Glow Wood Tree, Wall Decor

I was inspired to build a table like the glow table mikeasaurus did on here. My lumber place didn't have any cracked lumber or anything with holes so my wife drew this image. I routered it and gave the glow resin thing a try. I am hooked on that stuff now!

Material

I ended up with 2 1/2 inch thick piece of sycamore, 18 by 48, with live edges. I removed the bark and had my wife draw a tree on it, she is much better with a pencil than me.

Routering

I used a small carving bit and routered the image out, starting about a 1/16 deep. I then went over it again with a large carving bit, going down to 3/16. Routering took around an hour and a half.

Prepping for Resin

I placed a thin layer of glue within the carving to reduce resin from absorbing. Then I painted a thin layer of white. I heard the lighter the background the brighter the resin will be.

Pouring

I used a simple one to one ratio resin, order from Walmart, cheapest I could find and a glow powder off eBay. Duct tape was used to tape off the end grove, it worked great. First pour my wife helped, it was very smooth with little over pours. I didn't use enough powder and it was translucent, you could see the white paint. I did another pour to top off the carving, it got sloppy with a lot of over pours. Overall I used 13 oz resin and about 50 grams powder.

I chose a powder that remains the same color in light and darkness, we wanted to enjoy the color regardless of lighting.

Finishing Sanding

Let the resin sit for 2 days. Took the orbital sander to it. I just eye balled the leveling. Started with 100 grit and worked down to 320. Wet sanded with 320. A planner or belt sander would have been nice!

Stain

Brought the piece back inside and applied minimax natural. Wiped on maybe 4 coats, lot of extra coats on the end grain since it soaks up a bunch.

Polyurethane

Used minwax oil based poly, wiped on with a 7$poly brush. Did 2 coats, wet saved with 2000 grit in between.

Hanging

Drilled a 1.5 hole in the back. Used a router bit too put a lip in the hole. Put a 3/8 bolt 5 inches long in a stud and slapped it on the wall.

Ending

Overall very pleased with the project,. Don't be afraid to mess with this stuff, pretty hard to mess up. Take your time and if you mess up just sand the heck out of it.

Sorry for the side ways pics, won't let me load them vertical. Pics don't do the glow justice, it glows super bright!