Flek Pure is a translucent terrazzo-like panel made from 100% recycled materials

Posted on 10/03/2023 by JC Torres

Although many people know about the benefits of using products made from recycled materials, few actively seek them out. The only times they do buy something that uses recycled materials is when it’s actually part of a bigger whole, and they have no choice on the matter. There are many presumptions and misconceptions about the quality of recycled products, which may have been true decades ago. Fortunately, designers, science, and technologies have moved forward since then, breaking the mold of what you can expect from recycled materials. This translucent resin-like material, for example, is so eye-catching and beautiful that you might not believe that it’s 100% made from bits and pieces that would have otherwise been thrown away.

Designer: 3form

Back in the day, you could easily tell recycled paper from virgin paper with a single look. Recycled paper is often rough and brown or gray, properties that are unappealing and sometimes even unusable in some applications. That’s no longer true today, of course, but there are still some things that are difficult to pull off when using recycled materials. Most products using recycled materials, for example, are often opaque, which is what makes this striking material even more impressive.

Flek Pure is a resin-like material for use as panels in doors, partitions, decorations, and anywhere else you would need a durable and sustainable slab that would be a stand-in for glass or fiberglass. The “Pure” variant, specifically, looks like frosted glass with a few random specs of colors that give it a terrazzo-like character. Like frosted glass, it is translucent, and you can make out shapes and shadows behind the panel, creating an interesting visual that still maintains your privacy.

That translucency is a rare trait among materials made from recycled bits, especially one that’s 100% recycled, like Flek Pure. The company uses a unique and meticulous process that creates pellets from internally sourced waste or upcycled materials and then sorts these pellets according to their clarity and cleanliness. This is how the translucent appearance is achieved, and the bits that aren’t so clear are still used to create the “imperfections” that give Flek its terrazzo aesthetic. Nothing is wasted, which makes Flek Pure an excellent solution for environment-conscious designers.

Of course, not everyone will find Flex Pure’s clear whiteness always appealing. There are other colorways available as well, which all maintain that translucent quality. The addition of color, however, does pull the sustainability a bit down to using only 92% recycled material, but it’s still a significant win, especially compared to opaque or muddy panels that use even less recycled parts.

The post Flek Pure is a translucent terrazzo-like panel made from 100% recycled materials first appeared on Yanko Design.

This beautiful handmade chessboard makes it looks like you’re playing on water

Posted on 17/12/2022 by JC Torres

Chess is a game that dates more than 1,500 years ago, and while the basic structure of the game has remained the same, it has taken on different visual forms over the centuries. From wood to ivory to even purely digital pieces, you might think that you’ve seen all there is to see when it comes to chess design. That couldn’t be farther from the truth, of course, seeing as how there are so many beautiful but odd-looking chess sets that might even leave you scratching your head in bewilderment. This handmade set, however, doesn’t change how the pieces themselves look but instead gives the board a more mesmerizing appearance of seemingly floating on water, turning a tense chess match into something almost enchanting and relaxing.

Designer: Wood Season (RVRgroup)

Some say that chess is a game of strategy and critical thinking, but others would argue that it has become simply a matter of memorizing and replaying moves these days. Whatever the case might be, the fact is that the game has never changed for hundreds of years now, from the mechanics to the pieces themselves. What has changed is how those pieces are sometimes represented, deviating from the standard medieval theme of kings, queens, and knights to become sometimes unrecognizable pieces of steel, glass, or any other eye-catching material.

The chessboard, in contrast, has remained virtually frozen in time, 64 squares arranged in 8 rows of 8 columns of alternating colors. That almost leaves very little room for creativity, but the Floating Chess defies those expectations. Painstakingly crafted by hand from oak and different coatings of epoxy, this chess set gives the illusion of a tranquil game of chess being played over a pond, in contrast to the tense, nail-biting games you’d see in professional competitions.

What gives the Floating Chess set its almost ethereal visage is the different layers and colors of epoxy used. These range from the transparent liquid used to contrast with the “dark” wooden blocks to the green pigment that submerges dried pine cones to the pearlescent mix used as the base of all of these. An LED strip lies underneath the board, controlled by a phone to shine different intensities and hues of light to add an even more unearthly glow to the chess set. The chess pieces themselves are also made from epoxy to complete the theme.

The Floating Chess is definitely a head-turner, with or without the help of colorful lighting. The use of epoxy resin, though possibly less harmful than polyester resin, might raise a few concerns about sustainability but also leaves the door open for greener alternatives. Regardless, the set creates a completely different environment than what you might associate with the game, making the pieces look like floating on water while you float on air.

