Painting

[Chaz]

How about a few tips on how to paint the inside of the blank before gluing in the tube?

 

[Monty]

I use Rustoleum or Krylon spray paint and give a quick spray in both ends of the blank, stand then on end and let them dry overnight. I also hang my tubes with a thin wire suspended from a line and spray them also.

 

[d_bondi]

I use acrylic craft paint and a culture swab. I let the first coat dry and then check for light transmission. If I shine a flashlight on the outside of the blank and see obvious light spots, I do a second coat and the let dry overnight.

I do not generally paint the tubes, but if I am really concerned about show though then I use a brush type Sharpie to color the tube and will even mix a little of the acrylic paint into the epoxy to color it, it only takes a drop or two.

I like the culture swabs, which are long wood handled one ended q-tips because of the length and that they are less fuzzy so they don't leave cotton fibers in the paint.

 

[Todd in PA]

I use Rustolium 2x, available at the orange store, but not the blue one. Also on Amazon (https://amzn.to/3vAMICO). Quick spray, dry overnight, good to go.

I dry the blanks atop one of these to let the paint run out.

5 Gallon Paint Bucket Grid

Amazing deals on this 5 Gallon Bucket Grid at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[mg_dreyer]

Here is a full video I did on the topic a few years back. I go over technique and color selection

10 Minutes To Better Penmaking - Painting The Blank

 

[egnald]

I use many of the processes already listed. Lately, I use Acrylic craft paints with swabs and then for insurance I add one drop of the paint to my epoxy when I am gluing the tube in. It doesn't take much fortunately, because too much pigment (or the water it is suspended in) can have a negative impact on the epoxy strength. I used to use spray lacquer because it drys really fast compared with the enamel spray paints - and I have been know to be impatient.

- Dave