x2 Colorant Help

[pieterbez]

Jason Please help help help
I tried to use the x2 red colorant today and just could not get it to work.
When I add the colorant to the hot plastic 350 degrees, the drops just sink to the bottom and does not dissolve in the plastic.
I have to squash every drop with the screwdiver that I use to mix the plastic with.
I even ended up using 20 drops in 1/4 cup of plastic and still did not get the right color. Went back to the NB Red and added 50 drops to get the color that I want.

Maybe I am just stupid, or is there a secret to using the x2 colorant

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Most things I've read about the X2 is to add it to cold liquid plastic, at least for "more true" colors.  What may be happening, not being able to mix it in the hot plastic, is the cold drop of Colorant is cooling the plastic around itself, kind of making a "bubble", trapping the Colorant inside the bubble of plastic.

[ctom]

I'd take a small amount of raw plastic and stir the red into it, then add it to the hot if you have to. I've used the Hot Pink, bright orange, red, chartreuse, and purple in the x2 for a while now and always cold mix. The couple of times I have adjusted the color after the intial cooking I added the x2 color to a shot-glass sized bit of raw and mixed it up until no streaking showed, then added as need heating in short bursts just enough to allow me to mix the primary plastic well. I found it helpful to add just a drop or so of softener to the adjustment color too...that really helped the color to blend the colorant so no strong or weak spots showed up while adding to the primary plastic.

There are difference between that x2 and the original colorant with the original being more forgiving. Gotta play with it.

[pjmcla]

As bareknuckle said -  Try adding to cold plactic and stirring well before any heating.  I do not have experience with X2 red; but several transparent colors I use must be mixed with cold plastic or they will "clump" and will not disperse well at all.  It seems they scorch and discolor before they disperse much. 

[andrewlamberson]

On the X2 page it states:

"For best results heat your plastic and colorant together."

I have to admit...I have not been doing it that way...but I'm going to change!

FYI...You get significantly better results when you mix your cold plastic and the density modifier together before heating.

[pieterbez]

Thanks Guys

Will try tomorrow as I Have to make a bunch of 10" Ribbontail's with a chartreuse tails.

[CrabbyBass]

I have been mixing the X2 colors in cold raw plastic.  Once you start doing that, you will start doing it with all of your colorants.  I know I do now.  The colors seem to really pop when done this way.  I have also had to make adjustments and added the X2 to hot plastic with no problem.  A word of caution though, when you make green pumpkin brown, as it is coming up to temp and the plastic gels, it looks like phlegm.       

[Jason]

Sorry I'm late to the game...  All colors look better when added to cold plastic and mixed well.  You will get a deeper richer color. 

The red, as you already found out, is really thick - maybe X3 or X4, and pretty much has to be added to cold plastic.  If you are tweaking a recipe just add a little to a small amount of plastic and then add it to your hot plastic.  This was part of the tradeoff with it being strong and non-bleed.

Thanks,

Jason

[mrex]

Take the cap off and stir the bottom with a small screw driver. If X2 sits for a couple of weeks tends to settle out and shaking does not help much. If it is down to just color pigments might want to add a little worm oil to the bottle.

[matt]

I put 1/2 nuts in my bottles and shake 2 to 3 of them

[mrex]

That works great for regular colors, x2 is thicker. Just take the top off and check the bottom of the bottle.
With a small screw diver if you have not been stirring it well you used the worm oil off the top and
the color pigments settled out on bottom if you are having to crush color with screw diver my guess is you
will need to add some more oil to the bottle.

[wilks19]

Like the fellas have said, put your colorant into cold plastic.  I have had no issues doing it this way.  You will have to stir it up real good to get it to break down, but it works and turns out AMAZING.  The X2 colorant is my favorite to use.  That should take care of your problem.  Good luck.

[biglewers]

The Flo Lime X2  is really thick as well.  If I dont shake it once a day it hard packs in the bottom of the bottle.  Don't know if thats normal but, the color is awesome.     

[Mic]

I have put a several nuts in the bottle to help when shaking it up.  It is a thick colorant and needs to be well mixed. 

[biglewers]

I do that to all my colors as well.  Works great