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 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 ......

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How to Care for Resin Moulds

After you've been resin crafting for a while, you'll start to get quite a collection of moulds. Your resin moulds are an investment in your resin hobby so you want to make sure that they last a long time.  No matter what type of moulds you have - silicone, plastic, ice cube moulds, clay moulds, soap moulds - they won't last forever. But if you know how to look after them , you'll get many, many casts from them.   So, let's break this down into the two main types of moulds you'll use with resin :    SILICONE  and  PLASTIC ,   and look at what the best practices are for caring for each type of mould . Silicone Moulds Silicone moulds are the best thing since sliced bread and will take your resin casting to a whole new level! Why are they so good?  Because... resin doesn't stick to them...  they're flexible and SO easy to demould...  they come in every shape and size you can think of silicone moulds last a really long t......

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Why isn't My Resin Shiny?

Are you a fan of smooth, glossy resin and the way the light makes the colour look so rich and vibrant? Does it make your heart sing when you see that highly polished, light-reflecting surface that you can see reflections in? Or do you prefer the look of matte resin and the way light is absorbed by it, giving it a flat, frosted, almost sea-glass look? It's definitely a personal preference and there are plenty of pluses for both looks.  But most people new to resin jewellery making want their resin to be glossy.  And how do I know this?  Because it's one of the most-asked questions by new Resinistas,  "Why isn't my resin shiny when I take it out of the mould?" The anticipation and excitement they feel as they demould their first resin piece soon turns to disappointment when the resin comes out with a matte finish.  But why does that happen sometimes?  If the back is shiny and glossy, then why isn't the front? Well, there's actu......

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