Silicone coloring

[Yannis]

Is there a way, a powder, a compound to mix to white silicone (not sicaflex), so that I can produce an off white/yellowish result ?

I wish to seal the seams of the custom fiberglass panels that cover the sides in the v berth, and either that particular color doesn't exist,or, if I put plain white it may look a bit lousy. The other idea is to use transparent silicone, but that too will look a bit peculiar.

Thanks.

[Carl]

Silicone pigment

[Yannis]

Is this a product? Does it have a brand name? What is it usually sold in (container, tube...)
I'm asking because I've never seen it.
Thanks , Carl.

[Carl]

I believe it has stuff in it that will get the silicone to mix with it. I think other products can be used, but needs an additive to mix. Also not sure which silicones work best with it.
It was a couple of years ago when a floating floor was put down. The installer pulled a "Silicone Pigment Kit" out of his toolbox, color-matched to the flooring, and proceeded to blend the funky ends. A couple of guys were asking about the coloring and I don't really recall too much as silicone and I do not mix well. I use and it goes wherever I don't want it to go...amazing stuff.

[Carl]

The kit looked like a kids paint number set, having little plastic containers of what looked like liquid paint, maybe a gel. It was a while ago, silicone pigment kit was written on the case.

[Carl]

Kinda looked like this, but not this

https://www.ebay.com/itm/401887633867?h ... BM-viQy-lh

[Tony Meola]

https://www.avient.com/gsdi-specialty-dispersions-inc

https://www.rockler.com/eye-candy-multi ... 20A&utm_te

Something like this?

[Yannis]

Carl, Tony, thanks.

I will inquire accordingly, I wonder if the above could be found in any typical paint/tool store, or if I would have to go through the web...
I'll post what happened. thanks again.

[CamB25]

Yannis,

check the kitchen and bath supply industry. They custom color silicone sealants to match grout. I'm not sure what they use as a pigment.

[Rawleigh]

Worth trying:

https://www.google.com/search?q=colorin ... wMiS6AU_49

[Yannis]

The chalk version didn't excite me but the spray, what a simple way....remains to be seen how it behaves in the marine environment...thanks Rawleigh.

Cam, why not, I’ll ask my local bathroom supplies store.

In the meantime I got covid for the first time, I'm lying in bed with fever like a dated broccoli...

[Carl]

…dated broccoli? That’s a new one, I assume meaning lying around limp.

I remember growing broccoli as a kid. It grew perfect, but the family thought to let it go just a bit longer only to find a flower bouquet the next day.. Stuck it in a vase and placed on table with dinner.

Hopefully a mild case of Covid that’s just annoying!

[Yannis]

Carl, a dated broccoli is one left outside the fridge for days, dry and disfigured like my face under covid. Lol !

[Carl]

Yannis- I'm glad you are up and in the state of mind to be joking and thinking about the boat...even if you resemble dated broccoli.

[Raybo Marine NY]

A good countertop and kitchen bath supply company has many varieties of silicone, I have an actual sample card somewhere in my office

https://www.silco-inc.com/

[Yannis]

Thanks Raybo!

[Rawleigh]

Hope you're feeling better Yannis! I had it over Christmas and it was 4 days of fever coughing and discomfort followed by about a month of nagging cough. Hope you as follows that pattern and isn't too bad. One of the really weird things about it is that it affects people so differently. My round with it was really like the old fashioned flu.

[Yannis]

Rawleigh,

My case is exactly copy paste. 4 days of fever, coughing like a dog, and discomfort like a common flu!
Indeed, if we knew nothing about covid, I’d say I had a common flu, not necessarily more discomforting.
However, I have no idea until when the rapid tests will continue positive. Today, day 6, I saw again two vivid red lines...
Does this mean I should wear a mask and continue seeing nobody? We have ...special social activities to take care of!

[Carl]

Does this mean I should wear a mask and continue seeing nobody? We have ...special social activities to take care of!

I'm not touching that answer with a 10' (3.048 meter) pole.


But can say...if you asked the lamb, it would vote on waiting or skipping the whole roast this year.

[Yannis]

Carl,

Im still laughing on my own with that reply...3 meter pole...

This easter (this coming sunday) will be calm. I lost my mother last week and my dad is in hospital with bad prognosis.
A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do...

[Carl]

I am so sorry Yannis.
My prayers to you and your family. I'm glad you were able to muster up a laugh during a tough time with a stupid joke of mine.

