Epoxy Resin for School Project

SHL

SHL

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I want to create the clear reflective water effect for a school project, similar to the below pic.

What type/brand of clear epoxy would you guys recommend?

1724315990953.png
 
depends on the debpth of the pour.

100% recommend AMT composites great company and I have used them a few times.
the people who work there know their products well so you can talk to them and they will help you get the correct product and correct quantity.

just know you are looking at a large amount of money for the resin alone. that stuff is expensive no matter where you buy from. sure one place might be slightly cheaper than the other between the few different options you have. but AMT will help you find the right one for your project
 
Make sure you google resin safety if you've never used it before.
 
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the creative casting resin does not come out clear, it has a yellow tint to it.

it looks clear until it sets. I have had to redo a project because of that one.


also go do a basic volume calculation for where you want to cast before you buy. you do not want to buy cast be short of how much you need, buy again and hope the two set the same.

for my desks I made I used 1l per desk (1800x600 cm desk) and that was only a gloss coat pour over that is about 3mm thick.

also what are you pouring that river onto? polystyrene + a 2cm to 3cm river pour will melt as the resin sets.

when the resin sets it puts out a lot of heat. I have had 3d printed models warp (PLA warps PETG does not) and that was a small model of a pokemon about the size of my palm cast into a ball so it looked like it was in a pokeball/snowglobe used 300ml resin for that and it warped the model. its easy to get around by putting it in front of fan.

people really underestimate the amount of heat resin puts out. have seen hot glue borders melt on a river table but lucky the resin was set enough that it did not leak. that was a 10cm thick live edge river between 2 pieces of Kiaat that became a massive 8 seater dinner table.
 
Baxteen said:
the creative casting resin does not come out clear, it has a yellow tint to it.

it looks clear until it sets. I have had to redo a project because of that one.


also go do a basic volume calculation for where you want to cast before you buy. you do not want to buy cast be short of how much you need, buy again and hope the two set the same.

for my desks I made I used 1l per desk (1800x600 cm desk) and that was only a gloss coat pour over that is about 3mm thick.

also what are you pouring that river onto? polystyrene + a 2cm to 3cm river pour will melt as the resin sets.

when the resin sets it puts out a lot of heat. I have had 3d printed models warp (PLA warps PETG does not) and that was a small model of a pokemon about the size of my palm cast into a ball so it looked like it was in a pokeball/snowglobe used 300ml resin for that and it warped the model. its easy to get around by putting it in front of fan.

people really underestimate the amount of heat resin puts out. have seen hot glue borders melt on a river table but lucky the resin was set enough that it did not leak. that was a 10cm thick live edge river between 2 pieces of Kiaat that became a massive 8 seater dinner table.
Click to expand...
What would that even cost?
 
Kung Fu Porkchop said:
What would that even cost?
Click to expand...
what are you refering to here? that massive table?


I have no idea how much was spent on the resin but I know there was about 3 weeks worth of work that went into it.
Project took close to 3 months to finish, and the workshop was out of action for 2 weeks solid while the resin hardened.

so I will say about 120 man hours of work
factor in 80 man hours lost for drying.

so just man hours its R5K at the minimum wage rate, and this was a very skilled woodworker.
now bring in the cost of the raw wood about R4K for the slab if I remember
then the resin and again I dont know what it cost or how much he used. but I do know it was 3 mixes and 3 pours in massive buckets, so maybe 30l of resin not even sure if it was a 10l bucket.

and it was for his own house not for anyone else and he wont ever do it again. looks amazing though.
 
Baxteen said:
the creative casting resin does not come out clear, it has a yellow tint to it.

it looks clear until it sets. I have had to redo a project because of that one.


also go do a basic volume calculation for where you want to cast before you buy. you do not want to buy cast be short of how much you need, buy again and hope the two set the same.

for my desks I made I used 1l per desk (1800x600 cm desk) and that was only a gloss coat pour over that is about 3mm thick.

also what are you pouring that river onto? polystyrene + a 2cm to 3cm river pour will melt as the resin sets.

when the resin sets it puts out a lot of heat. I have had 3d printed models warp (PLA warps PETG does not) and that was a small model of a pokemon about the size of my palm cast into a ball so it looked like it was in a pokeball/snowglobe used 300ml resin for that and it warped the model. its easy to get around by putting it in front of fan.

people really underestimate the amount of heat resin puts out. have seen hot glue borders melt on a river table but lucky the resin was set enough that it did not leak. that was a 10cm thick live edge river between 2 pieces of Kiaat that became a massive 8 seater dinner table.
Click to expand...
Noted, I'll take this into consideration before going ahead.
 
