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This sounds like it might be a case of 'bit off more than I can chew' syndrome, but advice is free. Take it or leave it.

It's not 2 types of resins. It's resin and a hardener. Most modern resins try to make this fairly easy and do a 1 to 1 ratio. This is the chemical 'magic' that makes the liquid harden. As soon as you mix them you have a ticking clock for it to begin to harden, then once hardened, curing fully. Before you mix the two, you can mostly take as long as you want to prep.

Certain resins like Bondo Fiberglass resin use a liquid hardener that you have to measure out and drop into the resin itself. Most modern epoxy style hardeners have simplified the process as described above.

Anyway, depending on the type of wood it might be smarter to stabilize the wood itself under vacuum if possible.
Cactus juice seems to be the standard for this stuff and it does seem to be so for good reasons.

https://www.turntex.com/product/cactus-juice-resin-and-dyes

It's a hardened-upon-temperature resin so you can completely fill the pores of the wood or item, draw out all air bubbles under vacuum and bake at the right temp to stabilize the wood itself.

This has the advantage of making the wood permanently how you want it. You can also pour resin after it's cured if you so choose to make a finished smoothed surface.

I've been looking at a project that requires a good clear resin for a chair and for the price point this seems to be quite reasonable. I do not have any experience with this material yet, but there's a lot of reviews of it. I will say you need to follow instructions about a seal coat.

https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Clear-Table-Coating-Tabletop/dp/B01LYK2NAG

Hope that helps. There's a lot of Youtube videos out there showing off how to do some of these things.

this respirator and these filters are what i buy for my fiance. i use this one but its excessive for the first time casting :)

basically you want to look for A2 clasification or better on your filters, these will work for woodworking as well but you may want to get seperate filters for woodworking and just swap them out when needed as the A2 filters are more expensive. a mask with replacable filters will be more costly at first but much more comfortable and cheaper to replace filters than the whole thing.

everyone likes the 3m stuff because its generally very good (i only dont use one since i like my powered unit with no belt power pack) and it is everywhere so replacements are easy to get. i find they tend to last less time than my cleanspace filters but they do have less filter area so that natural ( glassing every day 2-3 hours ill go through a 3m set in around 20 days to a month, cleanspace one has lasted about 7 months of resin work with no detrimental effects so far)

hope that helps!

https://smile.amazon.com/Flitz-BU-03515-Plastic-Fiberglass/dp/B001447VB2/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?keywords=Flitz%2BPolish&qid=1556752685&s=gateway&sr=8-6&th=1&psc=1

Here’s the link for the one I use, I use it both with a buffing bit for my dremel and manually with a microfiber cloth. I told someone else today that the dremel option is great if you’re impatient (like me.), and it will give you a beautiful shine just like that, but I personally think that rubbing it really hard on a microfiber cloth by hand makes it shinier sometimes, but even when I do use the dremel I like to give it a few rubs on the microfiber cloth afterwards as well, I feel like it helps. I’m not completely certain of how well it will “cover up” the seem in your pieces, but it does shine up the scuffs I sometimes get in my resin jewelry pieces, so I feel like it will at least help to cover it a little bit!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XAR0DM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2P2AXN2CJW43B&coliid=I38M88LVK24A6M

This will get you 16 ounces of pieces.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IFBFXI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2P2AXN2CJW43B&coliid=I2BQM9YBC7NEMB

100 medicine cups

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009EE2XH6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2P2AXN2CJW43B&coliid=I3PMYD232KRJ80

Craft sticks


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A29IRMW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2P2AXN2CJW43B&coliid=I198B32Y5ZVQ1S

Nitrile gloves.

http://www.amazon.com/3M-8211-Particulate-Respirator/dp/B0056CG2S6/ref=sr_1_42?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1419877708&sr=1-42&keywords=face+mask

Respirator, I also try and work outside when possible. Resin has seriously messed up my lungs before I used a mask. Some people probably don't use them, but the things I make require me to be close to my pieces.

These are the items I use for resin, I make jewelry and cabochons. (My mask is different.)
I've read / heard that latex isn't supposed to be used as gloves as it can interact with the chemicals in the resin. You're more than likely able to find the sticks, gloves, and cups in your local area for cheaper, and you won't have to cover shipping. Dollar store cups should work.

