The random RESIN question thread!

[lisatrix]

I've been looking at the crafts involving paper suspended in resin, and I got an idea. Has anyone ever made RINGS using the same method? Are there molds available? Or would it work to make a flat rectangle and then soften and bend it into a ring shape?

[NellyPie]

Good question...I'd like to find out myself!

[krazigal72]

I've searched and searched online for molds, and haven't come up with anything. i was thinking about amking a mold out of polymer clay and baking it to get it hard. then you could use it, but you'd need mold release i think.  so i'm curious too.  also, I don't think you can bend the resin once it cures. I'd try and make a mold before you do that.

[Hawkwolf]

Could you buy a set of those ring sizer things, and press each one into some polymer clay or whatever? That way you could make any size you wanted? Or am I not getting the question?

[Diane B.]

I don't know about the "crafts involving paper suspended in resin" and am not sure exactly what you're asking... maybe you could send us a link for the paper-resin crafts, or just tell us things like whether it's a whole ring you want to make a mold for?  or do you just want to create a decorative resin something to attach onto a plain ring? or something else?

Re molds, resins (of diff. types --they're not all the same) can be cast in various mold materials (some may need a realese). 
Two-part silicone molding materials work well for resins (don't need a release) and since the mold made with it will be flexible, the item can be popped out.  There are also various kinds of silicone and plastic molds that are sold esp. for resin (...or anything made from a rubbery plastic like Tupperware will work without a release too).


HTH,

Diane B.
http://www.glassattic.com ....polymer clay "encyclopedia"
Table of Contents: http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/contents.htm

[Diane B.]

I've *just* been doing a lot of research on resins (for my website), and have found out a lot of things that most people don't know it seems (...no wonder!...some of it is really really hard to get straight).

First . . . there are different types of resin  (...most people I've come across talking or writing about resins don't seem to know that, so they end up dicussing "their" resin as if it were the only one).  This gets confusing because the characteristics of one resin aren't always the same as those of the others.

Here's just some main info about resins...

The types of resins that crafters and artsits generally use are "polyester" resins and "epoxy" resins (there are also acrylic resins and urethane/polyurethane resins... at least). 

The polyester resins are more "toxic" than the epoxies, and more fiddly to get right, but they are cheaper and can be poured to greater depths in the same session (just a few of their differences) ...some common brands are "Castin'Craft" and "Clear Polyester Casting Resin".  Polyester resins do come as two parts, but very little of one part is added to the other part (just a few drops) ...(whereas epoxy resins are mixed in equal ratios). Polyesters are also used in other applications --between layers of fiberglass, for instance. 
Polyester resins are also often referred to as "casting" resins, but epoxies can be "cast" too since that just means they can be cured while in a mold to create a shape.

Epoxy resins are a bit more complicated in their types.
....In general, all epoxies are a bit more expensive than polyesters, but they're also much easier to get right, and have much less "toxicity" and really-stinky odor.   

...The epoxy resin that's usually discussed around craft circles is the one that results in a "hard" surface a lot like polyester, but it's a bit stronger (....some brands you might hear of are Ultra-Glo, Envirotex Lite, and Aristocrat Liquid Glass).   Epoxy's primary disadvantage is that it can't be poured deeper than 1/8" at one time... it can have more layers, but each has to cure fully first.  If poured thicker, it can show up a yellowish cast (...not to be confused with the yellowish cast all resins will get if they're exposed to much ultraviolet light from direct sunlight or fluorescents)

...The other most common epoxy resin cures with a softer, somewhat rubbery surface, and is primarily used for making "artificial water" in clear vases with arrangements of artifical flowers/plants ("floral setting resin").  This type is easy to use, low toxicity, but it's primary disadvantage besides the softer surface is that that makes it prone to collecting dust (brands include Aristocrat Liquid Illusion, Clear Elegance, Aqua Clear).

There are some newer one-part materials which also give a clear thick plastic surface which I think are also resins, but one may not be ---these are meltable or can be poured straight from the bottle (brands include ...Scenic Water and Wonder Water for the meltables, and Realistic Water by Woodland Scenics for the other).

All the resins can be used to create thick coatings (or thin coatings) and can be cast in molds temporarily ...or they can be cast in permanent "containers' such as fake landscaping (like model railroaders use) for ponds, rivers, etc., in miniature scenes, or in permanent metal cells, etc., as faux cloisonne, over transfers in deep frames, etc. (as far as I know anway... though some may work better than others for diff. things).

I'm still working on the page at my site where I'm trying to sort out all the info about resins, how to use them and problem-solve, ideas for things that can be done with them, etc., but if you want to check it out now for what I have, here's a link:
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/other_materials.htm

Hope that helps at least a bit,


Diane B.
http://www.glassattic.com ....polymer clay "encyclopedia"
Table of Contents: http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/contents.htm

[Diane B.]

Oops, knew I'd forget something important even though I only wanted to mention a few things!

````````````````````````

So... the other big difference between polyester and epoxy resins is the surface they create. 

Epoxy resins will cure hard, clear, and non-tacky on both the top and bottom  of a cast surface**, but polyesters will always look a bit like orange peel on the surface which was in contact with air, and it will always be a little tacky (this is normal and helps the next layer of resin or fiberglass stick to it).

This side can be always placed downward after it's popped out of a mold and used so that it won't show much, or a special hardener can be used on the last surface poured, or it can be sanded and buffed after curing.  A guy at Tap Plastics also said he'd had success with pressing a piece of mylar or thick baggie on top of the "cured" final surface, pushing outward repeatedly (hard), then removing the mylar, etc.

The side of cured polyester resin which was not in contact with air will be completely cured, smooth, non-tacky, and clear though (that's why anything cast with them will usually be put in the mold upside down, so the bottom becomes the top).

(**as long as they're mixed in the proper proportions, and not in high humidity)

Diane B.
http://www.glassattic.com ....polymer clay "encyclopedia"
Table of Contents: http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/contents.htm

[dropoffradar]

wow, thats some really good info you got there! thank you so much. i appreciate it, thats going to help a lot in the whole process.

[darcangel]

where is the best place to buy resin and resin...you know, paraphernalia? because im' looking through Joanns and Michaels and can't really find anything. i'd really appreciate it if someone would just post really quick and tell me where you foud your resin and about how much it cost?

also, are icecube trays really good as molds? or do they also sell different sized molds too?

thank you!

[Diane B.]

Hi darcangel,

(If you've already read my two messages below, you'll probably know which type of resin you want for what you want to do, which is an important step before shopping.) 


As for brand names of resins:

...Ultra-Glo and/or Envirotex Lite, etc., are available at Michaels (near the glues) and often art supply, hobby and plastics stores
......Famowood Glaze Coat is available at Home Depot & maybe other hardware stores
--those are two examples of hard surface epoxy resins

(.....the soft-surface epoxy resins should be available at Michaels as well, but will be in the floral department rather than near the glues (one brand is Aristocrat Liquid Illusion...these are "floral setting resins")

...Castin' Craft Casting Resin seems to be the main brand of polyester resin available to crafters and artists... may be able to get it in an art supply store, or perhaps a hobby store (or at a plastic supply store, or online)


Check out this page at my site for more brand names, differences between resins, how to use them , etc. (...it's still a bit under construcution but gives lots of info).
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/other_materials.htm


Good luck!

Diane B.