Dyeing epoxy with liquid paint?

[JCAustralia]

Hi guys

I am working on a new boat and was wondering whether I could dye the epoxy with liquid paint (enamel or acrylic).

i know people dye their epoxy with coloured powder. I have some left over liquid paint and was wondering whether it would work the same as using powder pigments?

Thanks

JC

[siberianhusky]

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/adding-pigments-to-epoxy/

They test a number of different pigments in this article, powdered dye, enamel sign paint etc.

[properchopper]

I've wondered about this myself. After reading the link to the test/experiment I'm still scratching my head. I'd like to see if you have success using liquid paint. I have a cabinet full of various colors spray laquers and enamels that I've often thought of squirting a shot into some mixed epoxy. May do a little experiment today to see what happens

[TheShaughnessy]

I have sprayed some rustoleom paint into some 3m resin for a repair, everything cured fine , the color came out decent, not sure if is a professional look but it came out ok, looks good out on the water.

[siberianhusky]

What I get out of it is there is minimal effect on either hardness or adhesion with what they tested until you use 20% colour, in some cases the colour increased the adhesion.
Powdered dye doesn't completely dissolve in epoxy and has a grainy look.
Gotta epoxy my new Whiplash, I'll try mixing a bit of testors model enamel in some of the leftover West and see what happens. LOL won't try it on the boat yet!
From the sounds of that article you will not be able to add enough pigment to make it look like gelcoat.
Have to see what happens.
Funny I remembered that article from when reading about how to mold a whip canopy.

[properchopper]

Here we go, Team

Mixed up some G-Flex, added a fair amount of Testors blue enamel. Color came out nice (un-tinted G-Flex is yellow-orange).

Takes a few hours to set and all day to cure (max strength in 24 hours.) Crossed two chopstics & bonded the junction. Will report after the Cure. Speaking of

which :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzZ-Mgi1My4&feature=fvsr

DSC03878.JPG DSC03876.JPG DSC03879.JPG

[JCAustralia]

Thanks for doing the test Tony :

[Hydrozz]

I started using Testors paint to color epoxy more than 10 years ago. You dont need to use a lot to color regular 2 part epoxy. The bad thing is, this paint in not made to use where it will be exposed to the sun. The white mixed with epoxy to repair gelcoat looks great, but will soon turn yellow. I have used to many, many times on boats and others things with no problems. My 2 cents.

[properchopper]

Well the epoxy cured rock-hard. Seems like it's a "go" 'tho I believe I used too much paint- probably less will do the trick and still provide the desired tint.

[jcald2000]

10% BY WEIGHT Tony.

[properchopper]

10% BY WEIGHT Tony.

Agreed - I just over-did it. Way more careful mixing Martinis

[Mike Caruso]

Did you try food coloring?

[drwayne]

Testors paint has a enamel, acrylic, epoxy, water base ?
It's not a name seen down in Au.

I have used solvent based ink with success.. the stuff used to print ( for eg ) WALLYMART on outside your plastic shopping bags.

[viper1]

Just a comment on the powder dye for epoxy and not well mixing with epoxy or 'grainy looks'; To use the powder correctly it should be dissolved in acetone or thinners first usually, and then added to the already mixed epoxy/hardener amount.

The color pastes for epoxy is epoxy ingredient itself, in other words it should be added to your epoxy only, then add the hardener to prevent incorrect mixing ratio's.

And for white gelcoats; Any epoxy will yellow over time, some more, some less. Non-yellowing gelcoats are usually polyester based.

Hope that helps some...


Edit; @drwayne: Testors is a (plastic) model paint, widely available at hobby shops in AU, they have a enamel range, and a acrylic that I know of. Not sure about epoxy or water-based, unknown to me.

[capnswanny]

So, do you guys think mixing in paint from a rattle can would also work?
I'm glassing the interior of an SV27 and would like to add a black tint to it.
Thanks!
Corey