Using Silicone Ice Cube Trays for Resin

There are a ton of different moulds made specifically for resin. But if you want your resin pieces to stand out from the crowd, then look to the kitchen and to other crafts that use moulds for some unusual mould ideas.  Moulds are made of all sorts of different materials and whilst not all of them are suitable for resin, many of them are. So what should you look for in a mould?  A resin mould needs to be 4 things: flexible non-porous non-stick able to take the heat generated by curing resin Moulds that don't have these 4 characteristics won't be successful.  Because resin cures hard, rigid moulds just won't work. If you can't flex the mould, you won't be able to remove the resin casting from it.  Likewise for moulds made of porous materials: the resin will seep into the mould surface and bond to it permanently. Plaster of Paris and wooden moulds are good examples of moulds that are both rigid and porous and simply not suitable. The material that a mould is made from...

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How to Seal Flowers for Resin

One of the most long-lasting and beautiful ways to preserve flowers is to embed them in resin. But resin can actually damage the flowers and spoil your beautiful blooms. It can: Fade the petal colour...  Create "wet" spots on petals... Turn the petals completely translucent... or even... Scorch the flowers so they look overcooked! So, how do you prevent those things from happening? The solution is to seal the flowers  BEFORE embedding them in resin.  Sealing flowers creates a barrier between the flower and the resin that stops the resin from penetrating the cells.  Sometimes, the resin doesn't penetrate the flower surface, but there's no way to tell if your flowers will be affected by the resin until AFTER you embed them, so the safest thing is to seal them first. Here are 3 different methods you can use to create a barrier between the petal and the resin. You can skip to each one by clicking the link: 1.  Paint them with white craft glue that dries clear  ...

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How to Work with Resin in Cold Weather

During the colder months of the year, resin behaves a little differently to how it does in the warmer months. Both heat and cold have an effect on the way resin mixes and cures. But it's the cold that causes the most problems for people new to working with resin. Resin is very finicky when it comes to temperature (and humidity... but that's another story !). For most epoxy resins, that temperature is around 21-25°C or 70-75°F but each resin is slightly different so you need to check the instructions in your kit to find the optimal curing temperature for your resin. If it's not in your instructions, contact the manufacturer and ask. Epoxy resin is happiest when you get the temperature just right.  It's a bit like Goldilocks... Not too hot... Not too cold... It needs to be JUST RIGHT!   If your resin is below these temperatures, it will affect the curing of the resin. We'll get into the ...

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How Long Do Silicone Resin Moulds Last?

How long does a silicone mould last?   And how many pieces will I be able to cast from it? These 2 questions pop up a lot. Unfortunately, there's no definitive answer and it's a bit like asking how long is a piece of string? But one thing's for sure...  SILICONE MOULDS ARE PERISHABLE  and they won't last forever.  From time to time, you will have to replace them. And whilst that can be devastating when a favourite mould wears out, I can't think of a better reason to buy a new design to add to your collection! There are many reasons why resin moulds perish but there are also a few things you can do to extend their life so you can get maximum value from them. But did you know that the cause for the deterioration of many of your moulds is actually the way you use them?   Those popular techniques with alcohol ink and the handy bubble-busting tips with heat guns, they're actually the things that shorten the life span of a silicone mould.  Want to find out some other...

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How to Measure Resin - And Get it Right!

Should you measure resin in ONE SINGLE CUP or TWO SEPARATE CUPS?  That is a good question! If you've ever had a resin project that didn't set, even after days of curing, there's a good chance your measurements were off . Maybe you measured out too much resin... or maybe too much hardener. Resin doesn't cure properly if you don't get the measurements right... It can stay sticky on the surface It stays soft and bendy The resin can CURE TOO FAST and start to smoke (dangerous!!) Or it can crack as it cures Or it can cure yellowish instead of clear! Measuring resin accurately is absolutely essential to get good results for your project.  So, how can you make sure that you get the measurements correct so that your next resin project cures properly? And, so you don't end up with more of Part A or more of Part B left over when you get to the bottom of your resin kit...  Because there's nothing worse than WASTING resin! Well, if your resin kit tells you to MEASURE TH...

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