Projects: Getting Creative with Epoxy
It’s fair to say that Nick Zammeti makes weird and wonderful products. From a bowl full of corks to an amazing floating river table flowing with coloured pencils, he’s a man on a creative mission.
“People send me all sorts of stuff to stick in epoxy,” he says. “I once made a bowl with tomato ketchup in epoxy. It turned out fine but smelt a bit weird.” It sold as soon as it went up for sale in Nick’s online store.
“I started to use Entropy Resins® products in 2017,” Nick says. “I got inspired by watching other makers on YouTube a few years ago and wanted to try what other guys were doing. I got a lathe and started woodturning – I taught myself – and then wanted to incorporate interest into what I was making. Vases and bowls are all great but I wanted to give the epoxy a go.”
One of Nick’s first creations, and the one that set him apart from other makers on social media, was his pencil pot, which has over 124 million views to date on the Daily Mail Facebook page.
“I mixed up pencils with epoxy and it came out really well,” he says. “It’s my claim to fame.” That was in 2017, and Nick’s still working with pencils. “I’m most proud of my pencil ukulele, I can play it a bit, but nothing major. In other pencil work, I recently cast my hand and filled it with resin, it looks like Terminator.”
Nick uses Entropy Resins products for all his creations now. “Entropy Resins products are bio-based, so that’s obviously helpful,” he says. “Lots of people are asking about the environmental aspects of epoxy. I wanted to do what’s right, so using this is definitely better for the planet.
“It comes out really nicely and is clear. Entropy Resins take all the bubbles out (I always use a pressure pot anyway) and the viscosity is great. I’ve just made a cool sphere with feathers. The light shines through the epoxy – the feathers are pinks, oranges, yellows, greens and blues – and it looks amazing.
“I like working with Entropy Resins products, they’re easy to use. Each resin has a different cure time, so it’s handy to have a fast and slow hardener.”
Nick shares his creations each week through his YouTube channel. You can see his work online where he’s busily adding intrigue to his designs with corks, Pencils, Feathers, Buttons, Stones and Beads.
Nick advocates for his hobby-turned profession. “It’s wonderful to de-stress yourself from everyday life,” he says. “But if you’re starting out woodturning, get professional lessons on how to do it correctly & safely. It’s quite dangerous so always wear the correct safety equipment.”
