FAQ's
General Mica Powder Info
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Mica powders can be mixed with a wide range of media, including but not limited to acrylic pouring medium, epoxy resin, glass, clay, oil-based media, wax, soap, and acrylic paint. Mica pigment can also be added to a wide range of plastics in lieu of a dye. Mica powders can even be mixed with other carrier oils, like jojoba oil, almond oil, or linseed oil, to which they will impart a shimmery appearance.
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Mica powder is non-toxic, and so it is popularly used in soap making and in the production of cosmetics. However, the FDA may have separate regulations for the other pigments sometimes used in mica pigments. For additional information, please see the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) on each product page, where you will find detailed specifications on pigments used.
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Yes, mica pigment can be used in both glass and grout. It is actually quite practical for using in grout, as it does not dissolve in water and is colorfast.
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Yes, mica powders are made with mineral pigments and are naturally vegan. This information is provided solely for the purpose of information, and mica pigments should not be ingested.
Epoxy Resin and Pigments
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That really depends on the project, and Rolio's mica pigments are highly concentrated so a little bit goes a long way. Using an amount of mica pigment equal to roughly 0.5% to 3% the total volume of epoxy is recommended. That means for a gallon of resin, you can use anywhere from 18 to 108 grams of pigment.
As an easy starting point, start out small with about 16 grams per gallon and see how it looks. If it is too thin, add more. Remember, in a concentrated mixture, the epoxy might look darker colored than it will appear when you pour it, so keep that in mind.
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For Larger Projects such as an Epoxy River Table see the below:
- For a translucent look, we recommend adding 6 grams or 1.5 teaspoons per 30 Liters or 8 Gallons. This amount will allow you to see through the epoxy and still see some detail on the live edge.
- For an opaque look: 12 grams or 3 teaspoons per 30 Liters or 8 Gallons. This amount will remove the ability to see the live edge, and you won't see through the epoxy.Â
We recommend starting with a little bit of pigment and adding more until getting the results you are looking to achieve.
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Mica Powders will naturally have a shimmer, as it is an earth mineral that has this effect.
To achieve a solid opaque color in epoxy we recommend pigment paste. It is a resin based dye that will give your epoxy resin a solid color, with no shimmer. Check out our pigment paste collection here.
Other alternatives for a non shimmer epoxy dye is liquid pigments. We offer a selection of Solid, Translucent, and Transparent dyes here.
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To achieve optimal results in small volume resin projects, it is recommended to incorporate 1 gram of mica powder for every 1-5 ounces of epoxy. It is worth noting that 1 gram is approximately equivalent to one-quarter teaspoon. By using a 1-to-1 ratio, you will obtain a darker and more opaque color, whereas a 1-to-5 ratio will yield a more transparent appearance.
It is important to consider that thinner resin castings, such as delicate resin jewelry, usually necessitate a greater amount of mica powder to attain a vibrant and pearlescent shine.
Mica Powder & Paint
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Yes! You can definitely add mica powder to most acrylic and waterbase paints. However if you are using Mica Powder to color or tint thick acrylics, you will need alot more Mica Powder than normal to tint and color the paint to your liking.
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Yes, you can add mica powder to paint for airbrushing. However, it is definitely recommended to use isopropyl, lacquer thinner, or any other paint thinners to prevent clogging of the airbrush gun. Another factor that can cause clogging depends on the ratio mix and nozzle size of the airbrush.Â
As for ratio mix, we recommend always starting with  1/4 tbs to 1/2tbs of mica powder for roughly 1 pint of paint. Or 1/2 to 3/4tsp per pint.  Â
Mica Powder & Wood
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There are a few ways you can use Mica powder to color/stain/finish your wood.
- For more of a stain we recommend mixing with a clear linseed oil. (we recommend trying Mineral Oil if that's what you have around)
- For more of a tint in the wood, rubbing the straight mica on the wood and buffing (make sure to seal with a lacquer) can give a pretty interesting result.
- Additionally you can mix with a liquid beeswax for more of a pearlescent finish over painted wood.
It really depends on the type of finish you are trying to achieve. For a deep traditional stain and coloring of wood, it may be difficult using the mica powder method.
Please make sure that you use a form of seal after any Mica applied methods.
We always recommend trying a small test of your method before applying to the large project.
Hope this helps and would love to hear from you on how your project turns out.
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Top Coat Epoxy Resin - Rolio Offers a beautiful crystal clear top coat Epoxy Resin. This should only be used for a top coating, and the thickness should not exceed .75" in height.
Deep Pour Epoxy Resin - This should be used in circumstances such as river tables, or epoxy projects where you can pour up to 2" in height of Epoxy at a time. If you need to pour more than 2" in height for your Epoxy Resin project, it is recommended to do it in multiple stages of 2" pours, on top of each other.
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Our Story
Started in a small studio in Southern California in 2018. We’ve sourced the best products from around the world to help create pieces that have realer, more vibrant colors and feeling. We’ve talked to a lot of artists at home and in other countries to create supplies that deliver exactly what you’re looking for.
If you have any questions or need help: