[Katherine Swift]

This question comes through email by Chuck:

I have several 6" x
4" x 1/8 to 1/4"  slabs of agate with clear crystal inner
sections, they can be back lit.  Id like to lay them out in a baking pan
(?)  and cover them with Clear non-yellowing resin, to make a 2 x 2 flat
see through piece I can back light. 

I have no experience working
with resin and your secretary told me you are the person to talk to:  any
suggestions on how to do this are appreciated:  how to get the finished
product out of the mold?  type of clear resin & how much?  how to
keep it as light weight as possible yet strong?  etc. 

[Katherine Swift]

Chuck,

The first thing youre going to need is the 2 x 2 mold to pour the resin into.  We dont have one that size, so you will have to create your own.  You can do that by creating a 2 x 2 template to your desired depth, then casting that template in silicone.  If you cast the resin in a silicone mold with the proper mold release, you should be able to remove your casting without any problems.  Unfortunately, a baking pan wont work as a mold because it isnt flexible enough to get out your finished resin casting.

Once you have your model, you can then cast your agate slabs in resin.  The Resin Obsession super clear resin is non-yellowing and works well in molds.  I do have a concern though that the finished piece will be quite heavy.  How are you going to display it?

Have you considered using resin as a top coat over the slabs and displaying them without the rectangle look?  The envirotex lite resin is meant to give a thin gloss top coat.  It can cure with a slight yellow tint, but I would try it if I were doing this project.

[Author]

Posts