If you've used Alvin's Lab Metal, can you please post your experience with it?

[silvermitt]

I'm about to buy some on Amazon and would love to hear other's experience with it. I've come across some old threads, either here or the RPG site, but not alot was said other than to use toluene to thin it down. Anyways, when I have my helmet sanded down and linework etched in (should have done it yesterday!), I'm going to use this stuff.

 

[silvermitt]

Absolutely NO ONE has ever used this stuff??! Between the prop builders and automotive people, I truly would have thought some one would have had a comment about it.

 

[silvermitt]

So this morning, I put about a quarter cup of the metal putty in a plastic cup and then added about the same amount of toluene. So far, it goes on very well and dries nearly instantly. So if you have plans to try this as well, I'd recommend you have a steady hand, don't go back over brushed areas until that place is completely dry, and have a few extra brushed on hand as you won't be able to clean out the first one you used. Also, this will make your part a tad bit heavier.

I'll post more about it in my Zam build when I get to the point where I'm sanding it down a bit more and polishing the coating. Supposedly, it should shine like it's made out of metal since it has aluminum bits in the putty. We shall see soon.

 

[silvermitt]

It's been blackened with shoe polish. I may have taken it too dark. But you can still see the shine that polishing this material gives.

 

[Silverstalker]

I am on the understanding that this is liquid metal? Is that right

 

[silvermitt]

No, it's an oozy putty with metal shaving bits. Thinned down, it's paint-like. I'm trying to be as descriptive as possible, so you can get an idea of how it behaves. I really liked the way it looks and feels on my helmet. Sanding it can smooth it, but buffing it is what brings out the metallic shine. As for the piece I showed, I've gone over the high spots with a silver rub-n-buff and it brightened it up a bit more. I think the simichrome polisher dulls the medium somewhat.

 

[Mike M.]

it sounds a lot like bondo plastic metal or jb steelstick.

 

[silvermitt]

Comparable, yes. It's an automotive product, after all. It's original purpose is the same as the ones you mention.

Personally, I liked the end result I got from it. I'll be using it again too.