Resin inlay with back lighting, advice is welcomed!!!

[etcher]

Happy New Year to everyone!!!

Now that I've introduced myself and have actually turned on my scroll saw, I'd like to pick brains for some advice.

Here is my idea:

I'd like to scroll cut a filigree/fretwork pattern onto 1/8" or 1/4" wood and use a resin inlay (transparent but colored) into the cut spaces.  Then put 4 sides together and put one of those LED candles behind it to create a back light (not a real candle...fire bad!).  My theory is that the light shining through the resin will create a stained glass effect.

The big question is...will it work?

I have two concerns (again, I haven't actually tried this...): 1) will the resin fall out once the resin cures and possibly shrinks a bit; if so, how do I prevent that from happening and 2) while it's curing, what can I put under the resin that won't stick to it (wax paper maybe?)?

Any advice would be helpful due to the fact that I came up with the idea while falling asleep one night; I haven't actually done this.  If I can pull it off, I think it may look quite nice but again, I don't know if it can be done.

Thanks in advance!!

[Rapid Roger]

I've never done that either but, it sounds like a good idea!   
I say GO FOR IT!! No guts, no glory! 
I'm all for experimenting and trying new things. You may be on to something here and if it doesn't work, try it again.    (I'll try anything twice. )  It may hit the HIT PARADE for the future of scrolling.

Rog 

[dirtrider73068]

If you can pending how big the inlay is, you could get a small right angle drill and drill small holes in the the inlay edges for the resin to flow into for it to hold it place.

[rrjwright]

Please post some pics when done.   This sounds real neat.

Jim. . .

[dgman]

I think this will work but I would use a real candle in a glass votive candle holder. The resin will inhibit the light of the LED candle. But that's just me thinking out loud!

[etcher]

Good advice, thanks!  Now the only thing I'm waiting on, before I start the experiment, is the footswitch that I ordered.  Keep the ideas coming and I'll post my progress and see how it goes.

[dgman]

Don't let the foot switch from keeping you from getting started! I don't use one, never have, never will!

[julief]

I inlay stones in resin and I use duct tape to seal the back side of the wood so it does not bleed out.  Resin sands off just like wood and a little mineral spirits will take off the tape residue.  What you are wanting to do should work.  If the resin shrinks enough to fall out (which I doubt that it will), a little CA glue should do the trick to put it back in.

[Judy Hunter]

100 years ago when I taught ceramics we would use wide masking tape on the back side, fill the void with crushed glass then dribble a product called glass hold in until it filled the void.  When dry and cured remove the tape.  Both the glass and the glue should be available at any good craft store or on line.

Great idea....hadn't thought of the process for years.  But on the after Christmas sale I bout a bunch of those battery operated candles but wasn't sure what to do with them.......Thanks

[DougMel]

Sheila Landry explains a method of doing this on her website try the following link
http://www.sheilalandrydesigns.com/page/480301626

[dirtrider73068]

If you got some scrap wood might try it on a practice piece so you don't mess up the whole project.

[etcher]

Thank you so much, everyone!!  So much support in such a short amount of time.  I just got back from Lowe's and bought more 1/4" wood.  I'd have to say that the supplies are much less expensive than my other hobbies.

Probably so scrolling today; time to go back to work after the long holiday break (booo...) but it has to be done.  Maybe this weekend.

Thanks again everyone!!  BTW, I looked at the article that Shiela Landry wrote on the resin inlay.  Very close to what I'm thinking so it offered some really good tips (didn't think of using packaging tape to seal the back).  Gonna have to try it...