About a year ago a guy joined TAC in Tucson. He told us about hydrographic dipping gave a few of us prices (which by the way, was frigging expensive, $100-$150 for the furniture) and then disappeared. The whole thing went to the back of my mind. I ran into it again in YouTube a couple weeks ago. I watched hours of video and decided to make an order from Dip Wizard.
I sanded and painted a set of hand guards I had from an old JG, and here is a play by play of the process.
Here is the stuff. I bought $150 worth. Lots of film, activator, and base paint. Literally enough to do scores of items.
Here's the skull film. I had already done one of the hand guards prior to the play by play.
This is how I measured the film. I was a little short the first time I tried so I made it a little bigger.
I cut it out. I used the excess and made tape ball handles.
I cut slits in the corners so that it could expand.
Checking the water temperature.
I was alone so i didn't take pictures for the next few steps. I laid the film on the water like all the videos say to do. I ensured there are no bubbles. I set a timer for 1 minute, then sprayed on the activator, and waited 20 seconds. I went in at a 30 ish degree angle and agitated the water ate the end to break the ink away.
The process leaves ink slime that needs to be washed off. I just sat it in the sink and let the water run until the it was not slimy anymore.
Finished parts. They need to be completely dry then lacquered with clear coat.
The whole process really took no time at all. It was the drying time that makes it more than 20 minutes to do.
Sanded stocks. Didn't take but 10 or 15 minutes.
Tan paint. Really just off white. I don't like it, and I need to find a darker Tan.
Post dipped. A little on the light side, but the pistol grip came out exceptional.
Mounted. I can't believe that people pay 100's of dollars to have this done. It's literally 15 to 20 minutes of work and less than $5 in matterial.
