Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: lamprey on February 25, 2014, 12:25:47 am

Title: Liquid Plastic - UV Pigments - Tron - Bears, Oh My!
Post by: lamprey on February 25, 2014, 12:25:47 am

Hi Gang,

So, I'm in the planning stage on a standup machine. I have most of the details worked out, but one thing I'm not able to do is match a Tron handle with any other items. I guess this isn't too big of a deal, but for what I'm doing it would be nice to have a stick, spinner and a couple of buttons all match. I guess the easy option is to make everything black, but who wants easy?  ;)

I realize that the Tron handle repro (by GGG) in injected so doing it at home is a bit of a different animal. Recently, I've been messing with silicon molds and liquid plastic/urethane on a car project. So, I was thinking that it wouldn't be to terribly difficult to make a mold of a spinner knob and some buttons (and a repro Tron handle if needed) and then just cast a few parts.

So, the short question, does anyone know the proper liquid plastic and pigment to duplicate the color and UV reactiveness of a Tron handle?

I did some research and found some stuff at Smooth-On that might work. I had very good success with their Smooth-Cast Onyx for a black car part, so I was thinking I'd try some of their other products.

For Plastics they have:

• Smooth-Cast 325 (http://www.smooth-on.com/index.php?cPath=5_1120_1206) - Which I think I'll try first. Not sure if it is clear enough though.
• Crystal Clear Series - Optically Clear Liquid Plastic (http://www.smooth-on.com/Urethane-Plastic-a/c5_1120_1156/index.html) - This appears to bet the best. But, Smooth-on doesn't/won't sell online. I'll check my local plastic stop and see if they have anything of this quality.
• Clear Flex Urethane Rubber (http://www.smooth-on.com/index.php?cPath=1117_1153) - If I read the info right on this stuff, it is flexible, so that is a no-go, unless I'm misreading things.

And for Pigment they have:

• Ignite Fluorescent Color Pigments (http://www.smooth-on.com/Urethane-Plastic-a/c5_1119_1255/index.html) - I think I'll also try this and see what happens.
• Cryptolyte UV Glow Additive (http://www.smooth-on.com/index.php?cPath=1128_1260)

If anyone has an info they can share I'd appreciate it (I'm looking at you Randy! ;)). I can see the Ignite pigments not working and using some combination of a blue pigment and the Cryptolyte for all I know..  :dunno

Appreciate any thoughts, even if you want to tell me I'm on a fools errand..

 :cheers:

EDIT: Fixed URLs