inkmonkey
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Painting urethane rubber- The Definitive Thread
This has to be right up there as one of the most asked questions on the board. Clinton has been experimenting with a couple things recently so we wanted to share our findings. That's what this board should be all about, right? :wink
Feel free to share as well but please only your proven methods. I think it would be nice if they were collected all in this thread for ease of reading. No guesses or misinformation, please.
--- -Kevin
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10/2/2011, 11:52 am
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inkmonkey
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Re: Painting urethane rubber- The Definitive Thread
Imperial Surface Technologies make a product called Imperiflex. Used on the flexible suits for Iron Man 2.
Is quite spendy at $500 a gallon but a little should go a long way.
Last edited by inkmonkey, 10/2/2011, 12:00 pm
--- -Kevin
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10/2/2011, 11:52 am
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inkmonkey
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Re: Painting urethane rubber- The Definitive Thread
Smooth-on urethane rubbers are notoriously the most difficult to get to accept paint. They are also among the most popular with members here who cast cowls and armor.
But they do provide the following tutorial on their website on how to use Brush-On 40 thinned with mineral spirits to paint a Reoflex 30 casting. No word if it works on Vytaflex castings as well.
Smooth-On Painting Urethane rubber
Last edited by inkmonkey, 10/2/2011, 12:09 pm
--- -Kevin
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10/2/2011, 11:53 am
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inkmonkey
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Re: Painting urethane rubber- The Definitive Thread
BJB Enterprises has a product called SC-89 Stretch Paints. Made specifically to adhere to their urethane rubbers. No guarantee to adhere to other brands.
Last edited by inkmonkey, 10/2/2011, 12:23 pm
--- -Kevin
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10/2/2011, 11:53 am
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inkmonkey
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Re: Painting urethane rubber- The Definitive Thread
Little trick we learned from a post made by fettster some years back. :wink Got to try last week and it adheres real well.
Start with a clean rubber and spray it with a coat of acetone. That will react with the rubber and give the paint something to bite to. Then use your paint thinned with more acetone to paint the rubber.
Last edited by inkmonkey, 10/2/2011, 12:27 pm
--- -Kevin
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10/2/2011, 11:53 am
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drftfan
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Re: Painting urethane rubber- The Definitive Thread
The most knowledgeable painter is jay Williams aka resinsamurai. And he won't reveal his secrets. I along with one other brother knows how to depending on urethane. But if you mess up the paint job you pretty much loss the piece as well.
I personally have found that just powdering the mold is a much better solution. One way to paint urethane is to use automotive paint for urethane bumpers. That was suggested to me by a guy at iron head studios.
My advice for anyone attempting to paint urethane make sure you know which brand your pieces were made from before you try.
For clooney blue I just mix the powders in. Same with robin chests. When I do belts then I powder the actual mold itself depending on the belt of course. Once the redbird is done I will look into painting again.
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10/2/2011, 1:26 pm
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TheKingaSwing
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Re: Painting urethane rubber- The Definitive Thread
I'm stickying this thread right now!
I have some info that has worked for others but I havent had a chance to try them myself yet but I'll post it and see if its any use.
I don't see why info should be so secretive just because we're hobbyists, I'm on boards with industry guys and theyre so open its unreal.
Kev, great thread and I hope to contribute soon :up
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10/2/2011, 1:33 pm
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drftfan
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Re: Painting urethane rubber- The Definitive Thread
If I could confirm that my method works I would share more details. But I only painted one piece and I messed up the actual paint. But I still emphasize that it will come down to the type of urethane used.
Alumilite urethane won't even allow powders to bond with it much less paint. That is just an example.
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10/2/2011, 6:02 pm
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GothamCityFX
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Re: Painting urethane rubber- The Definitive Thread
Great info everyone! Im sure most of you already do this but another option away from painting is powder coating your mold. Smooth on casting powders are limited but there are tons of arts & crafts powders available online that work really well.
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10/3/2011, 8:47 am
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ClintonH
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Re: Painting urethane rubber- The Definitive Thread
Quote: drftfan wrote:
One way to paint urethane is to use automotive paint for urethane bumpers. That was suggested to me by a guy at iron head studios.
Automotive grade urethanes are flexible by nature no need for special "bumper" paint. The concerin is the primers and the topcaot (clear) are usually not flexible enough as they have build to either fill or shine. The basecoat is much like laquer from the old days, has zero fill 3-4 coats will only equal 20-25 microns of build. :wink I can link you to the tech sheets etc of a fairly cost effecent basecoat system if anyone would like.
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10/3/2011, 11:29 am
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