Full Version: Can you use............

From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#1]
 28 Apr 2006
To: ALL

Flexible resin on aluminum so that it can be shaped after it's domed?

I've been trying to dome a piece of anodized aluminum with flexible doming resin so that I can shape it after it's domed but can't get it to dry all the way, stays tacky. So wondering if thats not something your suppose to do?

Puck

From: LipChip [#2]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#1] 28 Apr 2006

How large is the piece that your doming? If it's not to large, I'd be willing try our UV glazing /doming technology to find out if will be the solution you need. Sometimes UV glazing gives better results in a much faster time for items that do not need a hard through cure. The small format UV Glazing I use is a machine called the "Crystal Shield", which cures 4 to 5 times faster than epoxy solutions.

From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#3]
 28 Apr 2006
To: LipChip [#2] 28 Apr 2006

Hi,

The piece is only 2" x 1/2" and after I dome it I would like to be able to shape it in an arc. Just can't get the epoxy to cure when using the flexible, ridgid cures just fine but can't do an arc with it (pops off).

Puck

From: LipChip [#4]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#3] 28 Apr 2006

I have not tried to shape a piece after I've UV glaze/domed it, but what the heck, I'd be willing to try. Email me at lipchip2@LipChip.com and if you would like I'd UV Glaze dome up some pieces for you to find out if it works. That 2 inches, not 2 ft. right? Hope I can help test a solution for you.

From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#5]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#1] 28 Apr 2006

Epoxy resin has a shelf life. How old is your resin?

I've seen where (sometimes) flexible epoxy takes longer to cure than rigid epoxy. Try exposing it longer, to see if that helps.

As far as bending the plate, after doming, even though the epoxy is flexible, it will try to revert back to its original shape (flat).

The rigidity of the aluminum should be enough to help retain the curve.

To test that theory, I just took a 1 x 3 aluminum namebadge, with epoxy dome (rigid is a relative term) and bent it.

Seems to be holding its shape.

From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#6]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#5] 28 Apr 2006

Stunt Engraver,

Just got this flexible resin so it's suppose to be fine, infact tried it on some magnetic sheeting and it worked great. Just can't get it to work on aluminum (haven't tried any other metal) no matter how long I have it under the UV light. Tried it for hours and it just stays tacky, thinking it's got to be the aluminum for some reason.

Do you know of anything else that you can put on anodized aluminum to help keep it from scratching? I've tried several clear coat products and haven't come up with anything yet.

Puck

From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#7]
 28 Apr 2006
To: LipChip [#4] 2 May 2006

LipChip,

Yah, thats 2 inch x 1/2 inch. Don't think I could even start to dome a 2 foot piece with the luck I'm having on this little piece!

Puck

From: Ken D. (KDEVORY) [#8]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#6] 28 Apr 2006

Try wiping the aluminum with something to clean it first. It may have some kind of coating on it.

I've played around with doming some pictures printed on photo paper using my inkjet. Some papers have UV inhibitors that will leach into the UV epoxy forming a super thin layer that will not cure. I also needed to heat them after printing to dry the ink. (again I suspect UV inhibitors.)

From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#9]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#6] 28 Apr 2006

That's strange.

I haven't seen where the substrate makes a difference in how the epoxy cures, unless the aluminum is conducting heat and affecting the curing time in some way.

If you comb through the other epoxy doming threads, you'll see that some people are able to cure flexible epoxy, with little or zero "tacky" feel to the touch.

Is that what you're feeling, or is the epoxy still in a semi-liquid state, after exposure to UV?

From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#10]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Ken D. (KDEVORY) [#8] 28 Apr 2006

Ken,

Thats what I thought so I wiped it down with acetone, alchol and lift off but it didn't change anything. So I'm thinking it's the flexible on the aluminum thats not working, rigid works fine.

Puck

From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#11]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#9] 28 Apr 2006

Stunt Engraver,

I find it weird that this is the only thing so far that I can't get the flexible to cure all the way on.

When I take it out, anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours, it is set but still so tacky that when touched it leaves permanent finger prints, dulls it plus I can just peel it off with my finger with little to no effort. I can use a piece of sheet magnet and it cures all the way and no peeling it off, no tackyness or finger prints.

I'm thinking it has to be something in the flexible not working with the aluminum since I can do the same piece with rigid and it works just fine.

Guess I'll keep trying other products until I hit on something that works.

Thanks,
Puck

From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#12]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#11] 28 Apr 2006

You might try using rigid epoxy.

It's still relatively flexible and the aluminum should provide enough strength to retain the shape of your bend.

From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#13]
 28 Apr 2006
To: ALL

Aluminum usually poisons acidic products. It is highly reactive compared to other metals. Aluminum compounds do not do nearly the same thing that their copper or iron equivalents can do. That being said, I never heard of that with epoxies.

On the subject of papers, the accuplot paper is no good for doming, it looks great at first then after a few days ends blotchy like regular paper. When disassembling the item, the dome did not set directly on the accuplot.

From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#14]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#12] 28 Apr 2006

Stunt Engraver,

I did try the rigid and when I did the bend it popped off. I'm using the epoxy resin that is a one part UV cure, maybe I should try a different kind.

Puck

From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#15]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#13] 28 Apr 2006

Harvey,

Haven't tried doming any paper yet but am going to try it on some sign vinyl next week, going to try and make some hubcap centers for the PT just for fun.

Puck

From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#16]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#15] 29 Apr 2006

I was trying to find a relatively inexpensive paper to mount on a substrate that would take doming. If the project gets under way I guess I will get inkjet printable vinyl.

From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#17]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#15] 29 Apr 2006

I'll see if I can use my "subpoena" power, to see if Terry Morris, who has extensive experience in epoxy doming, to weigh in on your dilemma. :-) 

EDITED: 28 Apr 2006 by DGL

From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#18]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Terry-Morris (TERRYMORRIS) Unread

Terry,

This is a perplexing epoxy doming issue. What words of wisdom can you offer?

Thanks,

From: Terry-Morris [#19]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#1] 29 Apr 2006

If you are using the 7156 epoxy, it does have a tacky feel when done.

You are not doing anything wrong. You can get rid of the tacky feeling with baby powder. This will dull the finish to a matt but it will get rid of the tack feel.

From: Terry-Morris [#20]
 28 Apr 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#18] 29 Apr 2006

One other thought, depending on how much of a bend you need, the rigid epoxy is slightly flexible right after doming while it's a little warm. You might try bending it as soon as it's cured and hold it there while it cools.


While I have not tested this it might even be possible to warm up the domed item with a hair dryer and make if temporarily flexible.

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