Casting Question - Adding paint to the mix?

[tk5378]

For all you Caster-Masters out there...I'm thinking about a casting project I'm gearing up for and had a question about the effectiveness/safety of something.

I've added metal powders to 1:1 resin mixes before for a metallic effect, and I've added liquid dyes for colors, as well as various things like sawdust for textures, but I was wondering what might happen if I added liquid metallic enamel or acrylic paint to the mix? Something like Testors enamel paint, maybe a few drops, to add coloring and what-not to the casting. Is it safe to do it? Is there a combustion issue? Will it cure slower or even cure at all?

Has anyone done it before, and if so what were your results? I'm not afraid of running an experiment and it failing, but I don't want to waste my time and supplies if someone else has done it before with negative results.

I'm planning on using Alumilite 1:1 resin and probably Testors metallic enamel paint, since I have a lot of that laying around.

Input? Thoughts? Past Experiences?

 

[tk5378]

Well, since there was no answer from anyone, I guess I'll just give it a shot tonight and see what happens...

 

[exoray]

Water based paints will react violently with the resin causing it erupt like a volcano right before it kicks, good way to replicate volcanic Pumice...

I have heard that lacquers will work though, and other solvent bases paints would likely be a 50/50 shot....

 

[Vaderman]

Yeah, water ruins resin.
It can sometimes take more then a day for people to see a thread and reply too.
You may get better answers as more people see this...

Meanwhile, how did your test go?

 

[stapleton13]

There are also these powders that work really nice.

Alumilite - Products - Dyes - Fillers - Alumilite Metallic Powder

 

[Finhead]

Acrylic urethane paint (automotive grade paint) works perfect in urethane and ployester resin.

 

[tk5378]

Holding off on the test for now...decided to make a different mold for the testing rather than chance ruining my original one for my project.

I knew water-based like acrylic might have 'volcano' like effects, but I wondered how much would cause it...1 drop or 0.0000000001 drop? But I wasn't sure what the water content of something like the oil based enamels was.

Thanks for the tip on the powders, I've used some similar ones before. I like them but for what I'm working on I'm not sure I have enough time to get them in...sort of a last minute christmas thing that was not well planned out in advance. None of my local suppliers keep those in stock.

I'll be doing the tests in the morning, so I'll post some pics and results by lunch I hope.

 

[exoray]

1 drop or 0.0000000001 drop?

I guess that is all relative, but it doesn't take much you might not get full out eruption but you will likely get foaming with just a little contamination... I had 5 gallons of resin get water contamination just sitting in the jug for a few months after opening... I boiled the water off and the resin is happy once again...

 

[tk5378]

Well, Testor's Oil Based Enamel, metallic silver, had very little effect on the casting. No bubbling or other negative outcomes, but also not what I was hoping for. The metallic effect seemed to float to the middle and the top, leaving just a few swirls of neat metal-like areas on the top (back) and turned the rest of it gray.

Oh well, so much for that experiment. I'm just going to do some dry brushing for the desired effect on my project. Maybe next time I'll plan ahead and use the metallic powders.

 

[Hovito loincloth]

Well, Testor's Oil Based Enamel, metallic silver, had very little effect on the casting. No bubbling or other negative outcomes, but also not what I was hoping for. The metallic effect seemed to float to the middle and the top, leaving just a few swirls of neat metal-like areas on the top (back) and turned the rest of it gray.

Oh well, so much for that experiment. I'm just going to do some dry brushing for the desired effect on my project. Maybe next time I'll plan ahead and use the metallic powders.

Could you try a thixotrope and thicken it up to brush a layer inside the mould and then fill the remaining void up with normal resin. Gravity is usually a right pain with metal powders.