What kind of paint do manufacturers use on their blanks? After I strip a rod down to the raw graphite, I put on a coat of spar urethane using a drip tube. But I want to add some color but have no idea what type of paint to use.

I would think that a small amount of paint pigment would color the urethane to whatever you wanted.

Mike

I use Plasti-Kote automotive touch up paint with good results.

I've painted 4 this year (all white) using Testor's model paint with the solvent poured off. I mixed it into Permagloss. I'm reasonably sure that this would work with the spar urethane, too.

Putter
Williston, ND

It would certainly work. Ralph O'Quinn has recommended Titanium Dixoide for tinting any finish to white. This would make good sense. When I've done it with paint pigment, I find that it's hard to get a true and very bright white instead of cream or beige unless I use a lot of the pigment. The less stuff you add to your varnish, urethane or epoxy the better, so if you need white, I'd go with the titanium dioxide.

For most other, darker colors, the pigment out of jar of Testors enamel seems to do pretty well.

...........

Ya know, now that I think about it, I didn't use Testor's. I used that hardware store white pigment (also called 'titanium dioxide'). Sorry about the misinformation; head's MT today... or something like that.

Putter
Williston, ND

Thanks for yall's comments.
I have tried Taps pigments in the Spar Urethane and that doesn't work....it won't mix. I will give some paint pigments a try.
Any yes Tom I do want some white, so I will try the titanium dioxide.

When y'all say "spar urethane" is this the same stuff you can buy in Home Depot or any home improvement store? I guess it holds up pretty well considering the amount of people here who have mentioned using it.

Thanks,
Steve

The same Stan. I use Helmsman by Minwax.

Regards......Doug@
TCRds

I've had no luck at all locating titanium dioxide. I've tried all the local paint stores in my area and no one has it available. Putter, you mention hardware store white pigment is the same. Is this something I need to ask for or is it available off the shelf?

It's the (liquid) white pigment they add to paint to get the color that's needed going by their charts. I use these pigments for marbling; they're the brightest non-metallic, non-pearlescent pigments that I've found yet.

I haven't been able to find the powdered titanium dioxide yet either.

Putter
Williston, ND

Thanks...I will try it out. I did my first attempt at marbleizing last night. I used a wooden dowel rod as my guinea pig. Turned out pretty good using Testor's .

That's the way to do it, Don. Practice a few first; try an ink pen-then you'll have something when it's done.

Putter
Williston, ND