# What is this liquid that hardens clear? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 3, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319 "2017-03-03T17:52:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/1 "2017-03-03T17:52:59Z")
In [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01GKPbizPhE), a man takes a container of pencil stubs and pours in a liquid, which hardens. (He goes on to turn the whole solid cylinder on a lathe to make it into a container with a lid.) It’s not a how-to so much as a demo, so none of the techniques are discussed. What kind of liquid can you use for that? Do you mix it from a powder? If it comes as a liquid, what starts the curing? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/2 "2017-03-03T17:55:50Z")
[Acrylic casting resin.](http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-cast-acrylic-resin) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/3 "2017-03-03T18:31:11Z")
Also, [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_ethyl_ketone_peroxide) [is](https://www.misterart.com/sculpting/mold-making/castin-craft-clear-casting-catalyst.html) what starts the curing. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/4 "2017-03-03T19:03:26Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Also, [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_ethyl_ketone_peroxide) [is](https://www.misterart.com/sculpting/mold-making/castin-craft-clear-casting-catalyst.html) what starts the curing. The peroxide part does all the curing, and its like a catalyst Like a catalyst - there is the same amount of peroxide left after curing Not like a passive catalyst. (not like titanium in many reactions) - the atoms in the peroxide are not the same atoms at the end, they have been swapped many times over! ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/5 "2017-03-03T20:57:38Z")
Or it was Elmer’s glue, which also is clear when dry. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/6 "2017-03-03T21:20:49Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Or it was Elmer’s glue, which also is clear when dry. Elmer’s glue is only clear when dry when in a very thin coat. A bulk mass of it would be white, would harden very, very slowly (and I’m thinking would just form a film over the surface exposed to the air without ever completely hardening. And even if you did somehow have a solid bulk mass of Elmer’s glue, I think you would find turning it on a lathe to be challenging. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/7 "2017-03-03T21:41:43Z")
Elmer’s glue also starts out white, so how could anyone who saw the video think that could be a possibility? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/8 "2017-03-03T22:45:09Z")
You can also use resin when decorating trays or table tops with decoupage or gluing down items. > **[Resin Crafts Blog - Resin crafting projects and tutorials](http://resincrafts.blogspot.com/2015/09/resin-coffee-bean-tray.html)** > > Resin crafting projects and tutorials A smaller version of the pennies floor tiling! > **[Resin Crafts Blog - Resin crafting projects and tutorials](http://resincrafts.blogspot.com/2015/11/resin-penny-tray.html)** > > Resin crafting projects and tutorials [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6hzkW18yMzY/hqdefault.jpg) ](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6hzkW18yMzY/hqdefault.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/9 "2017-03-03T22:57:35Z")
When I was a kid, for some reason I got the idea that it would be cool to have a solid block of cured Elmer’s glue. I put a small amount in a small plastic bottle and let it dry for a few days. Then I added a little more and let that dry. I did this for several months I think. The result was an opaque yellowish white solid, with different layers of slightly different colors. Perhaps the different colors were from different batches having different ages. But none of it was transparent in the slightest. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/10 "2017-03-03T23:11:33Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > [Acrylic casting resin.](http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-cast-acrylic-resin) That [sounds like](http://juxtamorph.com/difference-between-polyester-acrylic-and-epoxy-resins/) it needs special handling due to the peroxide: > [@](#): > > The dust is toxic, as is the monomer and its vapors. And the organic peroxides are especially poisonous, some of them being explosive and others causing instant blindness if they get in ones eyes. :eek: I am also seeing epoxy resins in doing searches; I found another video similar to the first where he uses the same technique to make a lamp base, and this time he shows epoxy resin at the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/11 "2017-03-03T23:30:44Z")
