[Azurel]

I never assume anyone is stupid...my apologies...but we know that there ARE people who post that don't do any searching...since I was short of time, just pointed out that posts were listed and if you tried them, the posters here on DB might be the members who have made vivs using those products--as I had seen them some time ago. Obviously by the number of posts you've made, you may have seen the same vivs...apologies again...

No problem Judy....no need to apologize.......Thank you though for trying.

sent from my Galaxy S lll

 

[pa.walt]

judy was only trying to help. in your original post you never mentioned you did a search. you just asked for information. she might not imply you are stupid but I will.

 

[Judy S]

Hopefully you will keep a visual record of each step...if the build looks do-able for interested people who love making the backgrounds...it would be worth the expense...I haven't noticed anyone else using these high end products lately so would really enjoy the show...

 

[Azurel]

Hopefully you will keep a visual record of each step...if the build looks do-able for interested people who love making the backgrounds...it would be worth the expense...I haven't noticed anyone else using these high end products lately so would really enjoy the show...

That is my plan.....Hopefully atleast enought detail to help answer some questions....

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[Azurel]

I did search it....Nothing describing the process of using it or tips or anything.

Was one by Dane but it was just pictures of a rock wall he made....

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judy was only trying to help. in your original post you never mentioned you did a search. you just asked for information. she might not imply you are stupid but I will.

Take a look at the first quote there pa.walt....That's me saying I searched it....so I guess you know what you can do with your opinion....Thanks though for your insight...

Once I get the the product I will start a build thread....

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[Colin C]

Building rocks with this product is very similar to other methods. I like to use pink or blue sheets of insulation foam siliconed together. I prefer this foam over great stuff because of how dense and solid it is, allowing for a much greater level of carving detail, which will be reflected in the final product, also you can apply the epoxy in thinner layers and still achieve total coverage. I then add zinc oxide pigments and a couple handfuls of play sand (for rocky texture) to the mixed epoxy and apply it to the foam structure in about a 1/8" thick layer and let it sit for about half an hour. At this point the epoxy has become stiffer and more putty like and I can go back in and add more details with various tools or stamps. After about 24 hours or whenever the piece has fully cured I paint it with several coats of watered down acrylic paint. Here are some pictures of a build I did a couple years ago featuring epoxy rocks attached to a tree fern background. This is one of my favorite background combinations.

years (and several re-plants) later:

Here is a background that is totally epoxy. I made the rocks individually, put them in position in the back of the tank and filled in around them with great stuff. I them carved down the great stuff and covered it with a layer of epoxy I had tinted a tan color, as it cured I added sand and gravel to give it the appearance of an eroded rocky bank.

Grown in:

As you can see plants and moss do grow on this stuff depending on what textures you have created with it, but growth will never be as fast/lush as with organic backgrounds. I have also created tree buttresses with #307 that have turned out ok but that I have never been fully satisfied with, I feel the E-Z sculpt would be a much better product for trees/roots/branches etc. I am about to begin building a large plywood tank that will a fully epoxy background, rock work with great stuff in between that will be covered in #307 tinted dark brown/black with tree fern fiber on top. I also plan on creating some large liana vines out of pvc pipes and either #307 or E-Z sculpt, I have yet to decide.

 

[Azurel]

Building rocks with this product is very similar to other methods. I like to use pink or blue sheets of insulation foam siliconed together. I prefer this foam over great stuff because of how dense and solid it is, allowing for a much greater level of carving detail, which will be reflected in the final product, also you can apply the epoxy in thinner layers and still achieve total coverage. I then add zinc oxide pigments and a couple handfuls of play sand (for rocky texture) to the mixed epoxy and apply it to the foam structure in about a 1/8" thick layer and let it sit for about half an hour. At this point the epoxy has become stiffer and more putty like and I can go back in and add more details with various tools or stamps. After about 24 hours or whenever the piece has fully cured I paint it with several coats of watered down acrylic paint. Here are some pictures of a build I did a couple years ago featuring epoxy rocks attached to a tree fern background. This is one of my favorite background combinations.

years (and several re-plants) later:

Here is a background that is totally epoxy. I made the rocks individually, put them in position in the back of the tank and filled in around them with great stuff. I them carved down the great stuff and covered it with a layer of epoxy I had tinted a tan color, as it cured I added sand and gravel to give it the appearance of an eroded rocky bank.

Grown in:

As you can see plants and moss do grow on this stuff depending on what textures you have created with it, but growth will never be as fast/lush as with organic backgrounds. I have also created tree buttresses with #307 that have turned out ok but that I have never been fully satisfied with, I feel the E-Z sculpt would be a much better product for trees/roots/branches etc. I am about to begin building a large plywood tank that will a fully epoxy background, rock work with great stuff in between that will be covered in #307 tinted dark brown/black with tree fern fiber on top. I also plan on creating some large liana vines out of pvc pipes and either #307 or E-Z sculpt, I have yet to decide.

