epoxy pigments?

[thehermit]

Has anyone used epoxy pigments? Does adding these give you an epoxy gelcote? Could you add enough pigment to where you could do your final fairing cote with a a splash of color and never have to paint??

 

[Chris1956]

Re: epoxy pigments?

I have never used pigments with epoxy. I have used them with polyester resin. If you wanted to get a no paint surface with pigment and polyester resin, you would need to spray several pigmented coats onti the surface.<br /><br />Note: with polyester resin, adding pigment requires that you add a bit more hardener.<br /><br />Also, epoxy tends to have a more golden color than polyester resin. This may influence the final color.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: epoxy pigments?

why not just tint some gelcoat. its also poyelster based, but you noly need one coat, and wil NEVER have to paint again. just get the gel coat without the wax

 

[thehermit]

Re: epoxy pigments?

This would be going over both poly and epoxy so I would need epoxy. US composites says it is do-able and the West system site says it is not...hmmmm?

 

[troyt]

Re: epoxy pigments?

Keep this in mind. As a final coat, neither epoxy or poly by themselves will hold up to UV radiation. Adding just tint will not change this. There are UV inhibitors available as additives, but by the time you get the colorant mix to resin ratio correct for the color you want and include the UV inhibitor, you would be better off using gelcoat to begin with or painting as a final coat.

 

[petrolhead]

Re: epoxy pigments?

I use epoxy a lot, and all the recommendations I've read or been given by suppliers and manufacturers say not to use pigment, it weakens the resin if used in sufficient quantities to give a decent colour.<br />I sometimes add 1% white crystic pigment just so I can see where I'm putting the resin, for encapsulating/sheathing work it makes it easier to get an even coat as thicker patches appear milky.

 

[thehermit]

Re: epoxy pigments?

I am going with a good marine paint or an epoxy paint....I am going to shy away from Gelcoat because I have never used it before and dont want to screw it up.