How to make a resin and olive wood ring pendant

Tools and materials I propose:

Vacuum chamber kit

Resin

Micro mesh sanding pads

Lathe

Wood turning tools set

Chisel set

hacksaw

Bandsaw

Forstner bit set

Hot glue gun

Cutting board

A while ago, a friend of mine sent me a beautiful highly figured piece, of olive wood. 

I thought it would be a cool idea to make something out of resin and olive wood.

I went to the bandsaw and cut a small piece of the wood. I also cut the plexiglass on the bandsaw. The plexi would be my mold. 

I glued the mold pieces together with my hot glue. I sealed all the sides with hot glue.

I then added water into the mold, to make sure I had no leaks. 

To prevent the wood from floating into the resin, I hot glued it into the mold. 

I used casting resin for this project. It was one part A and one part B. I mixed the two parts into a third container and added a couple of drops of yellow dye. I mixed everything really well.

Then I degassed my resin in my vacuum chamber. Most people will argue that a pressure pot is better for that job. They are probably right. But that’s what I had.

Anyway I then poured the resin into my mold, and degassed it again in my vacuum chamber. 

I let the resin fully cure for about three days. Although I am still learning the degassing process, my casting was really clear. It is actually the most clear casting I have ever produced.

Then I drew a circle on my casting and cut it out on the bandsaw. 

I glued my blank on a wood block which was mounted on my chuck’s jaws.

At last, I could begin turning my piece. The round scraper, really does a nice job when turning resin. 

I then gradually hollowed the inside of my ring, using forstner bits.

At this point I sanded the interior of my ring. 

Then I parted the ring off the lathe.

I shaped the block into a cone, on which my ring fitted snuggly. I then made two relief cuts with my hacksaw.

Next I made an adapter for my tailstock. When the tailstock pushes against the block they hold the ring in place.

I finished shaping the ring and sanded it on the lathe until 320 grit.

I then wet sanded it with mineral oil until I reached 1000grit.

At this point I used my micro mesh sanding pads which go from 1500 to 12000grit.

I cut a stripe of leather and created a loop for my pendant. 

I am really happy with the outcome. I think this figured olive wood is ideal for these resin art projects.

But that was it, see you soon, with a new project video.

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