I've been reading is some of the archives about cobalt. This stuff is supposed to give you some mean resin swirls because when it gels, it really goes fast(clearer lines). I know for a pigmented swirl, UV cure cannot fully cure without some added MEKP. In the past, I have used some mekp in UV cure pigmented lam resin, glassed, and set it in the sun only to find that for the most part, my lam job was completely hardened. My question is would this process have the same effect as using cobalt? Kensurf and Vader were on top of this past forum, so any advice from you guys would be sweet. thanks.
Coblat helps with mudding when you take to many pulls to get the resin off. You don’t need it if you don’t scrap the glass alot. I use it sometimes. I think by the time you get it outside the bennifit is lost.
This was done without cobalt. just as an example.
thank you for the props
but Vader and Obiwan are the guys with the shizzles
I have never used cobalt myself as is not convienient to get (I havent tried)
my understanding is that cobalt helps the colors "pop" and aides the cureing of the resin (reaction time)
I dont know what effect that would have on crispness of color separation
a lot of working with colors depends on timing and pulling off the resin with a clean squeegee
there are many tricks and skills ,,,,,, we learn as we go!
From what Obiwon has told me..he uses the cobalt more for the wait time with cutting the laps. I'm not sure it speeds up the gel time but I do know that once it starts to go..it really goes. Cutable in just a few minutes. Anyone that has done cutlaps knows there's that perfect optimal time to cut the lap (minimal shatter but you can actually cut it) so cobalt gives them a little more control. Meaning they're not standing around checking the resin every few minutes to see if its hard enough. You kick it so it's going of in say 9 or ten minutes. By 15 minutes your not getting a blade through it. With cobalt you could literally time it. Once it gells..get ready!! Heard it can make the resin more brittle but I could be wrong. :-)
what ever happend to dem guys Vader and Obiwan?
I realy do miss their post's and resin work pics
Vadar is working at Christiansen surfboards now. I hope he doesn’t mind me saying that. He still making some great looking boards. I don’t think he is doing as much abstract with chris’s boards
Re; the cobalt issue.We used to use it all the time when doing gloss resin pinlines mainly.Cobalt is classed as a promoter.Because gloss is generally applied thinly in comparison to other resin applications it aided the gel time without adding extra mekp.The end result not being as brittle ( weak , whatever)Most resins contain some form and or amount of cobalt( forget the tech term) peroxide in their makeup.A word of caution here though.Add cobalt before mekp.And mix thouroughly including nothing remaining on sides etc; of mix container.It can and very likely will explode or be very nasty.Like all these type of additives they need to be added correctly.Ask your dealer.Get a data sheet.It's all freely available.I have seen the results of wrongly or slackly mixed chemicals.
Sorry to sound Mr Downer here,but it can be dangerous.If used properly great extra.
Regards Steve Rice
Well said Steve..