Epoxy tools/products I use:
2 part epoxy & pump kit I use.. later you can buy just the epoxy, and not replace the pumps.
(this is really STRONG stuff and can be used on a lot of things … even stronger than Gorrilla glue)
https://www.amazon.com/System-Epoxy-Resin-Hardener-Metering/dp/B07JHC28CV/ref=pd_cp_263_1?pd_rd_w=mprvc&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=KJPB3V328FPVKTQFZ0TS&pd_rd_r=b7b8eaf8-d9ca-45b4-8ac1-cc5a31248b79&pd_rd_wg=7PWJ4&pd_rd_i=B07JHC28CV&psc=1&refRID=KJPB3V328FPVKTQFZ0TS
Epoxy resin colorant (black) only a couple drops needed … lasts long time
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Epoxy-Pigment-Colorant-Tint/dp/B06XD39K55/ref=pd_bxgy_328_img_2/137-3813150-7675111?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06XD39K55&pd_rd_r=0ad1c515-4232-46f6-851b-7eb4875bc65b&pd_rd_w=r32yr&pd_rd_wg=NMPFO&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=M2K6TNWZ76WYE4834BYE&psc=1&refRID=M2K6TNWZ76WYE4834BYE
Inlace nuggets I use … you should probably get about 3 jars
https://www.amazon.com/Inlace-Nuggets-50-Grams-Turquoise/dp/B06XJP2273/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=inlace+nuggets&qid=1566253649&s=gateway&sr=8-5
Other items needed, and probably have around the house.
– Popcycle sticks, or chop stick help with herding the nuggets, and tapping them down
– Duct Tape or painters tape to use as a mask, and control running of the juices
– rubber painting gloves !
– Sanding mask … simple 3M particulate mask will work
Process:
– get the basic sculpture finished down to roughly 80 grit sanding level
– let the sculpture dry and crack naturally for a month or more in a heated or AC space. (longer the better) Heck I will put them in direct sunlight to expedite sometimes.
– use a die grinder with sharp pointed burr bit to clean up my cracks, and maybe add some additional swirls or art on the ends of the cracks to fully disguise big cracks.
– Really deep cracks I will fill with saw dust or cheap crushed rock substitute, so I am not filling the deep crack with Inlace product.For memorial pieces, I have even put human ashes in there too. Bring depth of crack up to about 1/4″ of surface with substitute filler.
– BEFORE starting epoxy, I put one coat of poly in all the cracks and let it dry over night… this keep your lines sharp, and prevents the colored epoxy from running in the grain.
– Put painters tape or duct tape on both sides of crack to help keep the epoxy/nuggets from running all over your sculpture.
– mix resin and hardner, and colorant together in small plastic of paper cups.(not much colorant need!!) Do small batches, this stuff gets hot and you will run out of time in about 30 minutes. The hotter it is outside, this less time you have !
– drip epoxy mixture into the cracks and push it around with popcycle stick, to get a nice thin bed of epoxy for inlace nuggets to initially lay on.
– sprinkle inlace nuggets into the cracks, pushing and herding those wild @#$ers with a clean popcycle stick … some will bounce out.(bring nuggets up above surface level)
– sprinkle more epoxy ontop of the nuggets, to get good coverage.(you may need to do this several times)
– Let it dry overnight
– I like top rip the tape off before sanding, helps me surgically sand just the inlay
– (use a dust MASK) sand with 36 or 40 grit grinder sanding disk to sand flush with surface
– then I use 80 & 120 orbital sander to finish up sanding on the entire sculpture.- finish as you normally would
This 2 part epoxy with in-lace is seriously strong and tuff.Flat surfaces are easy, curved surfaces will need more tape prep-work.Create little tape dams to keep the lava like substance from oozzing off the project.It will look BUTT UGLY when you are going, but if you have put an initial poly sealant on the wood it will sand off easily… but if you forgot the sealant prep,crack lines may not be crisp, and cleaning up spill mistakes will take more time.
Good Luck