GlassCast 50 Clear Epoxy Casting Resin (2024)

GlassCast® 50 is the remarkable new water-clear epoxy clear casting resin from the makers of the famous GlassCast product. GlassCast 50 is perfect for creating thick, water-clear, bubble-free castings up to 25mm deep. It is especially recommended for river tables, knot filling and other furniture projects where you will be casting a very thick layer of resin (up to 25mm per pour) and require the best clarity. It can be layered to create deep castings of unlimited depth*.

Video Tutorial and Demonstration

We have a highly detailed and informative video tutorial on how to make a river table. You can watch this here: How To Make a Live-Edge Resin River Table using GlassCast 50

Casting Vs Coating

GlassCast 50 has been designed as a casting resin, not a coating resin. This means that whilst it offers the advantage of incredible clarity - even in thick sections - it does not cure with a perfect surface on the open face in the way that our GlassCast 3 coating resin does. However, GlassCast 50 can easily be flatted and polished to achieve a perfectly flat, glossy finish if required (such as the top surface of a river table).

If your project is more about creating a flat glossy coating - straight from the pour - then our GlassCast 3 coating resin is probably a better option.

Typical Uses

GlassCast 50 has been designed to be as easy-to-use and reliable as possible. It does not require degassing or any other special equipment and in fact will thoroughly degas itself during cure, resulting in a perfectly clear, bubble-free casting. GlassCast 50 uses a simple 2:1 mix ratio by volume meaning that it can be measured and mixed accurately requiring only marked buckets.

Even more remarkable is that GlassCast 50 can be poured into insulating materials (such as wood) at thicknesses up to 25mm in a single pour without overheating, distorting or discolouring. If even more thickness is required, multiple layers of up to 25mm each can be poured on top of each other - following partial cure of the previous layer - to create castings of unlimited thickness.

When not pouring into wood (plastic or silicone moulds for example) GlassCast 50 cast actually be used at thicknesses up to 50mm in a single pour.

Glass Cast 50 is incredibly clear, even at thicknesses of 50mm or more and uses the very latest UV stabilising technology to provide industry leading long-term yellowing protection*.

To create stunning translucent colours (like stained glass) just add a few drops of our resin tinting pigments. GlassCast can also be enhanced with a metal powders, glitters and glow powders to achieve a huge range of decorative effects.

Further Information

Ambient Temperature, Pot-Life and Pour Depth

The GlassCast range of resins, in common with all epoxies, generate heat as part of the curing process. The amount of time the mixed resin can spend in the pot, as well as the maximum depth it can be poured at, will vary depending on the ambient temperature.

For best results, we recommend working in a consistent room temperature of 18-20°C. GlassCast can be used in temperatures from 15 to 25°C but higher temperatures will reduce the pot-life and the maximum pour-depth of the resin significantly, as shown in the table below.

Outdoor Use

Despite the very good advanced 'UV' resistant formulation of our Glass Cast resins, we don't suggest using the GlassCast range of resins for permanent, outdoor applications. This is down to epoxy chemistry meaning that eventually, over time, depending on UV exposure, environmental conditions etc, the resins will always eventually yellow in outdoor conditions. How visible this is depends on factors such as the underlying colour and conditions experienced.

We simply don’t have the longevity of testing to be able to guarantee how long it will be before the resin may start to deteriorate in direct sunlight, adverse weather conditions (freezing in winter, high temps in summer), water pooling or sitting on top, etc. We have got customers who have used it for such applications but the advice would be to either put the outdoor projects away between uses or to have a cover to protect it if no other product (yacht varnish, etc.) would suit your project.

IMPORTANT: Maximum Casting Thickness

When casting into wood the insulating effect of the wood (particularly if you also have a wooden base/board) can make it very difficult for the resin to lose heat as it cures. This limits the maximum recommended castable thickness when casting into wood at 25mm. This is particularly important when working in higher ambient temperatures (anything above 20°C).

For a typical 'river table' fill (example 40mm) we would suggest splitting the main pour into 2 layers of 20mm each, this will avoid the possible risk of exotherm during cure and achieve the best possible results.

When casting GlassCast 50 into other materials such as plastic or silicone moulds, it it usually possible to cast up to 50mm in thickness in a single pour.

Suggested Uses

GlassCast 50 can be used for just about any application that requires a water-clear, bubble-free and highly tough resin casting. It is the ideal product for clear casting resin for wood projects and is the perfect live edge river table epoxy resin.

It can be poured as a thick coating over existing surfaces or into moulds made from silicone rubber and of course it can be poured into knot-holes, cavities and gaps between wood for furniture pieces like epoxy river tables.

If you are looking for an epoxy resin to create jewellery - like wood and resin rings, pen blanks or 3D resin art, GlassCast® 10 would be more suitable.

• River tables / knot holes
• Wood and resin combination furniture (lamps, sculptures)
• Clear castings / sculptures
• Encapsulations
• Paperweights

Pigments and Tints

To create stunning translucent colours (like stained glass) just add a few drops of our resin tinting pigments. GlassCast can also be enhanced with metal powders, glitters and glow powders to achieve a huge range of decorative effects.

Our Glass Cast range of resins are compatible with many pigments and colouring powders on the market today. This includes epoxy compatible pigment pastes, various pigment powders and translucent tinting pigments. If the pigment manufacturer is not sure if the pigment is epoxy compatible then a small test should give you the answer you need. We stock a range of pigments that have all been tested and work great with all of our Glass Cast resins. You can find our range of pigments at the links below.

• Opaque Epoxy Compatible Pigment Pastes
• Pearl Ex Pigment Powders
• Translucent Tinting Pigments

Shelf Life

Shelf Life is 12 months from date manufacture. GlassCast should be stored in its original container and out of direct sunlight. It is recommended that the storage temperature should be between 15ºC and 25ºC. Ideally, containers should be opened only immediately prior to use. KEEP THE PACKING TIGHTLY SEALED WHEN NOT IN USE. When stored correctly, the resin and hardener will have a shelf-life of 12 months. Although it may be possible to use the resin and hardener after a longer period, a deterioration in the performance of the resin will occur.

How to Use

GlassCast 50 should always be mixed, poured and cured at a constant room temperature of around 20°C. Resin and hardener should be mixed 2 parts resin to 1 part hardener by volume (calibrated mixing pots are available).

For castings, GlassCast 50 can be poured into common mould materials such as silicone**, polyethylene and polypropylene without the need for any release agent. For thick coatings GlassCast 50 can be poured directly onto dry surfaces such as metal, concrete and wood following a light 'keying' of the material.

*Additional layer should be poured when the previous layer reaches the B-stage of the cure. If the resin has fully cured the surface on the previous layer must be keyed to ensure a strong mechanical bond.

**Unlike most water clear resins, GlassCast can be cast into Condensation/tin cure RTV silicone rubber moulds without any problems.

See our full instructions on how to use GlassCast 50 to create a stunning resin river table here.

See the technical datasheet for full details and important information and always consult the safety datasheet before use.