Frequently Asked Questions
Domestic Solutions:
Plasti Dip – Protective Coating
“Why am I getting a dull finish ?”
Plasti Dip® protective coating has a matt finish. If you are experiencing a cloudy or hazy finish, it’s likely to be caused by high humidity. Avoid these conditions or add approximately 5-10% of our Plastidip Thinners to reduce the problem.
“Why is the Plasti Dip® sagging or dripping ?”
Removing an item too quickly when being dipped, is usually what causes this problem. Remove at a rate of 1” every 5 seconds. If experiencing runs or sags when spraying, move can further away from the surface and apply a lighter coat. Sagging and dripping can also be caused by high humidity, high temperatures, windy conditions, and/or direct sun light. Ideal conditions are low humidity, and little to no air movement in a well ventilated area.
“Is priming necessary ?”
In some cases you do not need to prime the surface, but this is dependent on the type of material you are coating. Generally, for smooth non porous surfaces such as metal and uvpc we would always recommend using our Primer.
“Why isn’t my Blaze colour very bright?”
To get the best colour result from the Blaze range of Plasti Dip, use it over a white base layer.
“Is Plasti Dip® safe to use on children’s toys, animal containment and/or on kitchen utensils ?”
Plasti Dip does not contain any heavy metals, and when completely dry, is considered harmless. However, it is not recommended that it be used on items that may be chewed or inserted into the mouth, as it may present a choking hazard.
“How thickly can I apply Plasti Dip ?”
When following the directions, you can apply as many coats of Plasti Dip® protective coating as you like. For most applications 7-10 mils thickness is adequate. Only in extreme cases or for aesthetic reasons is more thickness necessary. (Note: a mil equates to 1000th of one inch).
“Can I add a colourant or pigment to the Plasti Dip to create a custom colour ?”
Mixing different colours of Plasti Dip® protective coating can be done very simply to achieve other colours. We will soon have pigments available for sale in most popular colours. For most pigments, add approximately 1oz of pigment to 1 litre of Plasti Dip. Please also see our new product “Create Your Colour” which combines 5 pigments with a 651ml can of clear coating.
“Can Plasti Dip® be used to repair a damaged dishwasher rack ?”
While Plasti Dip has been used for dishwasher rack repair in the past, it is not recommended. Our ReRACK product is much better suited for this application, and works very well.
“Is Plasti Dip chemical resistant ?”
Plasti Dip protective coating has excellent resistance to acids, alkaline, and most common household chemicals. However, it is best to test this before going ahead with your application. Plasti Dip® does have limited resistance to petroleum based products. (Please see our “HCF” coating where contact with petroleum is required).
“Can Plasti Dip® be used to seal electrical connections ?”
While Plasti Dip has excellent dielectric properties (insulates against shock), our Liquid Tape Electrical product is specifically formulated and conveniently packaged for this application.
“Can Plasti Dip be applied to PVC ?”
Rub acetone or finger nail polish remover in an inconspicuous area and apply Plasti Dip® to test for success. We recommend applying HCF to UPVC surfaces.
“Can you speed up the dry time of Plasti Dip ?”
Very low oven heat (between 100° – 150°) may be used on a conveyor. However, the part or object should first set or hang dry for 30 minutes for the fast releasing solvents to escape.
“Does Plasti Dip contain polyvinylchloride ?”
Plasti Dip® does not contain any polyvinylchloride or any other vinyl resins.
“Is there any product on the market that can be applied over Plasti Dip to provide a glossy finish ?”
Our Glossifer (F-799 Top Coat) will provide a glossy finish and is currently available in 750ml and 2.5 litre and 5 litre cans and soon aerosol.
Super Grip – Non-skid Fabric Coating
“Can I apply Super Grip directly to the floor surface ?”
Absolutely not! Super Grip® non-skid fabric coating is only designed for use on most fabric surfaces to stop skidding. Do not use Super Grip® directly on wood, ceramic, concrete, or other types of flooring surfaces.
“What if I get Super Grip on a surface I didn’t intend to ?”
DAP®, Goo Gone®, or mineral spirits can be used to clean up Super Grip®, but try it in an inconspicuous area first to ensure the cleaning solution doesn’t affect the surface you are cleaning.
Plastiseam – Protective Coating
“Can Plastiseam be used with underwater applications ?”
While Plastiseam is designed to seal against moisture penetration in sewn seams, it is not recommended for applications requiring permanent submersion in water.
VLP – Vinyl Repair
“Can VLP be used to repair damaged dishwasher racks ?”
While VLP has been used in the past to recoat damaged dishwasher racks. Our ReRACK product is specifically formulated and conveniently packaged for this application.
“What is the difference between the VLP and Vyna Bond products ?”
VLP is specifically designed for tears and splits in vinyl and some leathers, while Vyna Bond is specifically formulated and conveniently packaged for patching holes in vinyl, even under water.
“Can VLP be sprayed ?”
