Casting Over a Decal

[crokett]

I printed a decal with an inkjet printer on sticker paper with the intent to cast a thin layer of clear over it. Do I need to over the decal with a layer of CA glue first to protect it? If so, I will let the CA offgas for several days before I cast the clear over it.

 

[sschering]

I don't know about an inkjet but I did try CA over a laser printed decal.. The CA stripped the toner right off the paper..

 

[Jim Burr]

I use inkjet printed decals, but haven't cast over them. The decals must be sealed before application!! I always finish with CA, thin them medium. Works so far but there are others that will chime in with what works for them.

 

[navycop]

I casted over decals before. I just sprayed them with the bonder stuff (krylon). After it dried applied to blank and cast.

 

[cwolfs69]

i have actually cast over clear decals as well. i spray with Krylon "Crystal Clear" acrylic spray after the decal has set and dried for 24 hours. they come out great.

 

[bruce119]

When I did my blanks I would put 2 coats of CA on let gas out for 2 days then cast.

The problem I found if not sealed. The resin seeped in on the seam and you got that transparent wet look....and don't forget the ends of the tubes.
Good Luck

 

[paintspill]

i'll tell you tomorrow.

 

[montmill]

I tried to cast with alumilite over a decal on wood and had nothing but trouble. I even put the blank with decal in a toaster oven to dry it down and still the alumilite bubbled up. If I try again I'll use Silmar 41. I'm told that's more tolerant of moisture.

Montmill

 

[William Menard]

talking decals, has anyone ever tried a clear address label instead of a decal? just wondering if it would work, wouldn't have to worry about it not sticking.

 

[paintspill]

talking decals, has anyone ever tried a clear address label instead of a decal? just wondering if it would work, wouldn't have to worry about it not sticking.

doing this right now. i'll try to follow up tomorrow when i pull the cast out of the mold.

 

[jhawth25]

talking decals, has anyone ever tried a clear address label instead of a decal? just wondering if it would work, wouldn't have to worry about it not sticking.

I use the full sheet adress labels on a injet printer without any problems. I have attached photos.

 

[Pjohnson]

I agree with the Krylon sealant before casting.
My challenge has always been hiding the seam ...

John - looks like you solved it, Can you share your process?

 

[bruce119]

I agree with the Krylon sealant before casting.
My challenge has always been hiding the seam ...

John - looks like you solved it, Can you share your process?

A good way to to hide the seam is try and make it part of the design or at least avoid a straight line. The eye picks up on a straight line...something to think about.
.

 

[paintspill]

so i tried the clear shipping labels and pulled it out of the cast last night and it looks like hell. there appears to be a separation between the resin and the label. i clear coated the label with krylon clear spray before casting.

back to the drawing board for me.

 

[jhawth25]

I agree with the Krylon sealant before casting.
My challenge has always been hiding the seam ...

John - looks like you solved it, Can you share your process?

A good way to to hide the seam is try and make it part of the design or at least avoid a straight line. The eye picks up on a straight line...something to think about.
.

1. I spray paint the tube white.
2. I copy the picture into Power Point and resize it. H = 2.9" and W = 2.6,
these measurements are used as a starting point . I will tweak the image
if the image does not look proportional.
3. I use Avery clear full sheet labels from Office Depot to print the image on.
Since I use full label sheets, I print multiple images onto a sheet. I
average about 10 images per sheet. Note: I try to use an image with black
on the border to help hide the seam.
4. I usually let the ink dry for 24 hours since I am impatient. The longer the
ink has time to dry the less likely the ink will smear while you are trying to
adhere it to the tube. I noticed if there is a lot of black color in the
picture it needs to dry longer. This may just be my printer.
5. I trim the picture to fit the tube and perform test fits.
6. After the fit is to my liking, I adhere the image to the tube and then cast
it.

I used the clip to hide the seam.

labels: Avery Clear Inkjet Labels Full Sheet 8 12 x 11 Box Of 25 by Office Depot

 

[denniszoomy]

You can also find clear labels at Wal-mart

 

[crokett]

I used an address label but I couldn't see the image on the pen. I am doing this over a blank that is already turned and polished. This is a logo pen for a customer. I sure hope the clear casting works. I was dumb and when I did the cating only poured one blank. I should have done two of them.

 

[navycop]

These are printed on decal paper and casted over.

 

[lweers]

Casting over a white address label problem

I have been trying different things to cast a logo that was printed on a white address label and I haven't had success yet.

The first 3 attempts (one casting)

1. I sprayed the tube with 3m super 77 spray adhesive
2. I then put 3 coats of Mod Podge over the top
3. After drying for 24 hours I then cast in silmar and the mod podge appeared to lift.

Attempt number 2
1. Sprayed tube with white enamel spray paint.

2 and 3 Same first two steps as above, but then sprayed with an high gloss acrylic spray (Wal Mart brand) Let dry for 24 hours. Made a single tube mold and cast.

Failure in that the epoxy did not adhere to the acrylic coating and the whole tube slides in and out.

Attempt number 3

Same steps as above, but I sanded the tube lightly to remove some of the gloss. This on the tube moves in and out from under the label.

Any hints? I doing this for a Christmas gift.

 

[cwolfs69]

I have been trying different things to cast a logo that was printed on a white address label and I haven't had success yet.

The first 3 attempts (one casting)

1. I sprayed the tube with 3m super 77 spray adhesive
2. I then put 3 coats of Mod Podge over the top
3. After drying for 24 hours I then cast in silmar and the mod podge appeared to lift.

Attempt number 2
1. Sprayed tube with white enamel spray paint.

2 and 3 Same first two steps as above, but then sprayed with an high gloss acrylic spray (Wal Mart brand) Let dry for 24 hours. Made a single tube mold and cast.

Failure in that the epoxy did not adhere to the acrylic coating and the whole tube slides in and out.

Attempt number 3

Same steps as above, but I sanded the tube lightly to remove some of the gloss. This on the tube moves in and out from under the label.

Any hints? I doing this for a Christmas gift.

what is the "super 77 adhesive" for the label should stick itself.

 

[healeydays]

Super 77 adhesive is basically rubber cement. Using a product for this type of project then casting is asking for trouble. I'd be surprised if the resin cured correctly.

 

[lweers]

Thanks.

I'll prep another couple of tubes with the paper label and a clear label. I won't use the spray adhesive this time and just rely on the label adhesive.