Poured first resin today. It went really well.  My measuring method using a syringe to precisely measure the milliliters of catalyst has really worked wonderfully.  (A pharmacist at Target gave me syringes for free (sans needles)  That and Big Lots had a wonderful assortment of pyrex measuring cups, stainless steel mixing whisks and stainless steel mixing bowls.  Perfect stuff for this work and dirt cheap too.

Discovered that the resin I am using isn't air inhibited, but it is extremely tenacious and strong.  I had a few things weighing down spots while I was called away by work.  A can of Acetone and a Pyrex measuring cup were stuck to the surface.  The Pyrex (glass) measuring cup had to be cut out with the multi-tool, I think the entire assembly would have held my body weight (I was concerned about breaking the cup).

Needless to say I am not concerned about the "secondary bonding characteristics" of polyester resin at all anymore.  That worry was completely unfounded!  (Internet wisdom of some was that "only" epoxy resin would bond new to old material strongly, that the only resin you can use is West System epoxy.  I have proven to my own complete and total satisfaction that this is totally false and I would not hesitate to recommend that you use the material too!)  Tomorrow I could complete the deck with the exception of the skin joints, a step which my take a weekend by itself maybe.  We will see.

 This mist cooling "snake" I got from Lowe's and a way better fan made my work site quite a bit more comfortable.

Sunday progress - was not what I had hoped.   Time and weather are enemies.  I did make great progress this weekend, and I completely overcame my fear of working with the resin, so it was a very productive weekend all in all.  I have about 1/3 more of the deck to cut wood for.  The wood is by far the most time consuming part of this so far - though I imagine the "scarf joints" will well eclipse that in the end.   We will see!