Are you ready to dive into the captivating world of woodworking and epoxy resin? People combine wood and resin to create all sorts of beautiful creations—everything from wood phone cases and coasters to live-edge tabletops and bowls.
Whether you’re a curious beginner or an intermediate woodworker, we’re here to explain the basics of resin and wood projects.
What Is Resin Wood Art?
Resin wood art combines liquid resin or epoxy with wood to create stunning pieces. Artists select high-quality wood, considering its grain texture and natural contrasts. Common choices include pieces of live-edge wood in walnut, oak, padauk, and purpleheart. Then, the artist carefully details the wood to prime its surface before applying the resin — typically a mix of a hardener and a resin that they’ve enhanced with pigments or dyes.
Mastering resin woodworking requires patience, precision, and knowledge of the right tools. It also requires taking the proper precautions since handling resin can be dangerous.
Why Is Resin Popular in Woodworking?
Resin is popular in woodworking thanks to its ability to cast a glossy finish, maintain color clarity, and mimic glass, elevating a piece of wood’s aesthetic from rustic to refined. By combining art with functionality, the craft results in usually beautiful and valuable pieces. The activity allows for creative exploration — for example, using glowing pigments or preserving unique objects in or beneath the resin.
Basics of the Resin Wood Art Process
Before you jump into your first resin art woodworking project, it’s worth reviewing some of the basics, starting with the nuances of the resin itself. As a material, resin is a very versatile adhesive and sealant. Still, it requires precise mixing if you want it to look good. It also demands time and patience, with curing times varying from overnight to several days.
Customizing your artwork using pigment powders, dyes, or acrylic paint can be fun. Still, it can also take much trial and error before you’re happy with the finished product. Additionally, you may need to learn how to troubleshoot or prevent joint issues, such as resin shrinkage.
Another important consideration is your workspace. You’ll need to find a way to ensure your project is flat and level as you pour the resin. Many artists build a box to fit the wood, caulk the seams, and seal the bottom and sides with sheathing tape to ensure the form is level. Properly prepping your wood will also help to ensure a smooth finish.
How to Prepare for Your Resin & Wood Project
Proper preparation can save you a lot of headaches and increase your odds of creating a finished product you love.
Select the Right Wood
Your choice of wood is crucial. Uncut, raw wood often requires tools like miter saws, table saws, and wire brushes. For quicker projects, consider prepared wood. Consulting a local sawmill or professional woodworker can help.
Gather Your Materials & Tools
Ensure you have all the required tools before you get started. Make a checklist of your needs and then gather them near your workstation. This will ensure every element is within easy reach while you work, and you won’t lose precious time searching for something. Working quickly and efficiently can be very important when using epoxy resin on wood.
Essential items for working with resin and wood:
- Wood surface: Free of dust, debris, oils, and moisture.
- Epoxy resin: Preferably, it should be non-toxic, plant-based, and maintain clarity.
- Measuring cups: For precise resin and hardener measurements.
- Stir sticks: For mixing the resin and hardener.
- Propane torch: For eliminating bubbles.
- Gloves and safety glasses: For protecting your skin and eyes.
- Ventilation system: This is for protecting your respiratory system.
Prepare the Wood Surface
Remove any bark with a wire brush and cut the wood correctly, following the grain for natural resin lines. Lightly sand and wipe down all the pieces before you move on to the pouring stage to ensure the wood is dry and free of dust or grease. These steps will help you achieve a smooth and beautiful finish.
Take the Proper Safety Measures
Put on protective gloves and eyewear — you’ll need these while mixing the resin (in a well-ventilated area). Also, ensure your work surface is level and a cool, dust-free environment to store your piece in after the resin cures. This will safeguard the clarity of the resin as it hardens.
Mixing & Applying the Resin
To calculate the proper resin ratio, measure the length, width, and depth of the area you pour into. Use the formula:
Volume (liters) = Length (meters) x Width (meters) x Depth (meters)
For example, a 3-foot-by-5-foot table may need approximately 112 ounces (or 3.3 liters) of resin. Use a resin calculator for the best accuracy.
Next, mix the resin and hardener in a 2:1 ratio for approximately one minute. Add your pigments and stir for another minute. When you’re ready, pour the resin in layers, allowing each one to cure partially before you add the next.
Finishing & Aftercare
Allow the resin to cure in a cool, dust-free area for smooth, durable pieces, removing any bubbles using a propane torch. When the resin has cured completely, sand it using sandpaper, gradually moving from 60 grit to 320 grit. Apply an oil followed by wax, then a coat of polyurethane for a glossy finish.
Periodically, you’ll want to dust and clean your resin wood projects with a soft cloth and mild detergent. Hand-buff the object with fine-grit sandpaper in any place where you notice scratches. Apply finishing oil or wax for protection, or use automotive polish for a sparkling finish.
You want to protect your artwork from extreme temperatures and direct sunlight. Ideally, you would use UV-resistant resin or UV-protective varnish in all your projects. Use coasters or mats to prevent the piece from directly contacting hot or cold items. And always lift, rather than slide, it to avoid scratches.
Troubleshooting Common Mistakes & Issues
Mistakes happen, and not all resin wood artwork projects will turn out how you expect them to. Below are some of the most typical errors or issues and how to avoid them.
- Incorrectly preparing the wood: Ensure the wood is clean and dry.
- Not taking safety precautions: Wear protective gear and ensure proper ventilation.
- Skimping on mixing: Mix the resin thoroughly.
- Pouring in a room with fluctuating temperature: Cure the resin in a stable environment.
- Resin curing too quickly or not at all: Ensure the correct mix ratio and environment.
- Bubbles in the resin: Warm the resin before mixing it, and use a heat gun or propane torch to burst any bubbles.
- Resin adhesion issues: Work in a low-humidity environment.
- Cloudy or discolored resin: Ensure the wood is completely dry.
- Sticky spots: Follow the supplier’s appropriate mix ratio and mixing time guidelines.
Advanced Design Techniques
Once more comfortable working with resin, you can manipulate its opacity and use more translucent variants to add depth and other creative features. In addition to using different pigments and dyes, you can experiment with embedding objects, such as gemstones or plant materials, for unique effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What common mistakes should be avoided in resin crafting?
Some of the most common resin mistakes involve improper wood preparation, inadequate safety precautions, and incorrect mixing and pouring of resin. You can avoid these issues by ensuring your wood is completely smooth, dry, and dust-free, wearing the proper personal protective equipment, working in an appropriate environment, and correctly measuring and mixing the resin.
What are some tips for the proper finishing and curing of resin?
Ensure the resin cures at a stable room temperature, ideally between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, to prevent issues like cracking or clouding. To remove bubbles, use a propane torch or heat gun, carefully passing it over the surface without touching the resin. Covering the curing piece with a clean, dust-free box can protect it from airborne particles. Once cured, sand the resin progressively from 60 grit to 320 grit, and finish with a high-quality polish or wax to achieve a smooth, glossy finish.
Are there specific aftercare and maintenance tips for resin and wood art pieces?
Gentle cleaning procedures, protection from extreme temperatures and sunlight, proper use of finishing oil or wax, correct storage methods, and long-term maintenance practices are all important. Also, avoid placing heavy objects directly on resin surfaces to prevent indentations. Regularly inspect your resin pieces for any signs of wear or damage, and promptly address minor scratches or dull spots by hand buffing with fine-grit sandpaper and applying a high-quality automotive polish.