Alcohol Ink Enclosure Builds

[Blooze]

First up is a Sho'Nuff followed by a Zenith with Stage 3 booster.

I used metallic alcohol inks (one color on each enclosure).  Set the ink with 3 coats of Krylon Kamar followed by 5 coats of Krylon UV Resistant clear.  I'll probably cover in Envirotex or 4-5 coats of lacquer after the UV clear next time, but I was impatient.

[jimilee]

I really admire that finish.


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[matmosphere]

Those look great. I've always wanted to give that a try. Any chance you'd post some tips?

[Haberdasher]

I've always loved the way those inks look on a pedal.

[flanagan0718]

I've been playing with alcohol inks lately too. Yours look way better than mine though.





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[Blooze]

Those look great. I've always wanted to give that a try. Any chance you'd post some tips?

For the most "pop" I would use a white enclosure. The green one was white powdercoated and the blue was powdercoated a midnight flake or something. For the metallic inks I used a blender solution (which I think is just ethanol) instead of the usual isopropanol (90%) typically used on non-metallics.  I put a small amount of the alcohol on the enclosure, a few drops of ink, and blowing through a straw quickly move the ink around. The alcohol dries fairly fast and just acts as a carrier. YouTube alcohol inks on ceramic tile for some ideas and techniques. There are also a couple of YouTube videos where a guy did raw enclosures using a sponge on method that looks easier, but wasn't giving me the look I wanted.

You absolutely have to set the ink.  More solvent such as a lacquer topcoat will redissolve it and move it around.  Most the folks who are clearcoating I found were using the Kamar and UV resist at least. Alcohol inks will fade in any UV light. Really, as a final topcoat epoxy would be great I think. I plan to try it next on them.

[diablochris6]

Fantastic look, both yours and Flanagan. I'll have to look into this at some point.

[gordo]

+1. I'd be happy with any of the enclosures.

[sjaustin]

These look superb! I have had good luck with alcohol inks but have never "set" the ink, other than with my usual enamel clear coat. Something to try next time...

[Blooze]

These look superb! I have had good luck with alcohol inks but have never "set" the ink, other than with my usual enamel clear coat. Something to try next time...

I think you'd be alright with any clear that doesn't have a solvent in it that would re liquify the inks. I know the lacquer I typically use does unless you do many light dusting coats on it. It was easier to use the Kamar and just blast it on.