Experimenting With Epoxy

[Ron Altier]

 I got some ideas about using  5 minute epoxy and glitter. I made some mistakes, but learned a lot in the process. You can see the upper ring. It looked really good until I tried something else to smooth it.

I think I am going to try again, I have a couple more things I want to try

 

[Gerald]

A little gold guilt or acrylic to paint horizontal lines would be nice.Just keep adding I want to see where this goes.

[Steve Krumanaker]

I would say it definitely has some potential. Like Gerald, I want to see where you go with this.

 

Steve

[lew]

Maybe some buffing compound would help clear the surface.

[Ron Altier]

The epoxy is too soft to do much buffing. I'm going to try some different ratios of hardener and epoxy

[Smallpatch]

Can I maybe help. This handle is about about 1 1/3" in diameter and I used a big glitter.. I first sprayed about 3 heavy coats of lacquer, then sprinkled the glitter on and let it set a few minutes or seconds until I could start pushing the glitter down flat without getting my fingers wet with the lacquer.... As it is when the glitter hits the lacquer it lands in all kinds of positions so I gently started patting and smoothing the glitter down until the lacquer sets up ...The three coats of lacquer makes it thick enough for a little pushing room... but be gentle...

  I first sprayed the handle black and when that set up the three or more good heavy coats of clear gloss lacquer. 

  I can't feel any glitter when finished with the clear lacquer...

If a light was shining on it in the dark it would resemble a ball room ball for the dancers.

If you want it any glossier a person could rub it down with Johnson's paste wax.

[Ron Altier]

Thanks, I give it a try

[Smallpatch]

If you put things under 5 minute epoxy the colors will get dull and lifeless. Lacquer is not good if you are going to submerge the item in water for any period of time but it will let most true colors remain.

[Gene Howe]

On 3/25/2018 at 10:27 AM, Smallpatch said:

If you put things under 5 minute epoxy the colors will get dull and lifeless. Lacquer is not good if you are going to submerge the item in water for any period of time but it will let most true colors remain.

There may be one, but I've never used a 5 minute epoxy that dried clear, either. 

Edited March 26, 2018 by Gene Howe