Wonder if anyone can recommend easy cheap nothing fancy DIY way to dye a small amount of epoxy.

I glued up a NFC carbonfiber IPS grip. Was not liking the eva ends. Found the american tackle G2 grip winding checks fit the NFC grips perfectly. I finished the end of the rear grip and the butt with these. Unfortunately the smallest check was way larger than blank diameter.

So I used a masking tape bushing to position it then piled on rod bond. Plan was to glue up with rodbond to help fill the gap then go back later with rod finish or a clear liquid epoxy. Don't need any strength just want to fill the gap level it off. With the rod vertical will level off nice giving a nice finished edge to wrap against.

I was not thinking that the rod bond is going to show through my clear leveling/topcoat. Also the difference is not hidden by my thread wrap.

So any tips to dye epoxy or rod finish black when you only need maybe a 1/4 teaspoon? Thanks

I have used powder paints for jigs to dye rod finish successfully. Painting or using a water based marker and then finishing might also work.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/2020 09:20AM by Ross Pearson.

Can also use the marbling pigment sold by Mudhole. You can also use the pigment in Testor’s enamel paint. Let the pigment settle out and remove the carrier. A very small amount is all that is necessary, I use a drop or two from the end of a tooth pick that was dipped into the pigment. The powder paint also works well.
Norm

Any dry pigment from an artist supply store also works.

Chalk

I use black epoxy dye. It is thick, like heavy paint. A little bit goes a long way.

This is a complete set of dye:

[www.rockler.com]

[www.amazon.com]

Here is black epoxy pigment:

[www.amazon.com]

At one time, I worked for a major military contractor. We used two-part epoxy that had a shelf life. If the epoxy was beyond its usable date, it was either thrown away, or given to workers. I took some home. I had broken the taillight on my can. I looked up the cost of a replacement and the cost was ridiculous. I made a mold of the taillight lens with wax. I mixed the epoxy and added oil-based paste food coloring to get the taillight lens color. The epoxy set to the proper shape. I drilled mounting holes, and that epoxy lens lasted for years afterward. The paste food coloring didn't degrade the epoxy at all.

Paste food coloring, usually used to color icing, or frosting, is inexpensive, highly concentrated, and readily available. Just another option.

Tight lines and frisky fish

RJF

One of the best tints I have used is the Alumi lite tint for their casting resins. It mixes well with epoxy.

Michael,
I agree with Norman and quite often tint finish epoxy to produce a very small trim ring. While I do not bother with allowing the pigment to settle and then remove the vehicle floating on top, it sounds to be a good idea. The tiny bottles of Testers do not take-up much room, come in a multitude of colors (even metallic) and won’t break the bank. Whatever is chosen for the pigment, make sure it is oil-based and NOT water-based!!!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Not had time to get around to buying any of the options mentioned. So I did a trial run with on hand item. I took some natural lump charcoal and sanded some dust off with coarse sand paper. gradually mixed some into both rodbond and a batch of five minute epoxy. Both look fine five minute set no problem. Waiting for the rodbond to set but it appears to be on it's way as well.

Michael;
I certainly do not see a problem with using charcoal dust; it could be considered poor-man’s-Carbon-fiber and who knows, the epoxy may be stronger than without the additional carbon! Henry Ford was quoted as saying “I don’t care what color my cars are as long as they are black”. Now if you were to find designer-color briquettes, you’d really be on to something!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.