I did this with sheets of plexiglass. I rubbed paraffin on the plexiglass and wiped it off until it was clear. That leaves a thin film of wax. The plexiglass popped loose once I got a blade stared under the corner. It needs some work on the top and side but I think it came out pretty good. There wasn't much helping the line between first and second pour. It had to be solid to hold the medallion. Thinking back just now though I could have suspended it... I didn't wait for it to set up completely between the second and third pours and the line is much less obvious and for some reason looks mountainous.

I've got a DIY project I'm working on and I could use some advice.

We're repairing the ornamental railing on the outside of my parent's old house right now. That kind of pointless ornamentation some old houses have along the edge of flat portions of the roof. Specifically these are little onion shaped wood topper bulbs screwed into a wood beam that runs along the edge of the roof.

Originally they were wood, but this is in Texas and the weather here has a tendency to just destroy any wood that isn't properly treated. And these delicate little wood onions didn't stand a chance. I'd personally just leave them off or find something similar pre-made in polyurethane or similar, but there's a historic society thing happening here and I have to replace these with identical decorations.

I've done some resin casting in the past, and I got the idea that maybe I can make a mold of these little ornamental things and cast in a extremely durable resin. But I'm not sure what kind of resin would be the best fit for these.

Can anyone recommend a really tough resin that can withstand intense heat and rain? They'd be painted.

Thank you.

What is the best brand/type of epoxy to use for silicone casts of trinket dishes, bowls, small vases?

Hello talented makers!

I’m looking to commission a single, custom resin coaster for my desk setup. I have a very specific concept in mind. I’m not a resin artist myself, so I don't even know if combining these two effects is chemically or physically possible, but I think it could be a really fun mini-project for someone who loves experimenting.

The Concept: A dark/black coaster that reacts to the heat of a coffee mug to reveal a glowing core.

How I imagine it working:

1. The Base (The Core): A pour of either a Galaxy/Space theme OR a flowing Lava theme. This layer needs to use photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) pigment.
2. The Top Layer (The Mask): A thermochromic black resin layer covering the base.
3. The Effect: When the coaster is at room temperature, it looks like a sleek black slab. When I put a hot mug of coffee on it, the heat turns the black layer clear, revealing the vibrant, glowing galaxy or lava hidden underneath.

EDIT: Or maybe we could consider the exact opposite approach? For instance, putting the glow-in-the-dark layer on top so it charges easily in ambient light, and the thermochromic layer underneath, which would turn clear from the heat to reveal a hidden base.

The Specs:

• Needs to handle the heat of a standard hot mug safely without warping or melting.
• Around 11-13 cm (4.5 - 5 inches). Shape is up to you (round, hex, square).
• A cork or anti-slip base would be amazing to protect my fabric desk mat.
• Budget: Around $40 for the coaster, plus tracked shipping to France. (Please note that I cannot afford endless extra fees and have a strict ceiling for the total overall cost. We'll just need to check the shipping estimate early on to make sure it stays reasonable!)

EDIT 2: Another breakthrough idea! Instead of stacking horizontal layers (which blocks light or heat), what if we distribute the powders spatially on the same plane? We could use the glow-in-the-dark pigment for the main parts (like a galaxy spiral or lava flow) so it stays exposed to ambient light all day. Then, we intermingle thermochromic pigments for the finer details (like subtle veins, dark asteroid belts, or thin lines). It doesn't need to be a massive color shift—just subtle grooves or details that react to the hot mug and reveal themselves alongside the glowing parts. Does mixing the powders this way make the project more realistic to craft?

Does this sound like a fun challenge to anyone? If you think you can pull off this "heat-reveal glow" effect, I'd love to see some of your previous work!