Hydro Graphics Video, Dipping a 2D Maglite - Flames, Camo and Skulls?

This...

Just finished dipping, drying and clear coat.

Here's a rather long video, Again! About the dipping process and my experiences trying to dip.

It's been a real challenge, but I did make something that sort of looks like a dipped part.

Just an FYI. I will take a photo of the finished light when it is done.

Without the support of a certain member here, none of this would ever have happened. I will let him remain unknown, unless he wants to be known. All the thanks go to him.

10/11/14 Added a Skull pattern and added the Camo to the OP

nice video, good job but expensive method.

Very informative. I never knew such a thing existed.

Pretty cool! OL you are truly a pioneer.

Wow. An OL vid with gloves, masks, long slender objects with large heads and sticky stuff. Just what I always wanted.

I've seen this done before but not on a light. I'd give yourself a big pat on the back. That light looks hot. Thanks for showing us. How do you think the durability of the coating will be keeping in mind that it is a flashlight and not a coating on a machine tool. Thanks.

WOW - another dirty old man. Wink

I think it's about as durable as any part that has been spray painted, meaning it will chip fairly easily. If it were done in a shop, with the proffessional clearcoats available and ovens for curing, it would be a harder and more durable finish. I certainly would not want to drop it or drag it across a rough surface, but then again, even an anodized finish will get nicks and scratches in it fairly easily. I'm more fond of an artistic approach. I like shelf queens and lights that are visually exciting, more than just bright lights.

Camo for firemen!

I'll pay that one. Nice. Just need a flesh colored one now to go with the video.

looks cool thanks for sharing.

Didn't know this existed..

Thanks for showing!!! And yet another helpful video.

Thanks for sharing, this is a really nice method to get patterns on everything…
I just googled a bit and one of the big benefits is that it’s durability is up to the clear coat used. So if you use car 2K clear coat it will be the same as any other painted thing. There are people which dip their rims and stuff in it.

why have you used a white base?
Could you please make a picture of the imperfections on the knurling you mentioned? I am interested because the most lights have even more knurling and fins than a Maglite…

Do you think that the ink or whatever it is will hold up to the oven temps required for powder coating? I have some powder clear coat that I've never used if you would like to find out, though I have my doubts regarding how well the powder coating would stick. It has to be super clean and I wonder if the powder would stick to that stuff at all.

I will try to get a close-up. The white base is what is called for. I believe it’s because on the lighter colors, the white makes them stand out a little more and there are spots where the white shows, like white hot flame. I imagine any color could be used, but it would show through in places, so it might not look too good if they were black, or gray, or a color like blue.

I did put the light in the oven at 175 degrees, to help set the clear coat, but it’s just the oven in the kitchen and not ideal for that. I doubt powder coat would stick to the ink, but it might. I just don’t know if the ink would run from the heat. If I had the place and the equipment, I would do epoxy or some other clear coat paint that is tough as nails, but without the proper set-up, that stuff is killer on the lungs.

If anyone was going to come up with something new and
totally out of the box for a Mag light.

Great Job….O-L

Looks Great !

I sound like everyone else, but really: thanks for sharing. I know you weren’t totally thrilled by the outcome, but it looks pretty damned awesome from where I sit.

If this one goes up for sale, I’m gonna be sorely tempted.

It's hard to photograph, but you can see a little of the white spots showing through. In person, they are there in many of the low spots in the knurl.

One word……Awesome!

OL, I know you were not supper inspired by the finish, but I want to be along with the many here.

Dam good job. I have a few things I have been considering getting Dipped recently (stocks for firearms). This just added a few more things to the list.

Do you think there is any good way to remove the anodizing with out killing the light? I am ok with out having HAIII, I can always have it Cerakoted if I need a durable finish. :slight_smile:

You can remove the anodizing. I do it with greased lightning, from lowes or home depot. Others use drain cleaner. The problem with removing anodizing is that bare aluminum forms a film on it the second it’s exposed to air, so it’s hard to prime it fast enough to work. I think sanding the anodizing worked well enough.