Christmas Present! and I need ideas....

[Tubajug]

This was a gag gift from my sister-in-law, but actually is one of my favorite Christmas presents I received this year: a home-made four foot long conducting baton! It's simply a dowel rod painted white with twine wrapped and hot-glued into the shape of a bulb. I thougth it was pretty ingenious. My question is: does anyone have any ideas for something I can either dip the bulb into or something to put around it (glue, resin, epoxy, etc..) that would keep it together? I'm just afraid that the hot glue won't hold it together forever and I'd really like to keep this. Any ideas?

Here's the baton next to our front door:


A close up of the bulb:


Thanks!