After a year of working with resin, I’ve made a ton of mistakes and have learned a lot. The most important tip I have is always to just go ahead and give it a try! You’ll learn best by doing, and everyone’s process is a little different.
That said, here are some things I wish I’d known when I was starting out:
1. Disposable Cups are Your Friend
I wanted to save money long-term, so I initially invested in a few sets of silicone mixers and cups in all different sizes… and now they’re a complete mess. I’ve never been able to clean them really thoroughly — especially the cups I mix my part A and B in — and I’ve ruined more than one finished piece because of a scrap of old resin snuck in.’
I work in a shared space, so once the resin cures, I want clean up to be fast. Scrubbing silicone cups in a slop sink for half an hour is not my idea of fun. Now I use disposable cups for all my big pours, and save a few tiny silicon ones for pre-portioning glitter, color, or mixins.
2. Measure Twice, Pour Once
One of my worst mistakes was eyeballing my resin ratio, doing a full pour, and having to throw out hours of work because it didn’t cure properly.
At first, I was intimidated by having to use a scale (which is silly looking back, because I always prefer baking by weight and I skip the measuring cups). I started out with 1:1 by volume resins since they felt more approachable, and didn’t need extra tools. But its so easy to eyeball it wrong, and that little mistake can ruin an entire batch.
Measuring by weight is way more reliable, and helps ensure you have an accurate ratio every time.
3. The Resin You Choose Matters
But don’t let that stop you from starting with what you can find!
I went through a bunch of small bottles as I was figuring out what I liked –or more accurately, didn’t like– to make. Once I had the feel for it, I invested in 2-gallons of a resin that I liked working with (Art Resin). Now that I’ve done more, I’m realizing I want something harder that holds up better for horns and dice.
I’d recommend that you start with what’s accessible, but try to choose a resin well-suited to your specific project(s) before buying in bulk.
4. You Don’t Need a Pressure Pot to Get Started
Does a pressure pot help? Yes! Does it make everything prettier? 100%. Should it stop you from getting started? Definitely not!
I started my resin journey without a pressure pot and still got great experience (and results!) without expensive (and heavy) equipment. Now that I have one, I follow the exact same process for making things like horns and they just come out looking way prettier.
If you’re working with small pieces (necklaces, keychains, earrings, etc), I do recommend getting a heat gun to pop the surface bubbles on your pieces – it makes a big difference.
5. It’s Okay to Take Your Time
During my first dozen pours, I felt all this time pressure — if if I don’t move fast enough the resin will cure and I won’t finish in time! A few thoughts on that:
- It’s okay to work smaller: I tried to fill every spot in my mold but reducing how many things I tried to make at once helped me feel I had enough time to focus on each piece
- Different resins have different pot lives (how long you have before it starts to harden). I switched from a 20 minute working time to a resin with a 40 minute working time and it made everything way easier. Now, I’m switching back to a shorter pot life because I’d rather have a faster 24 hour cure than a longer working time. It’s a trade-off, so find a resin that works for you!
- Plan your pour ahead of time! I lay out all my molds, glitter, pigments and tools before I mix my resin. Having everything ready to go makes sure I use my time effectively.
6. Most Most Most Importantly: Don’t Skimp on Safety Gear!
Get gloves! Get a respirator rated for fumes! Work in a well-ventilated space! Especially if you’re doing this long term, you need to take care of yourself.
