Resin Days – Chapter One, Part Two/樹脂の日々- チャプター１パート２
*Please note from here on out that all of my advice is specifically for epoxy resin, not polyester. I’m pretty sure most of this is applicable to both but use at your own discretion and good luck resining!
Top 5 common problems when pouring Resin
- Bubbles
- Objects not laying flat
- Paper turning transparent
- Hairs, dust & debris
- Resin not mixed accurately
Bubbles:
I think this is the biggest most constant issue with Resin. You can create bubbles by mixing resin too much, pouring it into the mold and by adding objects into it. They’re annoying and ever present. The easiest way to get rid of them is by blowing them out with a straw however THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I’M IN NO WAY SUGGESTING THAT YOU USE THIS METHOD. There’s a chance you could suck instead of blow (It’s Megamaid sir! She’s gone from suck…to blow!) and consuming resin equals a trip to the hospital. Instead of a straw, I’ve used a hairdryer on low heat or cool and gotten a lot of bubbles out. Heat guns are also a good alternative because when resin is slightly heated it becomes easier to work with. However, be careful not to melt your molds! (I’ve done this ;_; ) Another method I use for hard to reach bubbles is a toothpick… In fact I use toothpicks for so much in resin… It’s a marvelous throw away tool.
Bubbles, Bubbles & more Bubbles!!
Objects not laying flat:
When embedding objects in resin you need to do a total of 2 separate pours. The first pour, usually clear, should be thin and you can either push the object all the way down in the resin when you pour it (it may still not lie flat depending on the object) or you pour a thin clear layer, let it cure and then lie your object on top of that and pour a second layer. Be careful of foam stickers or other objects that hold air as they will float in resin that’s just been poured and may create bubbles.
Paper turning transparent:
Not all paper turns transparent in resin but I would say that most does. All you need to do is seal the item you’re embedding in resin with a little modge podge (matte, paper use) and you’re ready to go. I’ve also heard of people using elmer’s glue but I never have so I’m unsure if it works well or not.
Failed Bottlecap Images 
Hairs, dust & debris:
Ideally, every work space should be clean and dust free, especially when working with resin. I advise that you NOT create resin in a room with carpets if possible. I work on a high table in the corner of my kitchen away from food. There’s good ventilation in there and no carpets. I do have a cat though so I often get cat hairs in my resin. >_< I get anything stuck in there out by hand and then use a container to cover my resin as it cures over the next 24 hours.
Resin not mixed accurately:
Epoxy resin is a 1:1 ratio so that means half resin and half hardener in equal amounts at all times. If you mix them in uneven amounts your resin will not cure properly and remain soft and tacky. They’ll be hard enough to get them out of the molds after a few days but you won’t be able to use them. This makes resin pouring a little risky, all that hard work and you might have to throw everything out! This always makes me sad. However, I noticed that this only happens when the ratio of resin is greater than the ratio of hardener. However, if the ratio of hardener is greater than that of the resin, your resin will still harden, but at a much faster rate. I’d say the working time you have with a resin pour where the amount of hardener is greater than the amount of resin is about 15 minutes tops. With a perfect pour your working time is probably about 30 minutes tops. So if you ever doubt your resin ratio, just add a little more hardener and you’re sure to be able to keep all your work.
Until next post, have fun creating!
日本語版はあとで投稿します。
1. Bubbles
2. Objects not laying flat
3. Paper turning transparent
4. Hairs, dust & debris
5. Resin not mixed accurately
Bubbles:
I think this is the biggest most constant issue with Resin. You can create bubbles by mixing resin too much, pouring it into the mold and by adding objects into it. They’re annoying and ever present. The easiest way to get rid of them is by blowing them out with a straw however THIS IS EXTREMLY DANGERUOUS AND I’M IN NO WAY SUGGESTING THAT YOU USE THIS METHOD. There’s a chance you could suck instead of blow (It’s Megamaid sir! She’s gone from suck…to blow!) and consuming resin equals a trip to the hospital. Instead of a straw, I’ve used a hairdryer on low heat or cool and gotten a lot of bubbles out. Heat guns are also a good alternative because when resin is slightly heated it becomes easier to work with. However, be careful not to melt your molds! (I’ve done this ;_; ) Another method I use for hard to reach bubbles is a toothpick… In fact I use toothpicks for so much in resin… It’s a marvelous throw away tool.
Objects not laying flat:
When embedding objects in resin you need to do a total of 2 separate pours. The first pour, usually clear, should be thin and you can either push the object all the way down in the resin when you pour it (it may still not lie flat depending on the object) or you pour a thin clear layer, let it cure and then lie your object on top of that and pour a second layer. Be careful of foam stickers or other objects that hold air as they will float in resin that’s just been poured and may create bubbles.
Paper turning transparent:
Not all paper turns transparent in resin but I would say that most does. All you need to do is seal the item you’re embedding in resin with a little modge podge (matte, paper use) and you’re ready to go. I’ve also heard of people using elmer’s glue but I never have so I’m unsure if it works well or not.
Hairs, dust & debris:
Ideally, every work space should be clean and dust free, especially when working with resin. I advise that you NOT create resin in a room with carpets if possible. I work on a high table in the corner of my kitchen away from food. There’s good ventilation in there and no carpets. I do have a cat though so I often get cat hairs in my resin. >_< I get anything stuck in there out by hand and then use a container to cover my resin as it cures over the next 24 hours.
Resin not mixed accurately:
Epoxy resin is a 1:1 ratio so that means half resin and half hardener in equal amounts at all times. If you mix them in uneven amounts your resin will not cure properly and remain soft and tacky. They’ll be hard enough to get them out of the molds after a few days but you won’t be able to use them. This makes resin pouring a little risky, all that hard work and you might have to throw everything out! This always makes me sad. However, I noticed that this only happens when the ratio of resin is greater than the ratio of hardener. However, if the ratio of hardener is greater than that of the resin, your resin will still harden, but at a much faster rate. I’d say the working time you have with a resin pour where the amount of hardener is greater than the amount of resin is about 15 minutes tops. With a perfect pour your working time is probably about 30 minutes tops. So if you ever doubt your resin ratio, just add a little more hardener and you’re sure to be able to keep all your work.
日本語版はあとで投稿します。
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