Working with Resins
* This article was submitted by Arthur Huang
If you are wondering what type of resin you should choose, you are on the right page. As a matter of fact, this is one of the most common questions that people ask about making crafts and jewelry with resin. Let's find out more.
It is important to keep in mind that there is no one size fits all as for resin is concerned. Therefore, you need to consider a lot of things before making a choice. If you are just starting out as a resin caster, we suggest that you give a go to an epoxy resin first.
The reason is that it is easier to work with the epoxy resin as you don't need to put on a respirator mask. Besides, it is the most forgiving in case of different types of environmental factors.
Another good thing about epoxy resin is that it has the longest shelf life. You will have between 20 and 40 minutes to work with it which is plenty of time. Therefore epoxy resin is the ideal choice for beginners.
If clarity is more important to you, we suggest that you get started with the clear resin. Here it is important to keep in mind that clear resin is not free of colour. Even if you get a clearer resin, it will have a yellow tint based on the resin brand you have chosen.
If you have more questions about resin, you may want to ask your retailer before making a purchase decision. Generally speaking, the cost of a clear resin will be higher than regular resin.
If you are going to put the resin on something that has no sides, the doming resin can be a great choice for you. The reason is that this kind of resin features the extra surface tension. Plus, it is a little thicker. These are the qualities that prevent the resin from running over the sides. However, keep in mind that you will find it harder to remove the bubbles from it.
Important to keep in mind that epoxy resin has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, as a beginner in the field of jewelry making, you may want to try out different types of resin. In the end, you will be able to make the right choice.
While casting epoxy resin, especially for the first time, you may end up denting your fingernails if you try hard enough. Also, polyurethane and polyester resin become really hard when cured. In fact, they will look as clear and hard as glass.
Some types of polyurethanes and polyester smell so bad that you will have to wear a respirator mask before working on them. However, the good thing is that polyester resin is cheaper and can be a great choice if you want to cast deep molds. On the other hand, polyurethane has relatively fewer curing problems. Plus it offers a lot of options to choose from.
