SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
DIRECTIONS:
JOANN HACKS:
- 1 natural wood board with a live edge on it, minimum of 10" length
- 1 Kit of casting resin
- 1 pkg of resin opaque dyes: blues, teals
- 1 set of silver handles with screws
- Small can of Fruitwood wood stain
- 1 pkg of disposable paper cups (1 dozen)
- 1 pkg of popsicle sticks
- Cookie baking sheet
- Putty knife
- Timer
- Drill
- Drill bit & countersink bit
- Plastic gloves (5 pairs at least)
- Hot glue gun/glue gun sticks
- Thin piece of Plexiglass (acrylic) bigger than your finished tray size by 1" all the way around the finished tray size
- 2 pieces of plexiglass (acrylic) the width of the serving tray & 2" tall.
- 1 can of food-safe clear acrylic gloss poly spray
- Heat gun
- Screwdriver
DIRECTIONS:
- Cut the wood in half, lengthwise. You can do this on a table saw or go to your local hardware and ask them to cut in the lumber department.
- Wipe the pieces with a clean rag.
- Place a strip of glue on the backside of the first wood piece near the live edge but not on it and place it down on the acrylic with the live side facing inward. Repeat this for the second piece and place it facing the other live edge wood board leaving 4" in between each board for the "resin river".
- Lay a thin piece of acrylic against the side of the boards and put down a bead of glue against the base of the acrylic strip. Do the same to the other side of the two boards close the ends of "the River".
- Pour about 1" of each resin material into a disposable cup. Follow the instructions on the Amazing Clear Cast to mix the resin. After mixing the resin for 2 minutes, then pour the combined mixture into a new cup and stir for 1 minute more.
- Pour the resin in the middle of the river up and down. Using the popsicle stick spread the resin.
- Using the Color Pour resin, shake each bottle before placing drops of the opaque color. Only place 2-3 drops into the resin and then using the popsicle stick, swirl the opaque dyes in a river like direction. DO NOT use much dye because you will build up the colors in multiple layers.
- Use the heat gun to pop any bubbles.
- Once the bubbles are gone, place the cookie tray baking sheet. Place the resin serving tray on a level surface and let it dry overnight.
- The next day repeat the step of making resin, adding color and letting it dry.
- You will repeat this step over and over until you have the resin just a little taller that the wood boards. Let it dry for a complete 24 hours. It must be hard before sanding.
- Gently pull off the acrylic strips using your putty knife.
- Using the putty knife break the seal of the serving tray off the sheet of acrylic.
- Use the putty knife and scrape off all of the excess glue on the back of the wood boards.
- Starting with 80 grit sandpaper, sand down the front and back of the resin to be hairline above the wood boards. Switch to 220 grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface of the resin.
- Switch to 1000 grit sandpaper to make a smooth finish.
- Once you have the surface to a very smooth surface, wipe it down with another clean rag.
- Drill the holes for the handles.
- With a clean rag or foam brush wipe on the stain only on the wood part of the serving tray. Let it dry.
- Wipe it again with a clean rag before putting on the top acrylic spray coat.
- Spray two coats of the acrylic spray onto the tray, letting it dry between coats and lightly sand with the 1000 grit sandpaper. Let it completely dry.
- Attach handles.
JOANN HACKS:
- Make sure it is lint/dust- and hair-free between all resin layers and top coats.
- If desired you could put small pebbles, shells and gravel bits into the bottom layer of resin when pouring it.
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Maggie from
Great idea
The project is great but I agree with others who submitted their input regarding the instructions. The directions are rather confusing especially for those who would like to highten their experience with resin. If a video on the steps of the project is inclued, it would increase those to go forward with the project. I do have 1 question. If you are using resin, what is the reason for the spray acrylic. I know you are able to purchase food save resin so the use of acrylic spray is confusing for me. Great project idea.
Date published: 2021-07-18
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Pruts from
Resin Tray.
First line :Cut in half, that is already a problem for me, no I can't go to a place and have it done for me , I am 89, and I do not drive.
Date published: 2021-07-14
Rated 3 out of
5
by
KrisMort from
Love the idea, instructions not so much
I agree with the suggestion to add step by step photos. "Place the cookie baking sheet" is just one example. Where do you place it and just what purpose does it serve? Maybe these instructions are fine for someone experienced with resin but I found the link for it in an email labeled "Have you tried crafting with resin yet?" I need more detail and pics would go a long way in showing the process.
Date published: 2021-06-08
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Barbara from
Beautiful
This would be fun to make in a group but the directions are too complicated without a video or someone demonstrating how to do it. Beautiful project & this design is so popular now.
Date published: 2021-06-08
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Suscena from
Neat idea
I think the project is attractive, but i would need to adjust it.. knowing myself, something would slide off the open ends of the tray when I carried it
Date published: 2021-06-08
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Diana from
More photos of the steps
I just logged on to see this project. It really needs step photographs .
Date published: 2021-05-29