How to "smoke" acrylic?
- Thread starter Funky
- Start date
SD Studios
Well-Known Member
FIRST: you chop up the acrylic really fine. Make sure you get all of those little seeds!
Then roll it up really tight and LIGHT 'ER UP!
Gives ya a GREAT buzz! :love
And make sure you share with your alien head! Don't bogart that acrylic!!!
Then roll it up really tight and LIGHT 'ER UP!
Gives ya a GREAT buzz! :love
And make sure you share with your alien head! Don't bogart that acrylic!!!
rkpetersen
Sr Member
Dude! :cool
I know people "smoke" glass by using a sandblaster.
I don't know if this same principle can be applied to acrylic.
I don't know if this same principle can be applied to acrylic.
You "Frost" glass with a sandblaster, not smoke. What are YOU smoking?:wacko
There are a number of spray-on window tints and if that fails a light dusting of semi flat black paint will give the desired effect. Test on a scrap of clear material to get the desired effect.
There are a number of spray-on window tints and if that fails a light dusting of semi flat black paint will give the desired effect. Test on a scrap of clear material to get the desired effect.
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If you are talking frosting, yeah, you can do it with a light sandblasting or very fine sand paper but either method will be splotchy. You can also buy spray on frosting which will be a bit better.
If you are actually talking about coloring the acrylic...? You can purchase translucent spray paint for glass. Only other way I know is to dye the acrylic using hot water and your desired tint.
If you are actually talking about coloring the acrylic...? You can purchase translucent spray paint for glass. Only other way I know is to dye the acrylic using hot water and your desired tint.
I noticed a alien head that had a white pearl effect to it. I think they still make an acrlic white pearl paint by createx. So you could use an airbrush, or touch up gun to apply the paint. The trick is spraying it on even, but if you screw up you could wipe it off with alcohol. Since its non-solvent based, it shouldn't hurt the clear plastic at all. You will still need to add some transparent black, to the front, back, and sides, from what I recall. Then spray it with a clear coat, to protect the paint. Tamayia ( I know I didn't spell that right! ) has a real nice smoked black paint, that looks real good as well. No matter what you should spray some test panels, to make sure what your using will work. Also with it being transparent, you have the luxury of painting from the inside, so it will look nice and shiny on the outside.
I think the best paint for the job, would be automotive paints, but not everyone has access for using that paint. It breaks up, and lays out so much easier than acrlic's. Then again, that's my opinion!
I think the best paint for the job, would be automotive paints, but not everyone has access for using that paint. It breaks up, and lays out so much easier than acrlic's. Then again, that's my opinion!
BlackMarketMagi
Well-Known Member
Acetone applied to clear plastic will leave a smokey effect. It would probably be difficult to do a large surface evenly unless you dipped it.
I've used Model Masters Clear transparent black window tint and it works OK. Trick is getting it on evenly. I have never used it on anything that big though and i would be scared to try it. It's pretty much a one time deal. Maybe you can get some acrylic sheet and experiment. Just don't forget to mask the outside of the dome.
dropshipbob
Master Member
Funky, you might want to clarify, are you wanting to "tint" the dome (make it look darkened like a limos windows) or are you wanting to "frost" it (make it look cloudy)?
SingleSeat
Well-Known Member
From what I have seen that option is do-able, but you're limited to the size of the dipping pot. If we're talking about a 1:1 Alien head, that would some pot! Then there's the matter of the wife wondering what on God's earth you are doing, like you're own personal EPA representative. The temperature has to be just right, so you also need a way to be able to measure it at a number something like 204deg (which isn't exactly on your garden variety thermometer). While you may be able to adjust the amount of tint, or darkness, with this process, it will never be as durable as native tinted acrylic and its scratch-resistance is low.
Airbrushing clear on the inside of the clear part sounds like a good alternative from Knightjar, but yeah, we need to clear up what you want...tint vs. cloudy.
SwampDonkey
Well-Known Member
I used some black, white, and silver and painted the inside of my dome with an airbrush. I went for the film look and not the HCG or Sideshow look. Came out really well.
Not really an option as this is the dome that came with the head.
Upon closer inspection, it does appear that it's not really a smokey color but as mentioned more of a pearl effect. The advice about rubbing it down with acetone sounds pretty good. I'll do atest shot and report back with the results.
Thatnks for all the advice, guys. Some good stuff here. :thumbsup
Yah Mons!
You don't get off till you cough!
Stop bogarting that and puff, puff pass Steve!
You don't get off till you cough!
Stop bogarting that and puff, puff pass Steve!
ONEYE
Sr Member
I thought it was puff, puff, puff pass?
bluerealm
Sr Member
You can dye it with clothing dye if you can find a pot big enough to put it in. Mix up some water and clothing dye then heat the water up to about 150 degrees. Put in the piece and wait about 30 min... check it if its not dark enough then leave it in longer. It will soke up the dye and tint the plastic but will still be clear. Tamiya smoke works well too, but visibility will be less than the dye method.
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