New Caster has a question!

GuardMySandwich · 03-25-2011, 02:14 PM

I have made a few blanks and have used clear acrylic with a few drops of dye in it to change it to the color I want. I've been having problems making the blanks opaque. I can still see through them. I was wondering if I'm supposed to use a powder type dye to make it opaque, or just use more drops of dye. I used 20 drops of red dye in one blank and I can still see through it. Do they make acrylic that is in different colors other than clear? Maybe that's where I'm going wrong. I hope this makes sense. This is my first time on here, so I don't have all the pen-lingo down. lol Thank you :)

DozerMite · 03-25-2011, 02:17 PM

First... visit the library. You will find tons of info there.

To get opaque... start with Pearl-X. It's inexpensive and easily obtained.
Then you can try Coastalscents for additional colors.

NewLondon88 · 03-25-2011, 02:25 PM

Also be aware that there are opaque and translucent dyes. Translucent dyes won't
go opaque. Opaque dyes tend to have more solids in them.

Canadian_Kid · 03-25-2011, 02:56 PM

I think a lot of people paint the inside of the hole or paint their tubes to solve this.

Craftdiggity · 03-25-2011, 09:34 PM

Any time I want an opaque look, I use Mixol tints. They have many colors available and work great in PR.

jaeger · 03-26-2011, 01:32 AM

I picked up some opaque dyes at Hobby Lobby. They had both opaque and translucent varieties. I made mine quite a bit darker than I thought they looked while stirring and I could have gone darker still. The Hobby Lobby also had some Mother of Pearl-White pearlizing powder that seemed to work very well. I found that the colored powders that I tried added a lot of activity/ bubbles as it cured. Maybe I didn't mix it right, but the white pearl seemed to work nice for me. Very cool!!!
I think, if even one of the dyes is opaque you will be OK if you mix dark enough. They even had a white opaque that they claim give pastel effect.
Here is another tip if you only have yellow, blue and red.

Red + Blue = Violet
Blue + Yellow = Green
Red + Yellow = Orange
4 drops orange and 1 drop blue = Brown

03-25-2011, 02:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
GuardMySandwich Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1 Photos: 0	New Caster has a question! I have made a few blanks and have used clear acrylic with a few drops of dye in it to change it to the color I want. I've been having problems making the blanks opaque. I can still see through them. I was wondering if I'm supposed to use a powder type dye to make it opaque, or just use more drops of dye. I used 20 drops of red dye in one blank and I can still see through it. Do they make acrylic that is in different colors other than clear? Maybe that's where I'm going wrong. I hope this makes sense. This is my first time on here, so I don't have all the pen-lingo down. lol Thank you :)
GuardMySandwich Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1 Photos: 0

03-25-2011, 02:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
DozerMite Join Date: Jun 2007 Photos: 0	First... visit the library. You will find tons of info there. To get opaque... start with Pearl-X. It's inexpensive and easily obtained. Then you can try Coastalscents for additional colors.
DozerMite Join Date: Jun 2007 Photos: 0

03-25-2011, 02:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
NewLondon88 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Claremont NH Photos: 13	Also be aware that there are opaque and translucent dyes. Translucent dyes won't go opaque. Opaque dyes tend to have more solids in them. __________________ maker of the original ResinSaver mold

03-25-2011, 09:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Craftdiggity Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Egg Harbor Township, NJ Posts: 1,329 Photos: 0	Any time I want an opaque look, I use Mixol tints. They have many colors available and work great in PR. __________________ Chris Merlino If at first you don't succeed... Deny you ever tried. www.woodntreasures.com

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03-25-2011, 02:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Canadian_Kid Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Langley BC Posts: 130 Photos: 0	I think a lot of people paint the inside of the hole or paint their tubes to solve this.

03-26-2011, 01:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
jaeger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Dakota Posts: 551 Photos: 7	I picked up some opaque dyes at Hobby Lobby. They had both opaque and translucent varieties. I made mine quite a bit darker than I thought they looked while stirring and I could have gone darker still. The Hobby Lobby also had some Mother of Pearl-White pearlizing powder that seemed to work very well. I found that the colored powders that I tried added a lot of activity/ bubbles as it cured. Maybe I didn't mix it right, but the white pearl seemed to work nice for me. Very cool!!! I think, if even one of the dyes is opaque you will be OK if you mix dark enough. They even had a white opaque that they claim give pastel effect. Here is another tip if you only have yellow, blue and red. Red + Blue = Violet Blue + Yellow = Green Red + Yellow = Orange 4 drops orange and 1 drop blue = Brown