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Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 4:14 am
by Xxray
Made this for a little girls birthday, right off the table just holding it up to a weak light.

Idea popped into my head to flood fill it with clear epoxy, would be kinda nice to have a smooth front surface.

Any reasons not to ? Am a bit worried about yellowing, won't be exposed to an UV obviously but will be exposed to backlight, which should be pretty mild using LED's.

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 4:24 am
by highpockets
As usual, beautiful work Doug.

I've not tried it on a project (been meaning to), Hobby Lobby has some stuff call Clear Water (or something like that). It's used to fill a vase with a solid that is clear that you put flowers in for a permanent arrangement. Seems like it would work good for other projects.

Update: Well I got the clear right :oops: http://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-Hobbie ... in/p/22107

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 4:40 am
by Mobius
I don't see why a clear epoxy wouldn't work great for that. West System 105 with a 207 hardener would probably work for you.

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:15 am
by Xxray
I think I'll try it, if nothing else just so I can say I have done it.
Whats the worse that can happen ?

I'll post back when complete.
[You guys see the girls name I snuck in there ?]

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:23 am
by highpockets
Xxray wrote:.
[You guys see the girls name I snuck in there ?]
Yep
Image 22.png
She's going to love it!

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:32 am
by Xxray
Old eagle eyes you are !

Actually I designed and meant it to come out prominently, don't know why it came out so weak.
I think the blue I used blended into the background.
Don't think the bit I used was the best one I have either, looks nice but I have done far better.

But I'm glad it did come out like that, something obvious might have detracted from the design and looked out of place once lit up.
I can always engrave her name on the frame, think I will.

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:54 am
by highpockets
If it's something that's a secret between her and you, that makes it even more special.

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 12:38 pm
by mtylerfl
I'm looking forward to seeing the result of your epoxy fill experiment, Doug! You may have a "war" with tiny air bubbles. Hopefully, the fill might be thin enough where they can be dissipated alright. (Blowing over surface, torch waving, whatever.)

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 1:10 pm
by dwilli9013
Nice as always Doug. What material are you using for this one?

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:10 pm
by Xxray
Corian, the blank is just 6x9 and I'll need to chop off quite a bit of the 9.
Still took over 3 hours, these lithos are so Z heavy there are few shortcuts if you want detail.
Used a 1/32 tapered bit, 14% line spacing and max depth of .21 [blank .25], close as I am comfortable with. After it was done I used an orbital sander to sand the back down as much as I could for maximum light transmission ,,, Just took a couple minutes as the deepest areas were already visible and I sure didn't want to sand through.

For bubbles I use these battery operated scissors that vibrate like crazy, they are forced to the surface and usually self pop.

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 12:37 am
by Xxray
Went to Michaels to check out the clear resin, went into instant sticker shock.
Dinky little can was $26, would have used half of it just with this little project.

I have had a gallon of clear casting resin sitting in my basement for over a year, never used it because I hate 2 part mixtures with funky mixing ratios, this one is 100 to 1. That little tube on the top is supposed to be good for the whole thing.
But I thought now if ever was the time to experiment, so I broke out a pill bottle saved just for stuff like this, dumped 2 in a cup, then filled the 3rd until I estimated it was 97% full, then filled it with the part B.
Added a couple more drops for good measure and mixed the heck out of it. Poured nice, no bubbles and had just enough to fill it ,,, I will post an after shot once it [hopefully] sets up.

I didn't ponder it too long but I couldn't think up a good way to accurately measure 100 to 1 in a specific quantity like I needed, hopefully my eyeballing & guesstimates will be good enough.

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 12:45 am
by martin54
Funny enough I was going to suggest a glass clear casting resin or a polyester laminating resin as they are generally low viscosity & should self level pretty easily :lol: :lol:
Not actually something I have tried but I am doing something similar using glasscast resin in the bottom of a plate. More expensive option but better for my application than a casting resin.

Looking forward to seeing the finished project :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 12:52 am
by Xxray
Funny thing for me is I have worked industrial epoxy floors on the side for years, have done floors well over 100,000 sq ft, stadiums and down to garage floors and everything in between.

My buddy owns the business, I could get a load of premium epoxy dirt cheap if I wanted to, but don't seem to have much of a use for it.
Not sure if the stuff we use qualifies as "clear", pretty sure it does as we have to add tint to it [itself very expensive] to make it whatever color the customer wants.
Sometimes we use urethane top coats, now that stuff is crystal clear but is meant to be applied in a very thin layer, not sure how it would act pooled up.

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 3:04 am
by Xxray
Looks like a success, cup with leftover epoxy is rock hard so I snuck a quick pic backlit.

Looks like a few particles of contamination, hopefully will be able to get them out.
Sure does add a bit of weight to it and makes it glossy, will post another shot when complete.

Re: Thinking about filling a litho with clear epoxy

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 3:09 am
by dwilli9013
very nice and impressive so far cant wait to see your special touches for the final project.