Thread: Opal Take 1

That's a very nice pen Toni.

That looks cool Toni, shame about the paint on the tubes, but as you say, it's part of the learning process

Tis a pity abou the paint but as DJ said its the learning thing

I am going to do some when I get back

You should be happy with your first attempt

Yes I am Sam except I am kicking myself because rather than setting just this one and trying it. I set 3 up at once. DOH! but anyway
Toni

Toni you probably need to use something like engine paint that is heat proof.

Toni ,the pen looks pretty good,congratulations.is the opal dust or chips?. As for the paint have you thought of nail polish.It is cheap at the cheap shops and comes in lots of colors.

it is actually true opal chips..have heard of that but no cheap shops in Winton.
Toni

Stunning, Toni. Great work as usual.

I'm somewhat surprised that the setting heat would beat up the paint, as it doesn't have anyplace to go. Perhaps a chemical effect? A Q&D Google of [resin over paint] provided a link to a crafts project from Kodak: http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consu...ringtime.jhtml (many pages down on the hit list).

They don't mention the type of resin, but advise using acrylic paint on the subject. The resin is also only a thin coating, not a bulk casting. Maybe your resin supplier can provide some better guidance.

Joe

Joe, I used poster paint because it what I had but common sense tells me I need something stronger
Toni

G'day Toni,
That turned out really nice, taking the paint into consideration. One other thing you may want to do is rough up the brass tube a tiny bit with some 1000 grit. It won't leave true scratches, but it will help the paint bond.
As for the paint, if you have a hobby store close by, look for craft metal paint.

Cheers,

Rick

G'day Toni,
Not a bad first effort with the opal. Bad luck about the paint blistering, like others have said either a metal paint or a high temp engine paint, come in lots of different colours, even matt black as well. How high were the opal chips? Did you have to go much larger in diameter to not cut into the opal itself?
Darren

yes I did the middle I noticed I could of went bit thinner but not much but the edges were hitting the stone and it was bluntening the tools badly.
that why I stopped. Darren if you see where it curbes down to the bushes that is where the stones were protruding on both ends.
Toni

Good first effort Toni, seeing I have not tried anything like that cannot give much advice, keep at it. Amos

Originally Posted by lubbing5cherubs

Joe, I used poster paint because it what I had but common sense tells me I need something stronger

Poster paint? You mean the water-based stuff?

I'm surprised it turned out as well as it did... (which is pretty damned good for a prototype ) acrylics are the go with casting, IMHO.