I’m doing a ding repair on a Harbour Rich Chew model that has black pigment panels.
The plan is to add black pigment to sanding resin (poly), and then adding styrene so I get a good flow.
What I’m not sure of, is how much pigment to add to get a solid opaque panel without any see thru, while not adding too much to effect resin quality.
Secondly, I know I really have to increase the amount of catalyst, but unsure of how much to add.
Thanks
Before you add the catalyst, put your pigment in and mix well. Then, brush a little out on a foam scrap or other suitably white surface. If there’s not good coverage add more pigment. Keep repeating until you get the desired result. I’d go easy on the styrene.
I always had better results using gloss resin.
Pay attention to Cleanlines. He’s been there.
Cleanlines is right.
Gloss is better.
Harder resin.
I add a little more surfacing agent.
And some Cobalt too.
Lots of pigment makes for deeper color.
Too much catalyst can cause the wax to burn off while drying.
Thanks for all the advice. Definitely accept all knowledge bestowed upon me.
I’ll go with gloss resin (I thought it was just sanding resin with added styrene, guess not) and see about adding cobalt. Not sure on availability, but will check on it. Also, I was afraid to add too much pigment in fear I would have trouble getting it to kick. I will make a test batch before applying to board to check work time.
Barry listed the complete formula. Glossing resin, plenty of pigment, a squirt of wax, then roast it with cobalt and catalyst. Work fast. Cobalt is the key to kicking the pigment rich resin.
I have never used cobalt. Is it packaged like catalyst? Going to Rev Chem tomorrow and seeing if I can get some.
One or two drops of Cobalt goes a looooooonnnngggg way. Be careful. I’ve seen a pigmented pin line batch smoke and pop like popcorn.
I know Fiberglass Services in Gardena has cobalt. Fiberglass Hawaii no longer caries it, Rev Chem might have it.
I’m not positive if this is exactly the same stuff but it’s close. It has the same warnings I’ve heard about cobalt used in surfboard use, I.E. testicular damage (cancer?), allergic skin rashes, or even heart damage. Anyway, most retail fiberglass places I’ve contacted don’t sell it. Apparently it has a similar effect on drying time of oil paints. One of the reviewers says he used it with violin varnish. It might be worth a try if you can’t source it elsewhere.
I will add if you decide to use cobalt read the warning label and use caution! Make sure your cobalt is fully blended into your resin before adding catalyst. They dont call the stuff BOOM BOOM for nothing!
For all of our resin panels I use sanding resin. The gloss resin we have here takes too long to go off even with cobalt and catalyst. I add some wax to the sanding resin and some cobalt and some catalyst. During summer we could probably use gloss resin, but it is way too slow during winter. Good luck!
Have fun with it!!
Austin
What would be a good starting point for catalyst with the pigmented resin? I was thinking around 5% with the temp in the high 60’s during the days here.
This is just for the repair on a board with a pigmented panel, I’m not doing an entire panel. After glass repair and sand out, it is approx a 10" x12" area, so I can lay it on quick, and get out.
At 60C to 80C degrees and when heavily pigmented I use 5-7 drops of cobalt for one paint strainer full of gloss resin with a squirt of surfacing agent. Then 30cc of Hi-point 90 catalyst. This is a hot mixture and it ensures a nice dry result with no tackiness. Work fast and use all the safety precausions stated above. Any extra resin left in the bucket pour off immediately into one of your resin waste buckets so it spreads out and doesn’t start cooking. Fiberglass Supply has Cobalt.
Hi Guys,
how to avoid such failures in pigmentation?
I used in this fins polyester resin and pigment.
catalyst, cobalt, just not used resin glosscoat …
can you help me?
layed up half panel, waited dry, I used a pigmented resin, waited dry, I completed the lay up process.
thanks you all.
The light spots in the blue areas look like the glass didn’t wet out enough. Hard to tell from the pics.
So, friend brought board over today. I was told panels were pigment, but turns out they were spayed on foam. Dings not large, plan is to fill, laminate, and hotcoat.
Then, should I spray with acrylic paint and gloss, or just do a Krylon and clear spray?
