August 5, 2025Aug 5 Popular Post I have made several vases using polyester resin, I like the stuff and the brand I use but it has a tendency to EXPLODE. You may recall some of the events I posted that caused one to opt for a fresh pair of BVD's 😂. After asking around a bit I decided to try "epoxy" resin and picked a new brand to try. The vase here is red oak and epoxy resin colored with alcohol ink. It is wonderfully translucent using a bit of emerald color ink. Best of all I find it turns ( with carbides) far more forgiving and a lot easier on the tighty whities budget 🤪. It did seem a bit more work to polish up but I attribute that to the translucent ink opposed to the opake mica powders I typically use. So far I am pretty sold on the epoxy formula but time and mor pieces will tell. mike calabrese55
August 6, 2025Aug 6 Author Popular Post 1 hour ago, HandyDan said: Wonderful. Is the epoxy coating the wood as a finish too? Hi Dan, the vase was sanded to 320 and the resin up to 600 then Yourkshirt grit. The final finish is simply 5 or 6 coats of Minwax tung oil even on the epoxy and soft cloth buffed before the next coat. I don't epoxy coat as the old stuff the polyester resin had a working time of 12 minutes. The current epoxy brand is a minimum 48 hour to touch and 72 to work so not real practile. I have had real good success with Just Minwax wipe on poly, warm gloss 3 to 5 cots depending on the grain of the wood. I defaulted to the tung oil as I was out of the wipe on poly. Thanks for your question mike calabrese55
August 6, 2025Aug 6 Author Popular Post Thanks Lew, Gerald and HandyDan really appreciate you guys keeping an eye on me especially your kind support. Headhunter & Gordan Thank you each also....so kind, makes this old guy smile a little even though it hurts 😆🤭 mike c Edited August 6, 2025Aug 6 by calabrese55
August 6, 2025Aug 6 Author Popular Post 7 minutes ago, Gerald said: That is one amazing idea and execution Hi Gerald, I have seen enough of your work to know I have something to shoot for. You stuff is inspiring to put it mildly. Thank you for your wonderful comment. mike c
August 6, 2025Aug 6 Absolutely beautiful Mike. Great choice on the emerald color with the natural look of the red oak. You are an artist, sir! I'd love to see a variation using using a cobalt blue, i.e. like the old Vicks glass jars, Milk of Magnesia bottles, etc. Wonder if that translucent blue look is possible with the epoxy resin? (Hint, hint😉) Edited August 6, 2025Aug 6 by Grandpadave52
August 6, 2025Aug 6 Author Popular Post 16 minutes ago, Steve Krumanaker said: That is really nice work! Hi Steve Thank you for your kind comment......look like you get up early too👍 mike c
August 6, 2025Aug 6 Author Popular Post 3 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said: Absolutely beautiful Mike. Great choice on the emerald color with the natural look of the red oak. You are an artist, sir! I'd love to see a variation using using a cobalt blue, i.e. like the old Vicks glass jars, Milk of Magnesia bottles, etc. Wonder if that translucent blue look is possible with the epoxy resin? (Hint, hint😉) Hi Dave I agree completely about the color blue. There is a secret in the resin color. I purchased a box of alcohol ink on the great and powerful A-Zon, "never mind that man behind that pile of money" 🤑 . My first choice for the color was a pale blue BUT no color like that was hiding in the box. My next best selection for color was turquoise ink it was in the box and in the little bottle it looked perfect. As you see in the photo however the color is emerald and in the resin in the light of day it is also EMERALD 😔 BUT shine a bright light through it and it looks like turquoise ??????? It is kind of magical in a disappointing sort of way but I am with you blue was the choice
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