Designing a better bed

[D.C.]

If all you want is to flow a flat surface, why not use Wood's Metal?

Not a bad idea but Wood's Metal / Cerrobend etc looks to be about £40 per kg, so it would cost a lot more than epoxy levelling I think?
Have you ever tried it if you have some lying around?

I' ve been reading up on EG as my own ideas are taking shape.
As far as I' read, vibrating EG does not work unless you use a mix with too much epoxy for a small size casting. Too much meaning it will yield an end result that has some shrinkage and maybe some warp.
The best seems to be a mix that is "very dry" compared to what most people on forums seem to be using: in the 4% area, or a bit wetter where it needs to adhere to another material.
Also, best to use various grain sizes, the next size 1/5th of the previous.
Put a measured amount in a jar, then add the smaller size and shake until the volume increases and you know the ratio.
A dry mix like that will need stamping.
And off course, make sure to do trials :)

For larger aggregate This place does washed, graded and dried quartz specifically for resin bonding:
http://resinbondedaggregates.com/cat...ound-aggregate

For the smaller sizes I think it would have to be blasting grits:
http://www.stacey-processing.com/gla...ing-media.html

Then Aluminium Oxide powder and milled CF.