Resins and moulds
Liquid resin and a silicone mould turn into a piece of jewellery, a tray, a pendant or a flower set in resin. Here you will find two-part epoxy resins, fast UV resins, silicone and plastic moulds, plus pigments, glitter and measuring cups. Choose according to the thickness of the pour, the working time and the size of the mould.
Resins and moulds
The principle is simple: you pour the liquid into the mould, it hardens, and you take the finished piece out. In between, though, sit the mixing ratio, bubbles, room temperature and patience — and that is exactly what separates a pour that looks like glass from a cloudy, tacky one.
Two-part epoxy resins are mixed in an exact ratio of resin to hardener, by weight or by volume; a deviation means the result will never cure properly. They differ mainly in viscosity and in the recommended layer thickness: thin casting resins handle deeper pours, thick ones suit coating surfaces and jewellery. UV resins cure in minutes under a lamp, but only in a thin layer and on small pieces.
Silicone moulds are flexible, the piece comes out without a release agent, and they suit shapes with fine detail. Rigid plastic moulds hold exact geometry but call for a release agent. Rounding it out are pigments, alcohol inks, glitter, dried flowers and measuring cups with stirrers.
Bear in mind that a thick pour heats up as it cures and can crack or yellow — which is why it is poured in layers. Bubbles come out by warming the surface gently, and the work succeeds at a steady room temperature and low humidity. Liquid resin irritates skin and eyes and can cause sensitisation, so work with nitrile gloves, with good ventilation, and out of reach of children. Without an explicit statement from the manufacturer, the pieces are not suitable for food contact. Go by the instructions and the safety data sheet for the product.