Hmmm…goes to CookingWithGas’ house a year from now, and everything is enclosed in clear blocks. The TV, the dog, the furniture, the hedges out front… ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/12 "2017-03-03T23:34:58Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > That [sounds like](http://juxtamorph.com/difference-between-polyester-acrylic-and-epoxy-resins/) it needs special handling due to the peroxide Definitely not something you would want to take a shot of or use for hand lotion, but not so bad that it can’t be bought casually over the counter in craft stores, no kinds of restrictions or controls on buying it. So there must not be enough people using it like a dumbass to have people trying to get it banned ([unlike some other substances](http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/parents-boy-died-caffeine-overdose-hit-washington-article-1.2043181).) The main problem with it is that the resin has a strong smell, is very brittle when solid, and often leaves a tacky surface. Also, the process is fairly exothermic. Not enough to risk bursting anything into flames, but you don’t want to pick up the mold while it is curing, either. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/13 "2017-03-03T23:36:17Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > That [sounds like](http://juxtamorph.com/difference-between-polyester-acrylic-and-epoxy-resins/) it needs special handling due to the peroxide::eek: > > I am also seeing epoxy resins in doing searches; I found another video similar to the first where he uses the same technique to make a lamp base, and this time he shows epoxy resin at the beginning. Epoxies aren’t exactly safe, either. I use casting epoxy, and it comes with a long list of precautions. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/14 "2017-03-03T23:40:35Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Hmmm…goes to CookingWithGas’ house a year from now, and everything is enclosed in clear blocks. The TV, the dog, the furniture, the hedges out front… 😛 At least lock up your spare pencils [https://www.google.com/search?q=hedge+cast+in+epoxy&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjg3dWxwLvSAhUjslQKHXO\_DFoQ\_AUICSgC&biw=888&bih=554#tbm=isch&q=cast+in+epoxy+pencils&\*&imgrc=\_](https://www.google.com/search?q=hedge+cast+in+epoxy&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjg3dWxwLvSAhUjslQKHXO_DFoQ_AUICSgC&biw=888&bih=554#tbm=isch&q=cast+in+epoxy+pencils&*&imgrc=_) ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/15 "2017-03-04T03:51:18Z")
Actually I was thinking about using something like that to make a tabletop. The video shows the guy using a lathe then sanding the piece, but one article says that the acrylic dust is toxic. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/16 "2017-03-04T03:54:13Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Actually I was thinking about using something like that to make a tabletop. The video shows the guy using a lathe then sanding the piece, but one article says that the acrylic dust is toxic. All dust is toxic. That’s what masks, exhaust fans, and dust collectors are for. ---
**Author:** ![Oddball\_92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b3f665/32.png) [@Oddball\_92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oddball_92)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/17 "2017-03-04T15:26:17Z")
In this video Jimmy Diresta does the same thing using tree branches. He mentions the product he uses. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hPhINMy20jU/maxresdefault.jpg "DiResta's Cut: Experimenting with Branches and Resin") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPhINMy20jU) ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/18 "2017-03-04T18:42:36Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Definitely not something you would want to take a shot of or use for hand lotion, but not so bad that it can’t be bought casually over the counter in craft stores, no kinds of restrictions or controls on buying it. So there must not be enough people using it like a dumbass to have people trying to get it banned ([unlike some other substances](http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/parents-boy-died-caffeine-overdose-hit-washington-article-1.2043181).) > > The main problem with it is that the resin has a strong smell, is very brittle when solid, and often leaves a tacky surface. Also, the process is fairly exothermic. Not enough to risk bursting anything into flames, but you don’t want to pick up the mold while it is curing, either. Wish they could make [some sort of food safe clear resin.](http://slimpaley.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/filename19.jpeg) Fun source page [http://slimpaley.com/uncategorized/must-be-jelly-cause-jam-dont-shake-like-that/](http://slimpaley.com/uncategorized/must-be-jelly-cause-jam-dont-shake-like-that/). ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-liquid-that-hardens-clear/781319/19 "2017-03-04T19:24:17Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > That [sounds like](http://juxtamorph.com/difference-between-polyester-acrylic-and-epoxy-resins/) it needs special handling due to the peroxide::eek: I’ve done fiberglassing with polyester resin, which uses methyl-ethyl ketone peroxide as a hardener. basic precautions are to use protective gloves (vinyl or nitrile are better than latex) and work outside or under a fume hood. You don’t want to drink it or anything but people work with this stuff all the time.