Post #615579 by OceaOtica on Mon, Nov 28, 2011 7:52 PM

Yes Tom, important distinction, not all resins, or epoxies, are suitable for this craft. I question the use of polyester resin, as mekp, the catylist, is particularly noxious and even in post curing the vapors and smell are evident for quite some time after. Polyester resin is also brittle and does not hold up particularly well to heat. A common form of this resin is found in hardware and autobody supply for car and boat repair; to be reinforced with fiberglass. Higher quality resins, unlike most common filled casting resins such as Smoothcast are not suitable for this application, where higher temperatures will be a constant. There are high temp resins that when properly post cured and given adequate time to outgas, from my research and conversations with manufacturers, are suitable for this application. I am also due to have a further conversation with a Dean of Sciences about the materials.
I and numerous others have the vintage resin lamps in our homes, all made with the resins available in the sixties, when the chemicals used in the manufacturing were commonly much more hazardous. I have posed this question before, and wonder what test can be found to see if these lamps, now 50 years or so old, are continuing to outgas, and if so are the amounts negligible (in impact to health)?

[ Edited by: oceaotica 2011-11-29 07:00 ]