Even if mistakes can happen occasionally, the good news is that they can almost always be avoided. There are a few possible causes for mistakes, and we’ll go over each one here so you won’t have to discover them the hard way.

The resin and the hardener are the two components of epoxy resin. When these two components are combined as instructed, a chemical process takes place that causes the liquid mixture to solidify. When this chemical interaction is disturbed or when best procedures are not followed, mistakes happen. Let’s examine more closely at what to be mindful of when using resin to

Missing Measurements: Always take measurements as directed on the label. For instance, epoxy resin is a 1:1 epoxy resin that needs the same volume amounts of resin and hardener. Use a resin calculator that clearly measures for the best results. The resin and hardener won’t be able to react effectively if the measurements are incorrect. In order to avoid creating a sticky mess, never add more hardener to resin in the hopes that it will cure more quickly or more thoroughly.

Never combine resin and hardener from various manufacturers since some resins are designed to be measured by volume, while others are designed to be weighed. Because they are specially formulated to work together, a brand’s resin and hardener cannot be trustfully substituted with goods from another brand.

Lack of thorough blending: The chemical reaction cannot occur and the mixture will not cure if the resin and hardener are not thoroughly combined. Mix well for at least three minutes. However, there is no need to whip your resin because doing so will result in excessively large bubbles. Stirring slowly will cause some bubbles, but nothing a torch can’t handle.

Not testing first: When in doubt, give it a try: we usually advise running a test run so you are fully aware of what to anticipate. Use a little water on top to see if the color changes to get a sense of how resin will make colors appear darker than they would when wet. Resin can be absorbed by porous materials including fabric, matte pictures, and soft paper.

Not preparing before resining: Prepare your craft. Make sure your object is dust-free and dry. In order to provide support and keep the canvas from sagging under the weight of the resin, a large stretched canvas should have the back reinforced with cardboard. In order to mount prints or images uniformly to their substrate, we like to use spray adhesive for even coverage then brayer the top to make a solid bind with no air pockets.

Too much sitting time after mixing: After mixing, pour your resin. You could feel the mixture become warm after combining the resin and hardener. This is because heat is produced during the chemical reaction that cures the two components.