Hello there,
I'm doing some experiments on re-painting a stripped blank.
My aim is to rebuild its original aspect, I mean a clear finish with semi-transparent dye to keep graphite spirals visible with a caramel-like color.
It seems I've found the right finish (acrylic paint in 2k flavour, to be spayed with an airbrush).

The problem now is the dye... usual epoxy pigments/inks are not strong enough to get a nice color, I need to find something vivid but transparent too to mimic its original factory aspect.

I'm thinking to have a try on leather dyes compatible with acrylic.

Any suggestion?

thanks

Gia,
Here you go:

[www.epodex.us]

Thanks Roger,
I have already tried all resin-specific dye type available on the market, both alchol-based and ink-based. To achieve the desired effect I should use the same amount of dye and resin, resulting in a chewy honey which is difficult to catalyze correctly.
I'd need a more concentrated dye, maybe not specific for the epoxy world but compatible with it.

Call Lamiglas and ask them what they use, if you go to there factory tour vid on Youtube you can see them doing it, maybe 5 seconds to dye each blank.

I've watched Lamiglas' video many times (always funny to me) and I can see the blanks passing thru a rubber disc with a center hole and a black goo covering the blank entirely, that doesn't help me much, it's compicated.
I can try writing to Lamiglas but maybe they would decline my request because of industrial process secrets and so..
G.Loomis declined my request a couple of years ago so I stopped asking to manufacturers.

Thanks anyway

Perhaps I've found a way to do the job.

Using an acrylic 2k transparent paint (NOT EPOXY) and dosing 6.5 grams of paint (it's a 10:3, so 5g resin + 1.5 hardener, in my case) and 40 drops of liquid acrylic pigment (for one coat, if you need a more intense color apply a second coat). 6.5 grams are enough for one coat of half a 7" spinning rod.

I MADE IT WITH A NORMAIL AIRBRUSH!

And, obviously, a final clear coat for protection and glass effect.

It's elastic, thin and resistant to salt and moisture, discrete scratch-resistance, very close to a industrially-made rod, with beautiful graphite texture thru it. Once mixed it looks milky but it gets clear faster while curing.

I'm happy, I hope these experiments would help someone...

Pictured samples have no finish clear coat, just blank color. Once finished they're even better




This is the product I've choosen, based on suggestions by Francesco (the owner) after having displayed my needs:
[www.resinplan.com]

Sorry, it's italian only, buy certainly you have many other manufacturers/sellers with similar products in your country

cheers



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/03/2023 02:23AM by Gianmaria Vigo.