I have been working on what the best paint type would be for leather that is worn, flexes, and in general sees some abuse. I will need to apply paint on top of other paint in places, and thus silicones are out. I am fanatical about getting the highest performance.
I have no interest in premixed paints, I have my own powders, many colors, and need to be able to mix fresh as I need them.
Now leather's a different beast because of the flexing. The surface does stretch significantly and any paint which cannot stretch along with it will crack. I actually got incredibly good initial results with the clear Beacon Fabri-Tac fabric glue, thinned out with acetone (very very difficult to work with though, stuff gels on the brush). In fact it was substantially MORE intense than the pure powder! That doesn't seem possible but I could clearly see it was happening, evidently the material acts sort of as a light pipe to conduct the light generated further in back up to the front.
However, it was not meant to be. As it turns out Beacon loses elasticity and becomes brittle with time, or pretty quickly if left in a hot car. If it's in the cold after this it's very brittle! Sadly, my initial belt test project with OMFG-it's-bright results developed little cracks, even loudly popping when I picked it up cold.
I tried some work with thinning Goop and E6000 adhesives, which many people think are silicone but they're not. I got good light levels with it, only slightly less than the Beacon, and it remains elastic regardless of heat/cold. However, it is a very rubbery, high friction surface. That sucks because it readily scuffs and discolors, and with enough rubbing bits are coming off.
I'm trying a hybrid of Beacon and Goop right now, but it looks like it may not be mixing. We'll see in a few hours.
Anyone know what may really work here?
I have no interest in premixed paints, I have my own powders, many colors, and need to be able to mix fresh as I need them.
Now leather's a different beast because of the flexing. The surface does stretch significantly and any paint which cannot stretch along with it will crack. I actually got incredibly good initial results with the clear Beacon Fabri-Tac fabric glue, thinned out with acetone (very very difficult to work with though, stuff gels on the brush). In fact it was substantially MORE intense than the pure powder! That doesn't seem possible but I could clearly see it was happening, evidently the material acts sort of as a light pipe to conduct the light generated further in back up to the front.
However, it was not meant to be. As it turns out Beacon loses elasticity and becomes brittle with time, or pretty quickly if left in a hot car. If it's in the cold after this it's very brittle! Sadly, my initial belt test project with OMFG-it's-bright results developed little cracks, even loudly popping when I picked it up cold.
I tried some work with thinning Goop and E6000 adhesives, which many people think are silicone but they're not. I got good light levels with it, only slightly less than the Beacon, and it remains elastic regardless of heat/cold. However, it is a very rubbery, high friction surface. That sucks because it readily scuffs and discolors, and with enough rubbing bits are coming off.
I'm trying a hybrid of Beacon and Goop right now, but it looks like it may not be mixing. We'll see in a few hours.
Anyone know what may really work here?
