Things That Can Be Done With Epoxy Resin - Beginner Level
Introduction: Things That Can Be Done With Epoxy Resin - Beginner Level
Hi All,
This instructable about total fun things you can with Epoxy Resin, This is new to me, so of course posted this for amateur's like me, who are interested in resin art but thinking their way to start it. I hope this is useful to those budding resin artists.
Basically resin art is about mixing resin and hardener in correct proportions, so chemical reaction happens and when get what we intended to make with it by turning those two liquids into solid pieces.. like coasters, jewellery, pop sockets decor, home decors, resin art wall clock also protection layer to your painting leaving glossy finish. What all you be seeing in this instructable few of the above mentioned. I was very excited while and now double excited to share this experience.
Step 1: Supplies & Safety First
Epoxy clear resin - 225 g
Hardener - 75 g
My resin and hardener mixing proportions is 3:1, follow mixing proportion as per manufacturer instructions. Always mix in the exact amount, without tolerance
Solid pigments for resin art (necessary colours will be shown separately in each topic)
Opaque pigments - Blue & White
Coaster mould
MDF coaster - 2 Nos
Jewelry moulds
Paper cups
Popsicle stick
Weighing machine
Gold foil sheet
Safety warnings, Always wear
1) protective glass,
2) Mask covering your nose and mouth
3) Gloves that fits you well
Never compromise here, while mixing resin and hardener, unpleasant smell comes which is not good when inhaled for a long term. Resin art is all about fun. But safety before fun is very important
When its touch bare skin, immediately spray rubbing alcohol/IPA and wash thoroughly with soap and water.
Your safety is always in your hand
Step 2: Setup Your Art Area
Resin doesn't sticks to everything its being touched. Resins doesn't stick to silicone( so most of the moulds are silicone based), polypropelene, most of the PVC, Plastics, greasy area, shiny side of wax paper
So its all prepping your work area with plastic covers or polypropelene sheets, so that it doesn't stick to unwanted area. Don't worry these can be reused next time you do it too.
So i added newspaper as base, covered with old plastic sheet. My silicon mat, where my perfomance will happen.
Done with all the specifications, now lets enjoy the work.
Place the coaster mold above silicon mould
Step 3: Measure Volume
Everybody knows basic mathematics of calculating volume as per the specified shape, but for a irregular shape?? how will be determine.. 1013
Two pages long integral ??.. Don't sweat. Just pour water in mold, fill it with required amount and pour the water back to measure the quantity.
Now measure the quantity of resin and hardener to that amount, for eg, My mold required 45g for filling one coaster. I wanted to make two coaster so 90g of resin required. My resin mixing ratio is 3:1 so 67.5g of resin and 22.5 grams of hardener will be correct proportion to yield 90g combination for two coasters
Step 4: How to Mix and How Long to Mix
This is FAQ (First Arising Question) in mind, your manufacturer should have mentioned clearly below process
Mixing time
Pouring time (pot time)
Curing time
Mixing time is for combining resin and hardener correctly. generally few mins
Pouring time is for how long you can play with your resin, that is your decoration time. Generally 30 minutes to 1 hour
Curing time is how does this take to dry completely, pouring state to gel phase to solid phase generally this will be 12 to 48 hours depending upon the size.
If mixing time is not given mix until it turns transparent (image 4)
Another trick to always mix slowly to avoid creating bubbles. you really don't want bubbles ruining your art work
Step 5: Colour Up the Party
I divided the 90 grams ratio into 50g, 25g, 15g segments. When i bought these solid pigments, first colour i wanna try was pearl pink it was so mesmerizing. Take a pinch and mixed it in 50g resin. Pearl violet in 25g resin, and gold foil sheet in 15g clear resin
Step 6: Pearl Pink Beauty
Pour pink shades from the corner to center, when they are half running pour pearl violet mix and fix pour resin gold sheet mix in the edges.
Step 7: Swirl It
Now is your time to enjoy, you carefully play with the combination to get the expected design you are looking for..
Step 8: MDF Coaster
MDF coaster basically wood type of coaster, it very economical.. 1013