Awesome man....Thank you for sharing...I had already planned on it but that cements it...

sent from my Galaxy S lll

 

[VivariumWorks]

Azruel:

Once you've had some hands on time with the Polygem stuff, pm me. I've got something I've been working on for a while now that you'd be in the non-biased position to compare/contrast for me that I'd send your way. Need some independent thoughts on it.

 

[Azurel]

Azruel:

Once you've had some hands on time with the Polygem stuff, pm me. I've got something I've been working on for a while now that you'd be in the non-biased position to compare/contrast for me that I'd send your way. Need some independent thoughts on it.

No doubt...I will do that for sure...I have 5 builds in my near future that need to be done....Will contact you once I get my hand on this stuff and working it.

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[Azurel]

Got my zoopoxy ordered.... Good thing is they are out of Chicago so hopefully it can get here by friday or so....If it does I can start a build thread or just use this one.....Which might be a good idea since if someone searches polygem or zoopoxy it will come up....

Excited to get started.... Will post a picture of what I have gotten done so far...

 

[Azurel]

Here is the start of my build...

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[Azurel]

So the zoopoxy will be here tomorrow....Lucky for me they are less then 3 hrs away....So by tomorrow evening I will have hopefully laid down my first coat....

Here is the wall finished with a rough detail.

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[Azurel]

Got the zoopoxy today and started applying. Much thicker then I had imagined....Pretty cool stuff...

Will have to say a standard plactic spreader was a little awkward to get between the rocks with out kinda pulling putty from the rock on the otherside....But all in all I can't see me using anything else....This stuff is cool....

I think it looks decent but getting an understanding of how the putty is able to be worked and spread will be key....understand though it needs to be sanded and painted....Have a three day weekend so plenty enough time to really get at it.

If there is any other advice or comments please post...

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[dartsanddragons]

If you wear latex gloves, wet your fingers with water and you can smooth it out, while it's wet of course. I had very little sanding doing that plus you can push the putty where you want it to go. And how about being able to work in your frog room with no nasty smell

 

[Azurel]

If you wear latex gloves, wet your fingers with water and you can smooth it out, while it's wet of course. I had very little sanding doing that plus you can push the putty where you want it to go. And how about being able to work in your frog room with no nasty smell

Thanks....You know I thought about that after I started looked for my gloves which the package was empty...gonna go get some tomorrow....Great idea will come out much better....

Yeah the lack of fumes and smell is a huge plus...one reason I got away from silicone....Thanks bro for the heads up on that....

James

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[Dane]

It can be tooled while wet, as mentioned. I keep a spray bottle handy during application for smoothing, and you can lightly press in damp cardstock or crumpled cardboard to give a fractured rock texture.

 

[Azurel]

It can be tooled while wet, as mentioned. I keep a spray bottle handy during application for smoothing, and you can lightly press in damp cardstock or crumpled cardboard to give a fractured rock texture.

Awesome that will for sure help tomorrow....Will have to sand a bit that I have now but tomorrow will do it that way instead and willing to bet a weeks pay check it will turn out more finished from the start....

Thanks guys for sharing...

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[dartsanddragons]

you can also use the dry color pigment used for concrete, just use a damp paint brush lightly drag the brush with pigment across your work to create streaks in rocks or vertically to create tree bark look. What was the cost for the kit you purchased? did you get the 2 gallon kit? like I said you really don't have to put it on heavy a little goes a long way, you will have a lot of fun with this stuff

 

[Azurel]

you can also use the dry color pigment used for concrete, just use a damp paint brush lightly drag the brush with pigment across your work to create streaks in rocks or vertically to create tree bark look. What was the cost for the kit you purchased? did you get the 2 gallon kit? like I said you really don't have to put it on heavy a little goes a long way, you will have a lot of fun with this stuff

Thanks...Yeah I can see this going far....It was $138 shipped for the 2 gallon kit....I almost got the 2qt but opted for the big kit...well worth it in the end...I have 5-6 builds that need to be built....so the 2 gallon was the best option long term.

I appreciate all the advice and tips. Hopefully this thread will help some one else that might or want to use zoopoxy...I will be taking more pictures tomorrow as I work it.

sent from my Galaxy S lll

 

[dartsanddragons]

I think I built nearly 20 backgrounds using that kit, when you do the math it's cheaper than silicone. I really don't know why more people don't use it, I guess the price seems high until you do the math. I have only seen it even mentioned a dozen or so times in the last 10 years.