Thread: black epoxy resin

Originally Posted by Dengue

Can anyone please suggest where I might get this dynamic pigment paste for making black epoxy?

This is where work gets it: https://secure.solidsolutions.com.au...cts.php?cat=14

Many thanks elanjacobs - this stuff looks good, but expensive, but they want $20 for posting a little 50gm bottle worht $12 via Aust Post to Townsville, NQ.

Do you know if it is water soluble or spirit based, and do you dilute it if you are only mixing up a small amount of epoxy eg 1 tablespoon full?

Originally Posted by Dengue

Many thanks elanjacobs - this stuff looks good. Is it water soluble or spirit based?

No idea. It says to add metho if it dries out. That help?

You could try black powder pigment from an art shop. I've used it successfully with Techniglue.

Photocopier toner powder works too...

Off gassing by the wood will cause bubbles in the resin. To prevent this, warm the wood up to about 30 deg in the sun or warm room then move it into a cooler area where the wood will slowly cool down. Apply the resin as the wood slowly cools so the resin is drawn into the wood rather than expanding gas from within the wood being forced out. You want the work about 30 deg so the resin flows well but in a situation where it starts to cool. Dont lay up resin in the sun.
Tony

Another reason the epoxy might have gone gray is simple, microscopic scratches from sanding.
Stone sculptures look like that before the final polishing. Same deal as going from
a 4k water stone to honing a wood carving gouge.

Be absolutely fastidious when you apply the epoxy with good ventilation.
I have not been able to work with that stuff for more than 40 years.
Every 5 years or so I try again.
Usually feel comfortable after 2-3 days.

Originally Posted by Robson Valley

Be absolutely fastidious when you apply the epoxy with good ventilation.
I have not been able to work with that stuff for more than 40 years.
Every 5 years or so I try again.
Usually feel comfortable after 2-3 days.

If anything, Robson is understating the safety issues regarding epoxy. Some people get sensitised to it over a period of time and it is serious and, probably, irreversible.

A friend who used to build cold molded dinghies as a hobby got highly senstised. If he is exposed to wet epoxy he quickly develops a bright red ring around his mouth, red "racoon" eyes, sweats, elevated pulse, spots and flashes in his peripheral vision and severe migraine that lasts three or four days.

I am lightly sensitised and I get a twitch in my left eye that lasts for about 24 hours and reminds me to be more careful with epoxy.

Rubber gloves or two pairs of latex gloves, minimal exposed skin, eye protection and a good charcoal filter are the minimum that I would consider.

Fair Winds

Graeme

You're so right, Graeme. I would not use epoxy in a cyclone. Nasty #####.
While epoxy adhesives are fantastic, I have no choice but to look at any and all possible alternatives.

The interesting thing is that several of the major automotive makers (Ford & GM)
figured this out. The contact sensitivity to epoxies doesn't affect dark skinned people.
So, everybody in the upholstery & trim divisions was not Caucasian.

Only thing that I can add to this is that Feast Watson - Woodstains - Prooftint does NOT work for colouring epoxy, the epoxy won't set.... DAMHIK.