Mixing Paraloid

[benjhind]

Just wanted to poll the group on those who measure out Paraloid B-72.  I want to protect my skulls from humidity changes without causing any glossy appearance.

I've seen some sites quoting 5-25% weight:volume (e.g. 5-25g paraloid:100mL acetone).  I've got mine conservatively mixed at 2.5% but I'm afraid it might not be coating adequately.

Thoughts?

[Beltonbanger]

This may sound strange, but put your finger in the mix. When it dries.......which isn't long....you will see how much residual it is leaving. Seems a little light to me, but I put ½lb. in a ga. or so acetone. BUT my items have a slight gloss. If I want a noticable sheen, I dip again.

[Sea Wolf]

I don't ever measure really. pretty much same test as above. No finger though. Drip some on a clean surface (the bucket top works fine) and let it dry. See what you get for a film. If you are not happy with it, either add some more crystals or thin with a little more acetone. Letting the skull sit for a minute or two also allows the solution to penetrate deeper into the bone providing a better coating. My skulls don't come out glossy at all. They are not flat bone either but it looks natural.

[The Dog]

I must be doing something wrong, I cant get Paraloid to not make a skull look like its been dipped in plastic.  I am putting about a 1/8th of a cup to 24 oz of acetone. 

[Beltonbanger]

Dog....you just dipping it once? Mine don't look like that. I have over a cup in a gallon. I set mine in and let if soak in and then just pull them out and drip off.

[The Dog]

yeah drooping it in and pulling it out after a couple of seconds.  I wonder if the paraloid may have additives or something? 

[Sea Wolf]

No additives. Just the straight resin. It sounds like you just have it too thick. Your acetone should look and run thin. If the solution you have seems at all thick. Pour in more acetone. Drip some on a surface and let it dry. You shouldn't get more than a fairly thin film.

Are you using the paint type buckets? Don't want to think that the acetone is dissolving your container at all.

[Beltonbanger]

Good point Sea Wolf. It may be desolving your bucket some. The buckets from Lowes are HDPE, they will keep acetone for quite awhile, but they recommend for long term storage LDPE plastic. That is the same stuff they make those Rubber Maid Tough containers out of, but I haven't found any that are air tight. Good Luck.

[Sea Wolf]

The buckets I use are the white ones from Home Depot. They have a 2 on the bottom. Orange ones are cheaper but it's easier to see into the white ones.

[The Dog]

I have it in a glass container ?

[Sea Wolf]

I have it in a glass container ?

Try diluting it some. I can make stuff look like it is coated in glass if I want to but that solution is awfully thick. I think it might be just a little too concentrated.