Five Minute Epoxy Question

[Bert]

This may need to be in tips and tricks, but this hasn't been a high traffic area. Since most of us have used 5ME, Have any of you used paint to tint the epoxy. If not paint, what did you use. I'm curious if paint will interfere with the chemical reaction.

[stilljustharley]

Bert. If outright strength isn't needed from the joint in question, then I've had success in the past by tinting clear gloss with an appropriate colour (from the same manufacturer of course) and using that instead of glue - it works well on instrument lenses.

My basic chemistry knowledge suggests that adding paint to a 5ME mix would interfere with the bonding reaction and, at best, slow it down or, in a worst case scenario, stop it altogether.

Hope that helps.

[peteski]

Long time ago I have used food coloring dyes to tint epoxy (for making marker light lenses). It worked well. But now I buy tints from Smooth-On (they sell all sorts of casting supplies). Those tints are specifically designed for tinting urethane and epoxy resins. I think Alumilite also sells similar tints. These are very concentrated (tiny bit goes a long way).

[Bert]

Thanks Fellas!

[Bert]

I just read an interesting article on instructables.com, it discussed using printer toner to mix with epoxy in order to tint the epoxy. It worked very well. I just thought I would share.