Question on Sealing PU Blanks and Tinting.

General Discussion
1

Howzit and TGIF,

I have a question about the effectivness of sealing PU blanks in regards to improving tint color schemes.

I wish to do a green tint on a longboard however in researching this topic on Swaylock's I found that this is very problematic. It seems that because the PU foam absorbs resin at different rates, the tint ends up uneven, becoming darker in areas of more resin absorbtion and lighter in areas of less.

I kept looking however and came to this thread: http://www2.swaylocks.com/forums/sealing-balnk?page=1 . The practice of sealing PU blanks with lam resin thinned with styrene (without wax) prior to lamination is discussed, with benefits being "easier and more accurate laminating, a stronger structure, less waste, and lighter weight". Basically, the sealed blank does not absorb resin during the later lamination.

So, the penny dropped and here's my question: would a sealed PU blank accept a tint without uneveness or other problems?

Thanks for your help.

2

i think yourn thinking of EPS Foam, poly foam is much easier to get a nice tint on that EPS, EPS usually is sealed with spackle or microbubbles slurry before lamination to prevent the pock marks. You really shouldn’t need to seal your PU Blank. Just my .02

3

Gene Cooper was talking about this a while ago. Not sure if he was saying it made tints easier or not. It’s a good question though.

4

OK, thanks guys. I guess I'll have to try it on a scrap piece of foam and see what happens.

Take care.