Other tinting options...

[warreng8170]

I know that the popular options are Pearl Ex and the powders from Coastal Scents, but what are you guys using for creating flat (non-pearlescent) color. I want to try to make some blanks of some local schools and some of them just wouldn't look right with the pearl effect.

 

[G1Pens]

Coastal Scents has non-mica/pearl powders.

 

[Phunky_2003]

Testors paint will give a flat color.

Also most resin dyes are without pearlesence.

 

[Buzzzz4]

Any oil based paint will work or dyes. Testors samples are a great start.

 

[PenMan1]

Georgia Red Clay (the best is found on the muddy banks of Lake Oconee) makes a very nice, rich, and interesting, deep addative to blanks. It must be fully dried (microwave, when the wife is out of town) before adding to resin, makes a beautiful pen blank. That red brick look takes on a life of it's own.

Rednecks have been using GA red clay for beautiful "flat" casting colors forever. It really gives an nice, earthy, flat look. It is one of my favorite materials for casting.

 

[clapiana]

Ah found memories of that GA red clay I probably can still get some from my old BDUs from my ventures doing ops in OCS through the woods of Ft Benning. If I had only known :0. If I had known about casting I also could have tried to get "Jake" the snake who we swear survived off MREs and was longer then me....when you saw him the whole unit moved quickly haha

 

[BRobbins629]

I use Mixol liquid pigments all the time for solid color. Usually takes a little more catalyst or some heat to cure as it does interfere with the reaction time, but the colors are real nice. You have to add enough to make the blanks opaque or add some solid pigment ( I use titanium dioxide to lighten colors). Get my at Woodcraft though I'm sure others sell them.

 

[PR_Princess]

If the colors are pretty basic (Yellow, red, blue, green, brown, black, white..) you can get opaque dyes for resin under the Castin Craft name. (Most Hobby Lobbys should carry these).

US Composites also carry a line of opaque pigments for resin. Bit more of a range..
http://www.uscomposites.com/pigments.html

 

[EBorraga]

I get the dyes from uscomposites when I order resin. Their colors are very nice. I also use castin craft dye and some oil based paints from Hobby Lobby. It just requires a little more mekp and heat to cure.

 

[clapiana]

Those us composite paints work fantastic just a very little bit on the tip of a stir stick is needed

 

[bitshird]

US Composites resin dyes, they have Opaque and transparent, and a one ounce bottle lasts a long time, it even mixes well with epoxy..

 

[juteck]

The Woodcraft in Charlotte stocks the Mixol colors. Some other Woodcraft stores do not. I've only tried blue and red - both have worked fine for me.

 

[Jim Burr]

powder coat powder from HF. Thin on color choices, but it works well for a solid color.

 

[louie68]

check out mudhole.com they also offer color dye pigment.

 

[warreng8170]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. When I get around to ordering a full gallon from US Composites I'll add some of their dyes to the order. As for the the Testors, that seems like a great option. I have a hobby shop just down the street from my office that carries the full palette.

Can any of you give me an estimate of how much Testors paint to use per ounce of resin? What has worked for you? I want enough to make the resin opaque, but not so much that I create a problem with curing.