Thread for ciphery -Which epoxy to use?

[Chris Meyer]

Please note, this thread is a post for ciphery who didn't know how to start a thread and requested assistance.

ciphery: I am new to this site and am unsure how to start my own thread. That being said I hope someone can help me with my problem(s). I need to find out what kind of epoxy to use for the making of mosaic pins. I have tried fiberglass resin and it does not yield satisfactory results. PLEASE HELP.

 

[Chris Meyer]

Ciphery, all you need to do to start a thread is click on this icon at the top of the page of the forum you want to post in.

As for the your question about epoxy, I would think that any old two part epoxy that you can get at the hardware store should work out fine. You can even add coloring to the epoxy if you want to get a different look. I haven't made any mosaic pins myself, so hopefully someone with some experience will chime in.

 

[SR_matt]

i would assume you would want to use a much slower curing marine grade type epoxy to hold it all in

i would think you would want to make tight fitting inners and then make a way to inject the epoxy through it

-matt

 

[mtnsct]

You might want to look at his site.

http://www.ellsworth.com/adhesives.html?tab=Products

They have a lot of adhesives including a bunch of epoxies.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Use a thin ,two part epoxy. A slow cure is necessary (2 hour minimum). As said, dye it to the desired color with EPOXY colorants (not model paint or wood dye). Warm it up to make it even thinner (a few seconds in the microwave, This also helps to eliminate the bubbles). Put the epoxy in a small cup and put the end of the mosaic tube in the mix. Put a piece of plastic hose on the other end of the mosaic tube and either suck on it or use a vacuum. When the epoxy shows in the tube,clamp the tube to keep the epoxy from draining back. Just leave the rivet(s) in the cup and let the excess harden around the bottom. When set up but not cured (still a little tacky and pliable),remove the plastic tube and take the mosaic rivet out of the cup. Lay down and let cure completely.

I'll give you a neat trick to try:
If your initial is reversable (A,H,I,M,O,T,U,V,W,Y), you can form the leter out of a long strip(s) of thin metal, tacking them together with super glue if needed. Slip this in the mosaic tube and fill with colored resin. You will get a rivet for the center hole in the handle that will show your initial from both sides.
Stacy

 

[ciphery]

Thank you for the help. I finaly found the "thread button" this morning LMAO I have to try the microwave trick...and the inital trick...I was useing fiberglass rsin with gellcoat dye/nodye/silver dust/...can't keep the darn things together though...mtnsctI have been at the web site you sugested as a link to ckg.org but they did not say what epoxy they were using just said epoxy. I will try to experiment/research more thanx