[Preston Burrows]

Yannis,

Your easiest fix might be to find a line of the appropriate caulk / silicone offered by your local suppliers off the shelf and mix say a white with a tan to get the colour you are looking for.

Mapei on this side of the pond offer 3 or 4 grout lines that they custom match to their grout colours..........but for you to go to that length and expense in getting whatever in from elsewhere for what would likely barely amount to a 10 oz tube of caulk in total would be overkill.

Besides you could always change the colour of the panels to the colour of the caulk you can find!

Remember it's a Bertram...........

[Rawleigh]

Yannis:. I am very sorry for your loss! Take solace in the message of Easter!

[Yannis]

Preston,

Im aware of grout used in construction and probably the ease with which various colors can be either found or made.
Indeed I have already used such a tinted grout already, in the seams in question.

The thing is that this grout, colored or otherwise, is not flexible/expandable enough after it dries/cures, so that after a number of seasons it breaks/disintegrates and leaves a void between the two adjacent surfaces. Not that I will miss my sleep for that, but it would be better if another type of material, like silicone, could be found. I have already used a flexible mastic in the appropriate color, but that mastic is not the ideal product either, in that it almost never cures completely and therefore gets dirty because it remains kind of sticky always.

Now, changing the color of the panels to the color of the caulk, how have I not thought about it already LOL !!

Carl, Rawleigh, I appreciate your kind words.

[Tony Meola]

Yannis

I am sorry to hear about your mother. Prayers for your father. It is tough losing a parent, and hopefully your father gets better.

Take care of yourself, Covid can have lingering aftereffects.

[DanielM]

Yannis,

You’ll be in my prayers. So sad to lose your mom and have your dad struggling.

My condolences for your mother, and hope for your father.

Best wishes on your Covid recovery.

[Yannis]

Tony, Danny, thank you, I appreciate.

[Raybo Marine NY]

Sorry to hear about your mom.

You’re good with a roller or brush right? Why not use a paintable sealant or even seam sealer and brush the sealant after it’s cured. A foam brush dabbed along the lines or a broad pinstripe brush works great for that

[Yannis]

Thanks Raybo, very kind.

The new sealant has to remain flexible always, like silicone, because that area is prone to various stretches during cruising.
Is silicone paintable? If yes, then Ill ask for silicone paint like you suggest.
I currently have another sealant in place that is rigid, has cracked and even broke into pieces at certain areas leaving a void where it crumbled.
What paintable sealant do you have in mind, other than silicone?
Thanks.

[Raybo Marine NY]

5200 4200 is flexible.
Pettit anchor tech flexible
Seam sealer is flexible
3m 4000uv is flexible

All paintable and should be easy to get in your area

[Rawleigh]

Raybo: Wouldn't the paint you put over it need to be flexible as well?

[Rawleigh]

While on the subject of caulking, check out a product called Tubeanew on Amazon. It is a rubber boot with a new caulking nozzle on it. It lets you save a caulking tube that the nozzle has hardened on by cutting the tube off and slipping the new boot on the tube so you basically have a new caulking tube and can use the remaining good product. i have ordered a couple sleeves of them to try and will try to remember to report back on them. They are about $1.30 a piece, so the cost savings could be huge with the price of 5200, etc!!

https://www.tubeanew.com/

[Preston Burrows]

Yannis,

Sorry to hear of your loss.

I was referring to silicone as opposed to grout by the way.

Likely your bigger issue is that the silicone, or whatever caulk, has nothing to adhere to excepting for the edges of the panels themselves, which, if fibreglass based, are a hard ask adhesion wise.

Perhaps a better suggestion would be welding rod such as they use in linoleum flooring, for that you would need the appropriate coloured rod and an application tool [special heat gun] so again you are in the realm of the ridiculous with respect to cost /unknown results etc.

Another option might be to have used, or retro-fit, 'T-type' panel mouldings that join the edges of the panels so as to hide/transition the seams.....but again you have the issue of colour matching, fixing in place and they would negate the seamless look you obviously prefer.

Good luck.........and don't look at them too often is my last advice, you will soon forget about them!

[Raybo Marine NY]

Without quoting all the responses, the paint would be flexible, and I find a long stainless screw in the nozzle of a tube of caulking allows for good storage and easy removal (the screw) later on. Stick it in a fridge even better.
A piece of wire or caulking saver also does good to make up large gaps