Basically 3 types of resin you can get easily.
Polyester, Polyurethane and Epoxy.
Polyester is the cheapest, doesn't require a pot but stinks to high heaven and is brittle. I used to use it a lot but have moved to epoxy.
Epoxy is next in cost, doesn't always need a pot but better results with, I use it for embedded objects when I want a clear glass like look. Best out there is Glasscast 10. Alumlite Amazing Clear Cast is epoxy also, don't waste your money, it's pants. Might be ok for a tubed pen but for what you want, nope. I have had a body go like a banana when sanding. The heat softens it and with no tube to support it it goes soft.
Alumilite Clear and Slow are polyurethane and the most expensive but also the best for what we want. Def requires a pot.
Clear has a pot life of approx 7 minutes, Slow is 12 minutes. But the guys in the US combine the timing with temperature, I haven't done enough to get this down to an art so I stick to the timings and my little temp gun. This is the stuff the top casters use. They also have a quicker de-mould time, approx 1 - 2 hours. So in theory you can make a lot of blanks in a day.
I do like to leave them for a week to fully cure though, get a much better finish on them but you can play with them the next day.
Hope this help guys.
Couple of photos of my own casts, 1 is a hybrid
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