I just realized your Amazon list is from the UK. All of the links I posted above are from the US so I'm not sure if everything is sold in your area.

Have you ever researched resin making on Youtube? There's TONS of UK Youtubers who make resin things that will post links to stores they purchase from and give great tips. I can post some if you'd like.

Of course as the previous commenter posted, you'll need to grab molds, which can be found pretty decently priced on eBay.

I haven't been using resin for a super long time (maybe a year?) so there might be more experiences people who can give better advice, but this is what I use and my experience.

I haven’t tried setting a whole piece out in the sun to cure because I am very impatient haha. It would take at least thirty minutes to 6 hours? I’ve heard people saying they’ve waited days for their resin to cure via sunlight and it still ended up tacky. I will, however, leave some of my larger or more opaque pieces in the sun for a day just to make sure they’re cured completely.

That all being said, I just started making (liquid) shaker charms and I find them extremely difficult to do, even with a fast curing UV lamp. YMMV, I’m no expert, but it might be best to wait until you get a lamp to make sure your resin cures and to stop leakage. If you don’t mind paying a little more for a lamp, Sallys Beauty in my area has 36 watt Uv bulb lamps. To get them around 30$ cheaper, amazon has some amazing ones. This is the one I use, it has a removable tray and some timer settings, so I always remember to flip my resin pieces.

It may not be the colors you were aiming for, but I think it's still lovely! I recently got this set of colors on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TDJKS6T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

I haven't used all of the colors by any stretch yet, but they have worked in both UV and 2-part epoxy, and the fact that the listing said they could be used in either type was what was appealing to me (also the large range of colors). Otherwise previously for UV I was using a set and some individual colors from Miniature Sweet, but all of those were pretty opaque, so I liked that this new set could go translucent or opaque depending on what you wanted to make.

I have had nothing but excellent experiences using Alumilite Amazing Casting resin. It starts out clear and turns opaque white when it cures. The cure time is nice and fast (15 minutes, about) but not so quick that I can't do sweet gradient pours in small molds. It's also possible to make hollow casts (slush casting) by rotating the (2-or-more-part) mold by hand as it cures.

Hello all, thanks for looking!

These are the first batch of Dugout One Hitters that my dad and I are making in our garage. We used Amazing Cast Clear epoxy resin. The blue one is dyed with a liquid coloring and the green one is a powder with some metallic flake. We wet sanded them up to 3000 and then used 3M buffing compound for the final finish.

Here are some more pictures.

Resin Used

Liquid Coloring

Powder Coloring

Buffing Compound

We made custom molds out of HDPE and used Smooth On releasing agent.

Any feedback or questions would be appreciated! Check out more on my Instagram

Awesome thank you so much! I'm just starting to watch videos and learn what I can. I am wanting to start attempting to make the exact size and kind of "coaster" you have in this video for Christmas gifts.

So, far I have the following in my "Shopping List"

• Jacquard Acid-Free Color Exciter Pack Ink
  
• 5 Pack Design Resin Mold
  
• 13 Box Mixed Glitter and Flakes
  
• Art Resin (for starting out)
  
  Are there any of these you would go with or without or a different brand? Am I missing any key ingredients? I've been trying to watch only videos where they list what they are using. I also need to get my head wrapped around how much resin to use and how each color reacts with it.
  
  What I'm doing doesn't need to be fancy. I just want to create something unique and nice for coworkers and family.

Thanks!!

I'm still figuring out which brand of resin works best, but they're all the 2 part epoxy resin that doesn't need UV cure.

I pour the mixed resin in a silicone coaster mold, and then drop alcohol inks in (these guys). First the color, then a white drop on top, and that makes the cool effects.

You can also mix the color in the resin before pouring, and get effects like this: https://imgur.com/YjEGGyE. It's kind of like the acrylic paint pour paintings that are all the rage right now.

I've been really enjoying playing around with the resin, though! Lots of cool things to try. :D

How did I not know this was a whole subreddit lol! How's this project coming along? I used plastic measuring cups from Amazon with Kleer Kote for some things I've been working on and it's been great. I haven't done a very deep pour yet, but I think I would feel comfortable trying a couple inches deep worth in 1/4" increments.

