Can you thin UV nail Gel?

[graylinghunter]

I did the google first but no answers on this one.
Can you thin uv nail gel and if so what did you use...
thanks
Phil

[gazza1]

Hi Phil
Sorry cant help you RE thinning, but are you using if to coat buzzers.
if so how you finding it

Cheers Gaz

[syphogenic]

Assuming its in fact a varnish? and not a gelatine substance...Cellulose thinners from halfords or a craft shop.

[stevekale]

No. Just buy a thin formulation. Bug Bond comes in a "light" version which has a viscosity of 80‐100 mPa.s

[syphogenic]

What? As an alternative to the UV Gel? Explain?

[graylinghunter]

To be honest went down the main uv gel route as it much cheaper than b/bugg. I was looking at building a thin coat over super fine spanflex buzzers.
It works quite well for large buzzers I have made some really good inlay holographic eyes but for the superfine ones its a little viscous..
I will experiment with following acertone first then cellulose white spirit to see which thins the gell...
I will do it in stages.
The thicker gell is realy good for pike/pearch bass flies and I have been able to add a little powder paint to produce various colours..
Phil

[parintele]

There are "primer" and "coating" formulas in UV curing nail care products.... Both are rather liquid, like a "thin" usual nail laquer, just this cure with UV light.
I just ordered the full set (average1/2 oz each, total of 1 1/2 oz ), waiting for delivery.

As far as i have seen at girls which work their nails, there are 2 potential issues with nail products.
First is curing time, hard to estimatebefore you try the specific product...they use powerfull lamps (9w or 4x9w devices) and despite that the curing time is rather long compared to glass UV glues or flytying EV resins...manufacturer specifications are 2-3 minutes or as long as necessary to be perfectly cured....so not exactly simple ..BUT flytying use may have diferent rigors compared to nail constructon cause nail construction involves imediate modelation using a pile and so on...

Second the texture of the main gel, construction gel as it is called.
Is not exsactly a gel, rather a thick formula wimilar to epoxy... gels usually do not "strech" as much when used, not as "sticky" in manipulation...Nail construction stuff is, just like epoxy...

of, and the last thing, in nail construction they also use a "cleaner" to remuve any uncured resudual stuff... Don't really understand what can be uncured there and why, naturally the cleaner us used on the surface and that should be the first to be cured but...i'll see how it works...

Anyway, for 10-15$ 45ml of product plus the cleaner it worth a try.

[stevekale]

Gels are too thick. You want something with a very low viscosity. The BB Lite, with a viscosity of 80‐100 mPa.s, is about the same as varnish. Brush on a thin layer, let it settle then zap. There are a range of these things available. You can find an alternative that will be cheaper. It's up to you as to whether you want to do the research and trial/error.

[arkle]

U.V. nail varnish has been around for years, I bought some in a £1 shop back in 2000. & that was "old stock". I think they still sell it, & acetone thins it perfectly. Nail varnish remover is NOT the thing to use as it has "conditioning oils" in it & clouds clear varnishes.