Resin Casting

A few questions about casting resin?

Can things (like mesh) be cast into resin? Can glue bind cast resin pieces together? Can oil be used to pull resin pieces from form work?

You don’t say which kinds of “resin” you’re using, but the answers to those specific questions are more or less the same.

Yes, “embedments” and particulate materials (powders, flakes, etc) can all be included in resin, though the porous ones or ones with colorants that might bleed will need to be sealed first. Also steps have to be taken to make sure they are bone dry, and that no air gets stuck in or around them, or both will cause bubbles or “frosty” looking areas.

Some glues will work with resins (and other plastics), some won’t work or won’t be very strong or won’t be clear.
The best glue is probably a 2-part epoxy resin** (since those glues are basically the same material as epoxy resin just thicker).
Silicone based glues like E6000 can work too if the parts are pressed together well so the glue is really thin.
Permanent white glues (especially stronger ones) could also work too sometimes.

I assume your last question is asking about “releases” for resins when used in molds.
Both polyester (“casting”) resins and epoxy resins (used in shallow molds and as thick coatings, and less bad to breathe, less fiddly to use, etc) usually need no release if they’re cast in molds made from HDPE plastic (special molds made for resins, as well as unscratched rubbery plastic items like Rubbermaid containers, etc), or in silicone molds (those you buy like ice cube trays or other shapes, or those you make yourself from 2-part silicone putty molding materials, though any silicones must be very smooth and/or shiny on the inside). Epoxies are more adhesive in general than polyesters though.
There are materials that can be put or painted onto many molds to help the resin release as well, and refrigerating a while can help too.
You can read more about release possibilities with both types of craft resin in my answer to this previous question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100206091500AA7eXFv

You may also be interested in my answers to other resin questions:

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091115185640AAXBfZF

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqRoGzjtN95Is41Kmm_SHHfsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20091011042033AAytK0x

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100402061140AAD0jwB

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100521191232AACynOx

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100202070201AAaUw9q

And there’s loads more info, lessons, etc., on most all the types of clear craft resin on this page at my site:

http://glassattic.com/polymer/other_materials.htm

** Devcon’s 2 Ton, 30-Min.Set is one that stays really clear and doesn’t yellow easily

HTH

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