Try hobby epoxy resins like EasyCast:

http://www.amazon.com/Environmental-Technology-8-Ounce-Casting-Craft/dp/B000XAR0DM/

They are fairly simple and user-friendly. Not very cheap per gallon, but OK for small projects like this. You can use powdered pigments from crafts stores with that.

Thank you! I use this one from Amazon :)

You can get more solid colors by mixing with an opaque dye like the white in smooth-on's "so strong" dyes for a base color.

I'm sure you could figure something out with spray paint and careful masking.

Here is the dyes I recommend

So Strong Dyes

>Pressure pot

i have this mold, be aware that if you want to make full skulls it leaks through the gaps in between the 4 skulls so you always have to make them in batches of 4 and there'll be a fair amount of sanding and polishing; also https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0058V9KMK/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1 resin works best as it sets ultra fast so there's no dipping where the hole is but it's solid white.

With candle wax it also leaves a hole at the back of the skull.

I would try something like this. You can also get it from Home Improvement stores, or Walmart/target/wherever.

I've been using this one: https://www.artmolds.com/vacuum-chamber.html with a vacuum pump I got off Amazon (they didn't have the bundle when I purchased, I got this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XQ2S4M/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) and it works fine. It just fits a 10 qt bucket if you take the handle off, so that's nice. That is about half the size you're talking about, though...

This might be the best idea for my specific needs, when you say packing tape is there a specific type, my concern is not being able to take off the hardened resin afterwards,

Will this Do?

These are molds from amazon.

Large Creative Resin Mold, LEOBRO... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X2N9656?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

A note on silicone brands: I like Smooth-On Oomoo 25. I've tried that and the Oomoo 30 with good results. The '25' is a little bit more (but only like $6 or so), but it cures much faster (I think something around 1 hour, compared to the '30' which took maybe six hours).

https://www.amazon.com/Smooth-OOMOO-25-Curing-Silicone/dp/B01C4YQ4TU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?keywords=oomoo+25

Thank you! It's out of this set and it's called Watermelon!

10 minute resin- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004BNC9R4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

24 hour resin- https://www.amazon.com/Alumilite-Amazing-Clear-Cast-16/dp/B00CVYNQ4U/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia?keywords=alumilite&pd_rd_i=B00CVYNQ4U&pd_rd_r=ca6c387b-0aea-48a1-9bfc-d25b99bf8e0e&pd_rd_w=cLhXd&pd_rd_wg=Mj9rl&pf_rd_p=23754a30-606a-4e0a-ba42-b43d14507217&pf_rd_r=1E5PVEQ848FGE0E1HR0E&qid=1554256609&s=gateway

I've had great success with both of these products in my normal projects (dice), just some trouble with the flowers thus far. It seemed to do well in the Alumilite, but the Smoothcast didn't like the moisture. I've got a few blooms in my dehydrator right now to give that a try. Some of the flowers are starting to wilt and some got a little crushed in transport, so I have a few to experiment with. There are still quite a few that are in excellent shape though.

Edit was because I linked the wrong product.

So i was thinking about getting this
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CVYNQ4U/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
And giving it a shot, if i come out with something halfway decent i was going to invest more in it, and make a whole bunch.
I can get one mold done for a couple of bucks to start off,and I'll try doing my own eventually.
Any suggestions on the resin i should get, or the bigger equipment if i decide to go with the pressure and vacuuming..?

MelodySusie 36W UV Nail Lamp Dryer, Professional UV Gel Nail Polish Curing Light with 3 Timer Setting, Sliding Tray for Manicure Pedicure Gel Polish, UV Resin, Acrylic, Polygel, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012MEZP2E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_d.NpDbTKRB76S

https://www.amazon.com/Alja-Safe-Alginate-3-lb-Box/dp/B000KVSU60/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497491586&sr=8-1&keywords=alginate

Sure!! It’s this one Smooth-On Universal Mold Release 14 fl. oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004BNHLOK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_aKTDDbBNZM1N7 that’s a bummer about your molds!! I hear silicone works too

Pressure gauge:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006VE306A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cloche:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0797GVSXJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Silicone:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C4YQ4TU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Vacuum Pump:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5-CFM-Rotary-Vane-Vacuum-Pump-1-4HP-HVAC-R134a-Air-Refrigerant-Conditioning/131845616776?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Vinyl-flex tubing:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E6BCV0G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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