black
http://www.epoxyworks.com/20/index20.html
“Installing a teak deck on Zatara” describes the use of epoxy with black filler.
Coloring epoxy
I’ve been using small amounts of artist’s acrylic paint - like you find in tubes in an art store - blended into epoxy after parts “A & B” are combined. (I don’t want the pigment to affect the initial reaction and have been told that adding pigment after mixing the parts minimizes that possibility.)It does a decent job of coloring and doesn’t substantially weaken the epoxy if less than 10% of the total volume is used. The cure time seems completely unaffected. In practice, I doubt I often exceed 2%, as that gives me a dark enough color. Don’t see why black would be different than any other pigment.
I might have qualms about weakening the epoxy somewhat if I were doing something structural. I use this method just to fill deep scratches and chips.
Works PJC … You will know you added
too much as the epoxy will mix funny and appear ‘stringy’+ not harden fully. The other part with the paints is some of the colors do not last too long. Lighter greens, blues and yellows start to fade pretty quick in thin laminates.
Got some dye from a friend who
repairs FG and makes molds for a living. He uses it to color gel coat. Going to give it a try.
Are you planning to sand it?
West Systems sells graphite powder that you mix into the epoxy. It dries a gorgeous, glossy black after several coats. (The first coat or two will come out a dark coffee-brown when applied to okuome.)
If you are adding the powder just to make the epoxy turn black, it will be beautiful.
If you are wanting to add “slipperiness” to the epoxy–as in bottom hull panels to glide over rocks–you need to sand the epoxy. The graphite gives it the sliding quality, and it only gets to the surface when sanded. When you sand, that stunning black gloss turns to a medium-gray matte surface. Running a hand over both surfaces next to each other, you will immediately notice the difference in ease of glide. But the matte surface pales in comparison, visually.