Nice experiment to isolate the most likely independent variable, which sounds like the overuse of dye.
I’ve had experience with bedding jobs and rod building. Although not exactly the same, it’s similar in that you are using resins and hardners. With rod finish it always takes a solid two minutes of very vigorous/thorough stirring before the “haze” goes away and it’s truly ready.
For most resin/hardner mixing I can think of, my 2 cents is:
- make LARGER batches than necessary BECAUSE if you’re off with measuring, any lack of accuracy/precision will be less significant with the larger batch
- use the least amount of dye necessary
- mix very well over an adequate amount of time
- use a tried and true release agent
