Epoxy Resin
Epoxy resin is my favorite medium to work with beside clay. I discovered epoxy over a year ago when I was searching for a way to preserve some flowers and a dead butterfly I found. To date, I’ve made so many different things but I have yet to even touch the flowers and butterfly!
When creating with epoxy, anything is possible. It’s truly a limitless medium; you can mix it with any type of material to create something unique and durable.
EPOXY RESIN BRANDS
I’ve found that most epoxy brands are alike and I have yet to try a brand that hasn’t worked for me. Here’s a list of clear-drying epoxy brands that I’ve tried:
You can order the 16oz (two 8 ounce bottles), 32oz (two 16 ounce bottles), or 1 Gallon (two half-gallon bottles). There are more sizes available on their website.
This brand is nice and clear when you initially pour but it will yellow after a year or two!
You can order the 16oz (two 8 ounce bottles), 32oz (two 16 ounce bottles), or 1 Gallon (two 65 ounce bottles).
Application Specialty: casting or coating
Working Time: 30-45 minutes
Cure Time: 24-72 hours
UV Resistant
Low Odor
No volatile organic compounds
You can order the 16oz (two 8 ounce bottles), 32oz (two 16 ounce bottles), or the 1 Gallon (two half-gallon bottles).
ProMarine Supplies Table Top Epoxy
I ordered the 1 gallon kit on Amazon
If you order directly from their website you can choose from 2 quarts all the way up to 60 gallons!
Cures at 75-80° F degrees.
Cure time is approximately 12-14 hours to be dry to the touch and 72 hours to completely harden and even then I find that it doesn’t fully stiffen up.
I like how watery this epoxy gets when it’s fully mixed, it’s the lightest feeling epoxy I’ve experienced. Most epoxy resin will start to get hot when it’s at that consistency but I feel like this resin gives you a little more working time after it’s fully mixed.
Waste-Conscious Crafting with Epoxy Resin
Crafting can be a wasteful hobby between the scraps, single-use tools, and spillage, so I compiled a list of methods that can help you reduce your waste while crafting!
Tips for low-waste Crafting with Epoxy Resin:
The right size rubber gloves are better than any disposable latex gloves. They can be reused and when they fit right you don’t have to worry about your baggy fingertips dipping into the epoxy.
Silicone mats are a perfect foundation for your resin pours. Any spills will dry up, harden, and then can easily be removed and recycled.
Recycling scraps and spills is a smart way to get the most out of your epoxy. You can throw in dried scraps of epoxy into a fresh pour and recycle them into the new project seamlessly.
When purchasing mixing cups the best choice is obviously silicone mixing cups. There are several different sizes you can choose from and they are easy to clean. The measurements might not be 100% perfect but I’ve never had an issue with the mixing ratios. Digital scales can be a really helpful tool for getting your measurements exact.
Silicone stir sticks are durable and reusable solutions to disposable wooden stir sticks. I recently found this company that makes silicone covers for wooden sticks!
Brushes with silicone tips are helpful tools when it comes to popping bubbles and working with freshly poured resin. The epoxy peels off easily and they can be used over and over again.
Buy second-hand materials at thrift stores or community marketplaces. There are so many project possibilities that come from the thrift stores, like glass jars, trays, and other materials that can be up-cycled.
Rubbing Alcohol is an essential tool for cleaning up hardened epoxy off of your workspace, tools, and molds. Vinegar has also been known to work, personally I can’t stand the smell.
If you’re not perfect, like me, you may want to use Clorox wipes to clean up. They’re easier and effective so I make sure to use each wipe to its fullest potential and recycle the bin, I reuse my bins as storage containers.
Make sure you’re protecting your lungs and eyes while working with epoxy. Fumes are harmful so a proper N95 mask while working is necessary. I don’t personally use goggles but I do keep a safe distance from the fumes and keep my studio ventilated by opening a window.
Liquid Latex can be a helpful tool when doing final touches by keeping epoxy off a specific area of your piece. It’s a paintable barrier to stop the resin, it’s very helpful when doming or fixing pieces.
Feel free to comment below with any tips to add or if you have any questions! :)
Check out what I make with epoxy Resin:
