the oils in my hands or something. I’ve only been using it for a few weeks.
Is there something I can do to keep it looking nice and perhaps prevent it from wearing down so quickly?
Alternatively, there’s always Shellac - it’s kind of a lost artform now but it’s a really awesome material to use.
It’s a lost art form because it’s not easy to work with and you often have to buy it from specialty stores to get the good stuff. It’s made from insect carapaces. I use it when refinishing guitars for an aged, amber appearance.
I’m not sure how much of a “lost artform” it can be when you can just buy a can of the stuff at Home Depot.
(Sure, that isn’t “the good stuff” as per @Orbituary@lemmy.world, but IMO it’s not a big deal. “Clear” and “thin” are the correct choices for OP anyway, so the only disadvantage to this premixed spray compared to buying flakes and mixing it yourself is that whatever is leftover in the can will probably go bad before OP has a use for it. Also, I’ve found spray shellac to be very easy to work with, but I suppose YMMV.)