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APPLICATION
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- 1. Measure. In the same graduated container
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- 2. Mix. Mix the measured resin and hardener in a
clean container. Stir until the material is thoroughly blended. Mixing
should be completed after 2 minutes of vigorous mixing. The importance
of thorough mixing cannot be over-emphasized. The two components must
be whipped much like mixing a cake batter. If bubbles get whipped into
the mixture, do not be concerned; the bubbles can be easily removed
later. Improper mixing can result in soft or sticky spots.
To prevent problems with improper mixing, we suggest using a "double-cup"
method of mixing: have two mixing containers ready. Begin mixing in
the first clean mixing container. After one minute of mixing, transfer
the Envirotex Lite into the second container and continue mixing for
one minute. Mixing should be completed after two minutes of vigorous
mixing.
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- 3. Pour, Do Not Wait! Pour as soon as thoroughly
mixed. Carefully pour over the surface in an even pattern. Spread where
necessary using a piece of stiff paper to help liquid flow together.
Caution: It Envirotex Lite is left in mixing container, it will become
hot and set up rapidly.
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- 4. De-gas. After about 5 minutes, the air bubbles
created while stirring will rise to the surface. They can be easily
and effectively broken by GENTLY exhaling on them until they disappear
(avoid inhaling fumes). A propane torch can be used as an aid in removing
bubbles from a freshly coated surface. Hold the torch about 6 inches
away and sweep smoothly across the surface until the bubbles are gone.
Use low flame. This process may be repeated as often as is necessary
while material is liquid. Brush edges until material has set" firm
enough not to "sag." NOTE: It is carbon dioxide, not heat,
which breaks up the bubbles
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- 5. Cure. For best results, coat at temperatures between
70° F and 80° F . Allow the coated item to cure in a warm dust
free room. Curing time will vary with humidity and temperature. Humidity
below 50% is recommended for proper hardness of film. Placing a clean
cardboard box over the item is effective in keeping dust off the surface
during the cure cycle.
Temperature |
Dust Free |
Hard Cure |
70° F |
4-7 hours |
72 hours |
80° F |
3-6 hours |
48 hours |
90° F |
2-5 hours |
36 hours |
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- 6. Clean-up. While liquid, the material can be cleaned
up with alcohol. After it has cured, it can only be removed by long
exposure to epoxy stripper, sanding or infrared paint peeler.
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| Surface Care - Furniture polish will prolong the life
of the surface and clean smudges, etc. If scratches occur that cannot be
polished out, clean with acetone, then re-coat with Envirotex Lite. This
additional coat will remove all surface blemishes. Envirotex Lite is heat
resistant, however, if should not be intentionally subjected to high temperatures
such as cigarettes, cooking utensils, etc. Envirotex Lite is water and alcohol
proof. Objects, when left on the surface for a period of time, may leave
impressions on an Envirotex Lite surface (the coating is made tough, yet
flexible so as to not be brittle and prone to shattering from impact). Impressions
usually disappear in a few hours at normal 72° - 75°room temperatures.
The warmer the environment, the more quickly impressions will appear and
after items are removed, will disappear. This characteristic, coupled with
outstanding moisture and chemical resistance, makes Envirotex Lite an ideal
coating for bar tops, coffee tables and dining tables. |
Creative Ideas - General Surface Coating. Envirotex Lite
may be applied over most surfaces.
| Wood |
Transfers |
Seeds |
| Decals |
Painted Surfaces |
Figurines |
| Oil Paints |
Metal |
Styrofoam |
| Pine Cones |
Straw Flowers |
Plaster |
| Rocks |
Beans |
Fabric |
| Bisque |
Dried Flowers |
Models |
| Paper |
Sea Shells |
Bread Dough |
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| Tables / BarTops / Large Objects - We recommend a helper
to speed the mixing process for large areas. Large or small, preparation
is important. Table must be dry, sanded, level, free from sawdust, dirt
or loose charred wood. Most raw wood is porous and should be sealed to prevent
air bubbles from escaping into the final coat (see ‘seal coats”).
