I really enjoy working with my hands and creating beautiful sometimes functional things. When I originally thought about the passion project I wanted to do something that would look good on a resume, but I decided that I would try something different and new that I thought would be interesting. I created a table (well more of a table top, I haven’t added legs yet.) The table that I created is not your normal all wood table but is made of another material called resin. Resin is a type of glue that cures clear, it is used in jewelry, woodworking and boat making. To start my table I needed a piece of wood, I went out into the woods and cut off a piece of wood from a dead evergreen tree. I bought the piece of wood home and used a tool called a planner. A planner is an electric tool that has a spinning blade on it, it is used to flatten out pieces of wood by removing a small amount of wood. I planned the piece of wood down to the size I wanted. I then created a mold out of 3 pieces of wood some screws and some hot glue. The mold was designed to hold the resin in the middle of the table and not let any leak out. After I made the mold I poured the resin into the middle. I pored 3 different layers into the middle and 2 layers on the top. I then remove the mold, sanded some of the ring and wood then painted on some more resin to make it cure clear. That is about it, I plan on adding legs next to make it into a table.
If I were to do this again or something similar I would do something different. I think since this was my first time doing something like this I learned so many small things that I would do subconsciously next time. But there are somethings that I would do purposely different next time. This time I used cheap resin, although higher quality resin is 2-3 times more expensive when it dries it has fewer air bubbles and does not have a yellowish color like the resin I used does. Along the same line, I would be interested in using color to make the resin different colors. I would also use a different mold material. Altho the mold I used did work it was extremely difficult to remove from the resin. 2/5 times I poured resin I poured it in a room with 70+ degree temperature and that made the resin cure much faster so I could have more time to pour more coats so if I were to do this again I would pour all my resin in a war room. I really enjoyed this project and would be interested in doing something similar again, I know I could make it much better if I did it again.
I feel good about the product I have created. I was worried in some parts of the project that I may not turn out with as awesome as a product that I hoped for. But when I poured the final layer of resin I was really happy with the result. Something I was not happy with is how ugly the bottom look. I also didn't like the tiny bubbles inside the resin. Even though they are tiny and not super visibly I still know they are there. I also was kinda disappointed in the state of the top. Some of the top was extremely smooth and perfect but there were some spots that had bumps that were only noticeable if you touched them but they still really bothered me. Another part I was really happy with was one of the edges, the specific edge turned out really good and just flowed perfectly. Another part that I was proud of was not the product but people's reaction to what I created. Everyone that saw what I created as really interested in what it was and how I had done it. I got a lot of compliments on how it looked. I am proud of what I created even if there are some small mistakes.
If I were to do this again or something similar I would do something different. I think since this was my first time doing something like this I learned so many small things that I would do subconsciously next time. But there are somethings that I would do purposely different next time. This time I used cheap resin, although higher quality resin is 2-3 times more expensive when it dries it has fewer air bubbles and does not have a yellowish color like the resin I used does. Along the same line, I would be interested in using color to make the resin different colors. I would also use a different mold material. Altho the mold I used did work it was extremely difficult to remove from the resin. 2/5 times I poured resin I poured it in a room with 70+ degree temperature and that made the resin cure much faster so I could have more time to pour more coats so if I were to do this again I would pour all my resin in a war room. I really enjoyed this project and would be interested in doing something similar again, I know I could make it much better if I did it again.
I feel good about the product I have created. I was worried in some parts of the project that I may not turn out with as awesome as a product that I hoped for. But when I poured the final layer of resin I was really happy with the result. Something I was not happy with is how ugly the bottom look. I also didn't like the tiny bubbles inside the resin. Even though they are tiny and not super visibly I still know they are there. I also was kinda disappointed in the state of the top. Some of the top was extremely smooth and perfect but there were some spots that had bumps that were only noticeable if you touched them but they still really bothered me. Another part I was really happy with was one of the edges, the specific edge turned out really good and just flowed perfectly. Another part that I was proud of was not the product but people's reaction to what I created. Everyone that saw what I created as really interested in what it was and how I had done it. I got a lot of compliments on how it looked. I am proud of what I created even if there are some small mistakes.