i have read what is on this site for information on marbelizing and yet i have a question. Several you have said if you buy testors to pour off the top solvent caus all one needs is the pigment. I went to my local walmart today and looked at testors enamel. And i was supprised at what i saw 7/8ths of the bottle is clear liquid and then at the very bottom about 1/8th of the bottle is pigment. Is this little bit all i need? Seems like such a waist if i am going to throw away most of it. Do i have my facts right or do i need to stir it up???? thanks in advance. Also several have said don 't waist your time with acrylics. Why is that. Do they not set up? Are they junk if so how come/????
thanks to all
ike

You are only throwing away solvent. And there is not use in keeping something that you do not need. Don't consider that you're wasting anything, consider that you're getting what you need. It only take a few drops of the pigment to color your epoxy.

How much is a bottle of Testor's paint now? $1. I wouldn't worry about "wasting" something that is no use to you anyway. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish. You'll get a lot of mileage about that small amount of pigment.

The acrylics can work. I've had reasonably good success with them. But, they tend to make the epoxy cure a bit softer. I would stay with TAP or Testor's types if I could find the color I want in either.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2006 04:19PM by Tom Kirkman.

I can answer the first part. Yes just use the pigment at the bottom. The acrylic part Putter and the masters can answer for you.

Like Tom said, Acrylics are strictly hit and miss. I have had some work and others result in a mess. If you want to try them, test on scrap first. You'd be safer to stick to others. There are so many options, why bother with a potential problem when learning. Like Tom and Doc said, pour it off! You only need a tad on a toothpick to get the color that you want. There is an article in the library that explains it.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Try the Pearl-Ex powder pigments. You can get a sample set with many colors cheap
at most good craft stores. Some sample sets have a dozen colors!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Ike, if you pour the solvent off and leave it off, the pigment left in the Testor's jar will harden fairly soon. I've taken to reaching through the solvent with something and getting a drop of the pigment. I wait and let the solvent drip off the stick I'm using and then add it to the epoxy.

The pigment in the bottom of these jars vs. the stirred up paint makes for a much brighter, sharper color to these old eyes.

Acrylics in epoxy? Turns snotty and is difficult to work with. You can get any color in an enamel that you can get in an acrylic if you look around. And it's sooooo much easier to work with. I know those craft stores are chock full of all those colors of inexpensive acrylics and it's so darned tempting. Don't do it.

Putter
Williston, ND

LOL! ....All I ever use is acrylic!

My wife does oil painting and as a result I have a supply of paints that work great and look great with no pouring off of solvents.

i guess in comparison to thread it is about the same. What do you guys do on guides then? any pictures??? thanks for all you advice and help. ike