After seal coat—flood generously with Envirotex Lite. Insure that
the fluid is well distributed, covering all dry spots (follow steps under
“bubbles”), and then leave it alone! Elevate a plastic drop
cloth above the table as a dust cover. Give your table 2-3 days to cure
undisturbed in a warm room before putting it into service. |
| Decoupage/Photographs/Newspaper Clippings - Envirotex
has revolutionized the art of decoupage with ifs one-coat application. Use
white glue to mount the items to be coated. If you are working with thin
paper, then avoid “blotching” by sealing first with the white
glue solution Make sure glue is thoroughly dry before coating with Envirotex
Lite |
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TECHNIQUES
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| Thickness - Envirotex can be cast up to 1/2in. as the
maximum thickness. It must be poured in 1/8in. layers with 8 hours in between
layers. Thicknesses of over 1/2in. will appear amber in color. |
| Liquid Storage. For best results, fluids should be stored
at 70-75°F prior to use. Both resin and hardener can be left in open
containers but should be closed for long storage. The shelf life of this
compound is approximately 1 year. All polymer compounds react in some way
to the presence of humidity. Envirotex Lite has been developed and formulated
in such a way that its reaction to humidity is minimized. Using Envirotex
Lite in a room where humidity is under 50%will give best results. |
| NOTE - Due to the purity of the Envirotex Lite resin,
a clouding or settling of the resin may occur in extremely cold conditions.
Should this ‘clouding occur, place resin container in hot tap water
until resin clears. Allow to cool to room temperature before combining with
hardener. |
| Gluing -. If waiting 3-4 hours is no problem, then Envirotex
Lite works very well as a glue. But, if you’re in a hurry, white glue
works fine. Apply glue to the back of your print, photo, or whatever. Or
if you wish, you can brush glue over the entire surface of the plaque and
just lay the subject on top. Then use a roller or your hand to push air
bubbles out from under the print. Be sure glue is dry before coating with
Envirotex Lite. |
| Seal Coats. Open grain woods such as oak or walnut require
a thin coat of Envirotex Lite prior to flood coating to prevent air from
escaping from the wood into the thick fluid. To seal coat something, just
mix up about 1/4 the amount you would use to flood coat, and spread it thinly
over the entire surface, using a brush or scraper fool. This puts a thin
film down over air passages, and seals them off. Occasionally two seal coats
are required. Allow the seal coat to cure for at least 5 hours, and you
are ready to flood coat the object. Porous fabric or paper should be sealed
with one or two coats to white glue prior to flood coating. Envirotex Spray
Sealer No. 4013 is available in a 13 oz. spray can. It is very fast drying
and provides a quick re-coat over paper or wood and “stiffens”
soft items such as dry flowers or fabrics |
| Bubbles. One of the important signs that you are mixing
Envirotex Lite well enough is the appearance of bubbles while you are mixing.
This is normal. Envirotex Lite has been specially formulated to de-gas itself,
freeing most bubbles, automatically. Occasionally, however, bubbles will
become trapped in the surface. They can be easily removed by exhaling your
breath gently over the surface, or by carefully sweeping a propane torch
across the liquid at a height of approximately 6-8 inches. |
| Torching. As mentioned above, torching is a method for
releasing bubbles from a pour that may not de-gas itself. Care should be
taken to avoid over torching. If wooden objects are not sufficiently seal
coated prior to torching, the torching will cause wood to “bleed”
air into a fresh coat of Envirotex Lite, and these bubbles are difficult
to stop. The torch should never be held in one place, as this will permanently
damage surface and coating. Use a swift, even sweeping motion when torching
and never hold torch closer than 6 inches from surface |
Satin Finish. The following method may be used to create
a satin finish with Envirotex Lite after applied and completely cured. If
after a period of time you decide you would like to change the satin finish
back to high gloss, clean the surface thoroughly with acetone (to remove
all wax and dirt) and re-coat with Envirotex. It will cure once again to
a beautiful glossy surface.
- a. To remove the gloss, rub the fully cured surface with wet or dry
0000 steel wool or #600 sandpaper. Rub with the grain of the wood or
in small consistent circles.
- b. Wipe the surface clean. Using a soft cloth or felt, apply a paste
made of oil (i.e., decoupage “polishing oil”, linseed oil,
or crude oil) and a carnauba based wax. Decoupage “polishing powder”
may be used in place of the wax.
- c. After letting the surface dry, rub off any wax and buff with a
carnauba based wax.
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Drips. Excess Envirotex Lite will drip over sides of
the plaque or table as if is being poured. Pick up excess drips with a brush
and coat the edges you missed when pouring the surface. Drips will harden
on the bottom of your project during the curing process. One of the following
methods will eliminate the drips.
- a. Scrape them off the bottom while they are still fluid, about 30-40
minutes after pouring
- b. BEFORE POURING, apply a generous coat of paste wax or masking tape
to the edges of the back of the project. After the Envirotex Lite is
cured, the drips can be popped off.
- c. Drips can be sanded off after Envirotex Lite is cured. A circular
sanding attachment on an ordinary hand drill works well
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| Before Attempting Large Projects: Envirotex Lite is easy
to handle, but before attempting large projects, we recommend doing a small
one to “get the feel” of applying Envirotex Lite.We recommend
a helper to aid in mixing when coating large objects. |
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Questions? Call Our Technical
Support Hotline: (212) 367-7561 |