VLP can be sprayed by using a pressure-pot with a conventional spray gun and airless spray equipment. Please contact us for more information.
Liquid Electrical Tape
“What can I use to reduce Liquid Tape ‘Electrical’ if it becomes too thick, or if I need a thinned down Liquid Electrical Tape coating for my application ?”
“What is dielectric strength ?”
Dielectric strength refers to a material’s ability to insulate against electrical shock. Liquid Tape ‘Electrical’, being rubber based, provides excellent electrical insulation and is suitable for all types of applications. Further dielectric information is available upon request.
“Can Liquid Tape ‘Electrical’ be removed ?”
Yes, carefully cut and peel Liquid Tape ‘Electrical’ from the repair area. (Be sure to follow all health and safety warnings as well as local electrical codes when working with electricity).
Vyna Bond – Leather & Vinyl Repair
“Can I use Vyna Bond on leather and other fabrics ?”
While Vyna Bond is meant for use on vinyl and comes with a vinyl swatch for patching, it also works well on other porous fabrics and materials. It’s best to test the suitability of Vyna Bond for your vinyl repair applications.
“What is the difference between the VLP and Vyna Bond products ?”
VLP is specifically designed for tears and splits in vinyl and some leathers, while Vyna Bond is specifically formulated and conveniently packaged for patching holes in vinyl, even under water.
“Can Vyna Bond be sprayed ?”
Vyna Bond can be sprayed by using a pressure-pot with a conventional spray gun and airless spray equipment. Please contact us for more information.
Industrial Solutions:
“My application requires temperatures outside the range listed on your Technical Data Sheet [TDS]. Can the product go higher or lower in temperature than the range states ?”
Generally yes, however it depends on the length of time and also how the coating is expected to perform at that temperature. If the coating will not be impacted, expected to resist abrasion, chemicals or not stick to itself or another surfaces at lower or higher temperatures, and if the period of time is relatively short, most of our coatings will go outside the range before either becoming affected negatively. It’s always best to test if this is a critical feature, and use a ‘common sense’ approach.
“The MSDS says the product is flammable or hazardous. Does this mean it’s flammable or hazardous in its liquid state or after it’s applied and allowed to adequately dry ?”
Good question. Many customers confuse MSDS information [based on liquid properties only] for physical properties of the applied and properly cured product. They are very different. MSDS information is for transportation, safety, health and environmental reporting purposes only of the liquid product. Always review the TDS for the product’s physical properties after completely drying.
“How do I calculate the amount of coating I need for my project ?”
First determine how many mils* thick you require the product to be applied when dry. Then calculate the square foot of the surface area of each part to be coated. Using the square foot coverage information provided on the TDS, you can easily calculate how many square feet per gallon you can expect at a given mil thickness.
For example, if you determine you require 10 mils DFT [dry film thickness] and the TDS states 40 square feet @ 5 mils, divide the 40 square feet by 2. The 20 square feet per litre would then become twice the thickness or 10 mils dft. You can multiply or divide accordingly to achieve your estimated per litre coverage. (*mils: 1 mil = 1000th of 1 inch).
By dividing into your cost per litre for the product you can then theoretically estimate the amount of material needed for the job, as well as a rough cost per square foot. Always assume you will have some waste whether you are dipping [usually 5% waste], brushing [usually 10% waste] or spraying [usually 10-25%] depending on shape and complexity of parts being coated. These are estimates only and common sense must be used when calculating material usage.
“The product TDS states I must sheer mix the product. What does sheer mixing mean, and how does that differ from using a stir stick or paddle mixer ?”
Sheering or aggressive dispersion is necessary for products that gel or coagulate in cold weather, transportation or long term storage. Most of our vinyl based Muraculon products require this type of mixing. High speed combined with a Cowles dispersion blade or similar is required along with carefully following the TDS mixing instructions. Over 95% of all application/finish complaints stem from improper or inadequate product mixing. Please read and follow instructions very carefully!
In many cases we have several colours available in the product you need. If you can supply us with a 2”x 2” colour swatch, we can check to see if we can match the colour you’re looking for or something very close. In most cases we can offer a Bespoke colour service for a small addition charge. We require a 5 litre minimum order for Bespoke colour requests.
“Does your company offer technical support ?”
Yes, we offer technical support on 3 levels.
1. You can access many of our MSDS and TDS through our website.
2. Call, write or email us, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Provide us with as much detail as possible; we can’t have too much information about your application. We may also ask you to send us a sample or actual part you are interested in coating so we can evaluate your application specifics and provide you with the best overall coating.
3. On-site visits. In some cases our Technical Team will offer to come and visit you to discuss your technical requirements. Technical support is what sets us apart from our competitors.
ABBREVIATIONS USED:
TDS: Technical Data Sheet.
MSDS: Manufacturer’s Safety Data Specification/Sheet.
MILS: One mil is equivalent to 1000th of one inch.
DFT: Dry Film Thickness