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Ok guys. Desired effect acheived. One thing though, some of the letters have itty bitty bubbles on the surface, so I gotta sand & paint (bummer).
How can I avoid this in the future?
------------------ Marcano-Welch Signs Luquillo, Puerto Rico 787-889-6608
Posts: 2290 | From: Luquillo, Puerto Rico, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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We had the same problem the first time we used TC Resin. Our head production guy is in charge of that stuff and I don't remember what he did to correct the problem, but if you want, you could call him monday 216-595-2828 and ask for Jerry.
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Posts: 102 | From: Douglasville, GA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Before the epoxy sets up too much, you spritz the letters with denatured alcohol. The finer the mist the better. When the alcohol hits the epoxy, those bubbles burst instantly. If you wait to long and the epoxy is already getting firm, you might end up with a little discoloration.
I will be doing demos of this technique at the International Letterheads meet in Milwaukee this August.
------------------ Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 ICQ: 21604027 sherwood@up.net
posted
Wow, what a coincidence. Just yesterday I was playing with some epoxy I got from Ace Hardware and also got the bubbles. However, after reading further into the directions, they said to simply exhale gently on the bubbles (while the epoxy is still wet, of course) and they would disappear. Voila! They all popped immediately! They said it was due to the carbon dioxide in your breath. Pretty neat! Now I have a nice, glass-smooth surface to play with.
Now for the bad news: the stuff I used isn't recommended for exterior use (didn't say why), and when I used this technique with Gougeon Bros. West System, I also got bubbles big time, but didn't use the breathing thing, because I didn't know about it. Hadn't heard about the alcohol thing, either. Sanded and sanded, what a drag. That stuff is REALLY hard.
Anyway, my next experiment is to go back to the West System epoxy and try the breathing technique.
Hope it works. Good Luck!
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[This message has been edited by brian oliver (edited March 17, 2001).]
Posts: 237 | From: ft. collins, colorado,usa | Registered: Mar 2001
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After you lay the epoxy and the bubbles starts showing up, just take a portable torch or heat gun and quickly graze it...the bubbles will be gone.
------------------ Bruce Evans
Posts: 913 | From: Chino, CA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Guys guys.... why keep experimenting? TC Resin has a 14 year track record of success. It is formulated to give you the slow cure time needed for this type of application and is about the same price as West System.
And torches? Breathing on it? (I know my employees will lean onto some fresh epoxy trying to get close enough to breath on it) The denatured alcohol works!! When you buy a batch of TC Resin you will get a fine mist bottle for spritzing the alcohol, a pair of gloves, mixing cups, bottles to apply the resin, and a nice instruction sheet explaining the whole process.
------------------ Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 ICQ: 21604027 sherwood@up.net
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A friend of mine reminded me of another problem with using West System epoxy for letters. CLARITY! West's hardner starts out a light amber color and then just keeps getting darker with age. TC Resin is very clear so your colors won't change because of the amber hardner color.
------------------ Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 ICQ: 21604027 sherwood@up.net
Dave, thanks for the tip, & see ya in Milwaukee.
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