So you want to make resin art? Worried you'll make a mistake? Don't worry, this blog post is here to help! Today I'll outline some common problems and what you can do to fix them or to do better on next time.
My resin is really hot and/or smoking:
This is what we in the resin world call a flash-cure we've all done it one or two times... or in my case at least five! This usually happens because you've either made the resin in too big a batch, therefore triggering the exothermic reaction and is ready to harden too quickly. It could also be the case that you've let your mixed resin get too hot which also triggers the reaction. Resin starts to harden as soon as it's mixed with the hardener, so remember to use it as quick as you can.
Resin is sticky/ not dry after the recommended curing time:
This can happen for a couple of reasons, the first being that the resin wasn't mixed with the hardener for long enough, this means that they didn't combine so the chemical reaction couldn't take place. Next time you make something, remember to mix slowly for about 3-4 minutes and make sure there are no wispy strands left in the mixture.
The second reason is that the room you are working in isn't in the correct temperature parameters, resin needs to be in a room that is between 21-24C to cure, some people have success with heating mats or curing machines, not everybody trusts them however and they raise electricity costs. Sometimes you can save a project if it hasn't cured for this reason, by putting it in a warmer environment.
The third reason is that you could have gotten the ratio of resin to hardener wrong, depending on the type of resin you use, the ratio will be different, for example most standard use epoxy resin will be a 1:1 so if you use 20ml of resin you'll also need to use 20ml of hardener. Sometimes it's easier to get the correct ratio through weight rather than volume, this product may help you with that:
My resin has too many bubble:
This is simply because you are mixing your resin too fast or because you haven't warmed the resin before adding the hardener. You should warm up resin before adding hardener as it makes it more workable and mix slowly for 3-4 to fully mix it. If you are using wooden mixing sticks these can add bubbles because they are porous so a plastic reusable alternative may be better for you such as the one linked below:
This problem can also be fixed by leaving the resin alone for a while and it will start to degas on it's own.
My unused resin is hard/crystalized:
This is caused by the resin being too cold, don't worry though, as soon as you put it into a warm bath of water, it will soon start to liquify again!
I hope this blog post has provided insight on any problems you have experienced during the start of your resin journey, if you have encountered any problems which aren't on my list then feel free to drop me a message and I will do my best to help you out. Happy resining!
My resin doesn't spread/ it's too runny:
This could be because you chose the wrong kind of resin for your project. There are different kinds of resins with varying viscosities, this effects how your projects will turn out. Generally if you are pouring in a small/shallow mould, you'll want a 1:1 ratio resin, you can also get heat resistant resins for projects making something such as drinks coasters, these are generally 2:1 ratio. Another type if a deep pour resin, these are usually a lot runnier than other resins, being a 3:1 ratio, these projects usually take a few days to cure and are used for bigger projects.