The post This beautiful handmade chessboard makes it looks like you’re playing on water first appeared on Yanko Design.

Candy Filled Resin Coffee Table Is One Sweet Piece of Furniture

Posted on 13/04/2022 by hite

Been looking all over for the perfect coffee table to compliment your candy-themed living room? Well, look no further, my eccentric friend, because Etsy seller ServedSweett has created the $1,697 Original Candy Coffee Table Ⓒ. I don’t know about you, but I feel like I need like ten cavities filled just looking at it. Although it probably would be handy to have around in the event of the apocalypse since you could always chisel some candy out for a snack.

Each 44″L x 22″W x 19″ H coffee table is made of candy-filled resin approximately 1.5″ thick, with whatever candy is available at the time of your order. Or you can even suggest specific candy or a particular color palette. But you can suggest the addition of beef jerky? I’m still awaiting the response to my email.

Willy Wonka would be proud. Or maybe disappointed there isn’t any Wonka brand candy in the table. And even if there was Wonka brand candy in the table, he would probably be proud you used his brand but disappointed you didn’t eat the candy and made a table out of it instead. He’s a complicated man. One who yelled at me for trying to take a bite out of his hand to see if he’s made of chocolate. He’s not, just to be clear.

[via DudeIWantThat]

Finally, A Resin 3D Printer That Looks Like an Astronaut Helmet

Posted on 08/03/2022 by hite

Been holding out on buying a resin 3D printer because all the available options just don’t look enough like an astronaut helmet for you? Well, it’s finally time to pull the trigger on that space blaster of yours, because the AstroFab Resin 3D printer is a dead-ringer for a traditional NASA-style astronaut helmet. I’m going to print myself a pair of moon boots to match!

The $299 AstroFab features a 2.8″ touchscreen and is capable of producing 3D resin prints up to 5.1” x 3.1” x 6.5”, with a layer resolution of around 10 microns. That’s respectable. Me? Apparently, I’m not that respectable, because my wife always hires an actor to play me whenever she attends family gatherings.

Obviously, the real selling point here is the colored visor. Plus they come in four different shades – blue, green, orange, and yellow. According to AstroFab, “Each AstroFab comes with a color of your choice and other colors can be purchased separately. Why not collect all 4 colors for different spaces!” Yes, why NOT collect all 4 colors for different spaces? I mean, besides the obvious reason. That reason is that you only need one. I mean they’re not Pokémon, you don’t have to catch ’em all (I bought two of each color but no printer).

Mount a Life-size T-Rex Head Trophy on Your Wall

Posted on 22/12/2020 by Paul Strauss

Are you one of those people who loves to mount animal trophies on your wall, regardless of whether or not you actually were the one who slew the beast? Then have I got a prize for your collection! This T-Rex trophy head will make a great addition to any wall and requires no actual dinosaur hunting.

The guys at Etsy shop Cakeboard Designs sell this resin and fiberglass dino head for the low, low price of $1199, which is a bargain when it comes to full-size dinosaur trophies. It measures 42″ high by 36″ wide by 53″ deep in case you’ve got your tape measure out and are checking your available wall space. Just look at this thing with all of its pointy teeth and beady green eyes. But you’re not gonna get me now, T-Rex. Nope, you don’t even have those tiny arms to flail around hopelessly.

If the full-size T-Rex is too big for your wall or wallet, Cakeboard also makes a small (14.5″h) version that’s just $100. They also sell a 3-foot-long compsognathus statue and a giant 20-foot-long postosuchus for true dinosaur connoisseurs.

Pikachu + Chewbacca = Pikachewie

Posted on 12/07/2020 by Paul Strauss

Given all of the things that Disney has purchased over the years, we’re surprised they have yet to buy Nintendo or at least the Pokémon franchise. If they did, they’d probably create some crazy Star Wars / Pokémon mashup merch. For now, we’ve got fans to make us some cool toys instead.

What you’re looking at here is what would happen in the unlikely event that Chewbacca and a Pikachu had a child. Isn’t Pikachewie is adorable? I mean not as cute as Baby Yoda, but he’d give Baby Groot a run for his money for sure. This fun mashup figure comes from custom toy maker Kody Koala, whose Etsy shop is loaded with weird and wonderful creations, like a buff version of the Domino’s Pizza Noid, a pudgy Sonic the Hedgehog, and Waluigi in a mech suit.

