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Thread: Lamp black

  1. #1

    Question Lamp black

    I've read that lamp black can be used for coloring epoxy for inlaying in ebony. While I was at an art store today I decided to get some to have on hand if I needed it. The store I was in carried water based and oil based. Which one should I use with epoxy? Or should I try to find a powdered lamp black? This store didn't have any.
    Richard Hutchings

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    Default Re: Lamp black


  3. #3
    Registered User sunburst's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lamp black

    I've used oil based and powder, and I prefer the powder. It needs to be mixed very thoroughly though, because it will stay in little clumps for a while. I believe I got mine from LMI.

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    Default Re: Lamp black

    OH makes his own Lamp Black Powder

    Take some Linseed oil, a wick and burn it, allowing the smoke to coat a widebottomed glass jar, put cold water in the jar to stop it breaking. Keep jar moving and don't let it get too hot or the water will boil. You may have to add more linseed oil from time to time. Once you have a nice thick layer you scrape it off and put in a clean lidded jar. Add a label to the jar so you know what it is LOL

    Some people use an old ceramic plate.

    Hope this helps

  5. #5
    Café habitué Paul Hostetter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lamp black

    The trouble with home-gathered lamp black is it's oily, and the oil will prevent the epoxy from kicking. This is why it's better to use prepared powder pigments: they're cleansed of contaminants. Another big trick many people miss with tinting epoxy is to thoroughly mix the A and B parts before adding any powder.

    I much prefer bone black to lamp black anyway.

    A two-ounce jar of bone or mars black from Daniel Smith ($8) will last you the rest of your life.
    .
    ph

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    Default Re: Lamp black

    Hah, Paul beat me to it, though I was going to say "Ivory black" from Kremer Pigments. Burnt bone or ivory makes the blackest black. The Kremer pigments catalog is really something, by the way... Lots of "don't try this at home" kind of stuff...mmmm! lead and cadmium and mercury!

  7. #7
    Registered User Vernon Hughes's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lamp black

    I use mohawk blendal powder..comes in many colors including black..
    http://www.mohawk-finishing.com/cata...br=130&atomz=1

  8. #8
    Café habitué Paul Hostetter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lamp black

    Minimum order is 32 ozs. per color.
    .
    ph

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    Default Re: Lamp black

    I've just been using a flame from a candle under the bottom of a jar. Hold the wick close to the glass and let it smoke up. Just move it about a bit. As already mentioned premix the epoxy!! ---G

  10. #10
    Registered User barry k's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lamp black

    I have been hesitant to offer advise here lately, seems like its more fun for others to muster an attack then accept another opinion, but here goes anyway, it might be the last time. You can use powered tempera paints (any color ) you need to mix with epoxy. They are inexpensive and mix well with anything.....elmers, epoxy whatever.

  11. #11
    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lamp black

    Thanks Barry! I'm going to give that a try next time!

  12. #12
    F-style Apostate
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    Default Re: Lamp black

    Easy solution-

    Go to the art store and buy some charcoal drawing sticks. Grind that up and mix with the epoxy. Works a treat.

    Lamp black and the various pigments are sometimes hard to come by, but you can always find the charcoal sticks.

    Rick

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    Default Re: Lamp black

    Around here, at least, lamp black is mixed with linseed oil and applied to wooden shingles on barn roofs. It works admirably for this purpose, but it does require a ton of mixing if you want to thoroughly dissolve all the powder.

    For this reason alone, leave it on the barn roof...

  14. #14
    Café habitué Paul Hostetter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lamp black

    And again, I think lamp black is a thorough no-go for these purposes, as elucidated above.
    .
    ph

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  15. #15
    Registered User sebastiaan56's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lamp black

    At the risk of annoying Paul, Ive had good results with powder black photocopy toner. HP or similar,

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