Baxteen said:
when the resin sets it puts out a lot of heat. I have had 3d printed models warp (PLA warps PETG does not) and that was a small model of a pokemon about the size of my palm cast into a ball so it looked like it was in a pokeball/snowglobe used 300ml resin for that and it warped the model. its easy to get around by putting it in front of fan.

people really underestimate the amount of heat resin puts out. have seen hot glue borders melt on a river table but lucky the resin was set enough that it did not leak. that was a 10cm thick live edge river between 2 pieces of Kiaat that became a massive 8 seater dinner table.
Click to expand...
Resin can get crazy hot. This is why one should look at the cure time for it. The quicker cure ones can get to higher peak temperatures. Also, the thicker the part the hotter it can get.

In the past I have put relatively small but thick parts in a freezer for a short time to ride out the peak exotherm.
 
Baxteen said:
the creative casting resin does not come out clear, it has a yellow tint to it.

it looks clear until it sets. I have had to redo a project because of that one.


also go do a basic volume calculation for where you want to cast before you buy. you do not want to buy cast be short of how much you need, buy again and hope the two set the same.

for my desks I made I used 1l per desk (1800x600 cm desk) and that was only a gloss coat pour over that is about 3mm thick.

also what are you pouring that river onto? polystyrene + a 2cm to 3cm river pour will melt as the resin sets.

when the resin sets it puts out a lot of heat. I have had 3d printed models warp (PLA warps PETG does not) and that was a small model of a pokemon about the size of my palm cast into a ball so it looked like it was in a pokeball/snowglobe used 300ml resin for that and it warped the model. its easy to get around by putting it in front of fan.

people really underestimate the amount of heat resin puts out. have seen hot glue borders melt on a river table but lucky the resin was set enough that it did not leak. that was a 10cm thick live edge river between 2 pieces of Kiaat that became a massive 8 seater dinner table.
Click to expand...
Small Thread Hijack. You Should post up some of your work. I am fascinated by resin artwork. I Watch Blacktail Studios vidoes all the time.
 
I am
Bunta said:
Small Thread Hijack. You Should post up some of your work. I am fascinated by resin artwork. I Watch Blacktail Studios vidoes all the time.
Click to expand...
sadly I wont post any. maybe my vape mod build when I am done with that I want to cast some parts in resin.

the table was my Father in law.
the other small projects were all related to Pokemon go and the pandemic killed that so I stopped putting in that much time and effort in 2019.

my wife does make some rolplaying dice from time to time, but the first few batches did not come out nicely. mostly because the silicone mould was not made well enough.
 
if you near Kempton Park these guys have a walk in shop and can offer advice.

EDIT: they even got a workshop demo tomorrow the 24 August 2024 - https://www.amtcomposites.co.za/workshops/johannesburg-workshops/


www.amtcomposites.co.za

AMT Composites

AMT Composites offers the South African aerospace, marine and manufacturing sectors a specialised composites material supplier and technology partner.
www.amtcomposites.co.za www.amtcomposites.co.za



SHL said:
I want to create the clear reflective water effect for a school project, similar to the below pic.

What type/brand of clear epoxy would you guys recommend?

View attachment 1752409
Click to expand...
 
Baxteen said:
I am

sadly I wont post any. maybe my vape mod build when I am done with that I want to cast some parts in resin.

the table was my Father in law.
the other small projects were all related to Pokemon go and the pandemic killed that so I stopped putting in that much time and effort in 2019.

my wife does make some rolplaying dice from time to time, but the first few batches did not come out nicely. mostly because the silicone mould was not made well enough.
Click to expand...
All good. A friend and I are very tempted to try a car model resin project. Will check out AMT, thanks.
 
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