vcal
Flashlight Enthusiast
For anyone interested in "self-powered" lighted items that are easily seen in darkness (hereafter called G.I.T.D.), here is a relatively easy and economical way to achieve a pro-quality, long-lasting glow for use on almost anything.
Materials needed:
1. Use a pro-grade pigment-the best and brightest I've ever seen/used is the blue/green mix from www.extremeglow.com -($20-75gms). That's a LOTTA mix
2. 1/2 oz. clear polyurethane arcylic paint. NOT WATER BASED! Testors appx.$3.
3. 1/4-1/2 oz. flat white acrylic paint (for highly reflective under/base coat. white gunsite enamel is also OK.
4. 1oz. mixing jar ($1.50)
5. 3 or 4 cheap artist brushes -fairly small size.-99¢ (items 2,3,4,&5 easily avail. at local hobby shops).
The mixing procedure is simple:
A. 1/2 oz polyurethane needs about 2-3 grams of the glow pigment powder. -No gram scale?? -no problem--1/2 teasp.=3.5gm. The viscosity should be only a little thicker than the urethane. Mix well and often! -You now have G.I.T.D. paint
---------Application-------------------------------------------B. apply base (white) coat to the clean surface.
C. After that dries (about 20min.), re-stir and brush on 1 thin coat of the GITD glow-paint that you've made to the surface.
D. Follow by applying 3-4 more thin coats, allowing each one to dry thoroughly (10-15min.).
HEY..that's IT-you've done it!
p.s.-practicing painting luminous strips on a white business card helps a lot to establish your confidence and skill.
BTW-the pigment that you bought would almost make up a PINT of high-grade glow paint!
If you are willing to mix your own, you'll never need to get "trimmed" by other people's high prices for superior glow stuff.
The glow material that you have made (charged up by fluor.light>3-5min. or incand. for 10min.) should glow for 20 to 40 hours-depending on # of coats applied and charging time.
I'd like to thank Mark Moore CPF#262-and other CPF members for helping to perfect this satisfying DIY procedure.
Materials needed:
1. Use a pro-grade pigment-the best and brightest I've ever seen/used is the blue/green mix from www.extremeglow.com -($20-75gms). That's a LOTTA mix
2. 1/2 oz. clear polyurethane arcylic paint. NOT WATER BASED! Testors appx.$3.
3. 1/4-1/2 oz. flat white acrylic paint (for highly reflective under/base coat. white gunsite enamel is also OK.
4. 1oz. mixing jar ($1.50)
5. 3 or 4 cheap artist brushes -fairly small size.-99¢ (items 2,3,4,&5 easily avail. at local hobby shops).
The mixing procedure is simple:
A. 1/2 oz polyurethane needs about 2-3 grams of the glow pigment powder. -No gram scale?? -no problem--1/2 teasp.=3.5gm. The viscosity should be only a little thicker than the urethane. Mix well and often! -You now have G.I.T.D. paint
---------Application-------------------------------------------B. apply base (white) coat to the clean surface.
C. After that dries (about 20min.), re-stir and brush on 1 thin coat of the GITD glow-paint that you've made to the surface.
D. Follow by applying 3-4 more thin coats, allowing each one to dry thoroughly (10-15min.).
HEY..that's IT-you've done it!
p.s.-practicing painting luminous strips on a white business card helps a lot to establish your confidence and skill.
BTW-the pigment that you bought would almost make up a PINT of high-grade glow paint!
If you are willing to mix your own, you'll never need to get "trimmed" by other people's high prices for superior glow stuff.
The glow material that you have made (charged up by fluor.light>3-5min. or incand. for 10min.) should glow for 20 to 40 hours-depending on # of coats applied and charging time.
I'd like to thank Mark Moore CPF#262-and other CPF members for helping to perfect this satisfying DIY procedure.
