: I'm using a paste pigment,
: about the size of a small marble for 3 oz. batches of Raka resin with the
: 350 hardner. I was hoping to do this on the real boat, although probably
: just the bottom panels, to match the paint color to hide scratches,
: if/when it does get painted. Although this pigment works great to make
: yellow epoxy, it's goes on so thin, that even after four coats, I still
: see the wood tones

In a lot of house paints the pigment may be 20% of the volume of the paint. In artist's oil colors the pigment may be over 75% of the volume of the paint, with the better grades having more pigment.

What you are talking about is sometimes called "pigment strength", or "hiding power". The solution is to use more pigment. MUCH more pigment. with a marble sized amount ( maybe 1/6 ounce?) in a 3 ounce batch of resin you are using about 5% to 6% pigment. Try using 4 or 5 times the amount you are using now, and if that is still too thin, double it.

This way you get all the pigment on in one coat, which you had previously put on in 4 or 5 coats -- and whatever weight is just from the pigment, and 3 ounces of epoxy, not 15 ounces of epoxy (5 times each 3 ounce batch)

At this point, the purpose of the epoxy is merely to be a binder to hold the pigment onto the boat. When you use a lot of pigment the epoxy is rather thin in comparison, but as long as it is well mixed it should be enough to coat every last bit of pigment and give a smooth finish.

If need be, mix half your pigment in the premeasured resin, and half in your premeasured hardener, getting each part smooth and well blended before mixing the tinted resin with the tinted hardener.

If you mix the epoxy and hardener first and then add the pigment, then you cut into the potlife as you stir in the pigment.

Hope this helps

PGJ