Pikachewie measures about 3.5″ tall and is made from cast resin with custom paint to give him his cherubic red cheeks. So trainers, get out your Poké Balls now and head over to Etsy, where you can catch this little guy for just $19. Just don’t make him mad or he might try and rip your other figures arms off.

Resin and wood transform classic products to give them an otherworldly appeal!

Posted on 15/05/2020 by Neha Mistry

Imagine if our world combined with Pandora (the world from Avatar, not the Box!) and humans and Na’vi got together to create some masterpieces – that is exactly what this collection of ice blue resin and warm wood product designs bring to my mind. Every product’s aesthetics in this collection go for a complete overhaul, with some blue pixie dust added for an almost otherworldly, or even magical upgrade to the traditional designs! Russia based Valutkin Studio has been developing these designs and has gathered a dedicated following of these products on their Instagram Page @barocco, so take a dive through this beautiful and mystical collection of product designs that are sure to add some wonder and awe to your homes!

Radio designs are more nostalgic these days with these iconic products now almost missing from people’s homes. But when you have a radio like this, you will create a space to show it off! Set in blue epoxy resin and balanced with a warm wooden body, this radio is worthy of passing down the generations.

Oakwood and resin combine to create this light! The use of material’s natural color is balanced by the delicate features of this light. A centerpiece when on or off, this light will be an attention grabber. Beware of the shark though and maybe not use it while binge-watching JAWS!

Your EDC should reflect your personality – this blue resin and wood-inspired handle will stand out from the crowd of metal and leather handles. And not to forget, casting resin gives you the perfect opportunity to mold the design ergonomically with ease.

I’m not sure how I would use them but look at how adorable these miniature planes are! Now if only we could have an enlarged version of these to fly around Pandora!

Your gorgeous flowers deserve a beautiful setting. The wooden base offset by the resin gives a translucency to the entire design, reducing the bulkiness of the overall vase design.

Get some northern lights inspired magic to your home with these pillar night lights.

A box used to store your treasures should be like a treasure itself. Using multiple layers of resin to create a depth effect, mimicking the ocean, this box’s artwork is a conversation starter in its own right.

Your car is your prized possession and what better way to personalize it than a resin gear knob? Add this to your car to complement your interiors and let your aesthetics shine!

Your favorite bike design, a walnut wood pedestal, and lights, this lamp design is as personalized as it gets! Even better, you can use any figurine in place of the bike and showcase it.

This resin and wood shaving kit creates the symmetry and highlight in your bathroom. Perfect for gifting, this bespoke shaving kit will be the jewel in your kit.

As a bonus, this synergetic wood and resin whale design will elevate any mantelpiece it is placed on!

Researchers find a way to 3D print whole objects in seconds

Posted on 13/02/2020 by Engadget RSS Feed

When you think of 3D printing, you probably imagine a structure being created layer by layer, from the bottom up. Now, researchers from Switzerland's EPFL say they have developed a completely new way of creating 3D objects, with unprecedented resolut...

When Your Pikachu Goes Bad It Becomes Infectachu

Posted on 02/09/2019 by Paul Strauss

These creepy collectible figures answer the question: “What happens when your Pokémon gets really sick?” Apparently, its skin color changes, and becomes semi-transparent, allowing you to see its skeletal structure inside. Delightful!

Custom toymaker Scott Wilkowski is the mad mind behind these awesomely weird figures, inspired by Pikachu and Meowth. Both designs feature a double-cast design, with a terrifying skeleton inside, wrapped in a colorful see-through skin. While you could go for something bright like pink or purple, I prefer the yellow/black combo as it looks the sickliest.

The Meowthski figure is available from Scott’s website for $45, while the Infectachu is available from Woot Bear for $45 to $55. Keep an eye out on his Instagram page for updates, and lots of other disturbing designs.

[via ToysREvil]

Furniture Designs that show why resin is trending on Instagram

Posted on 09/05/2019 by Neha Mistry

Its raining resin, especially on Instagram! The term that you must have heard commonly is epoxy resin. Epoxy resin, a high-quality synthetic resin, was originally developed for the aerospace industry. With its unique mechanical characteristics and fantastic optical properties, it makes an elegant and captivating ingredient when used in modern luxury furniture. The unique, water-like clarity of resin combined with its toughness gives the resin finished furniture a delicate look that helps balance the bulky nature of traditional, wood-based furniture! Whether or not you have worked with resin yet, this collection is sure to inspire you to get your hands dirty, or should we say resin-y!