It’s always been my mission for you to have an excellent experience with resin, even if you don’t buy resin products from Resin Obsession. Here are three resin problems no one else will tell you about using it:
All resins will yellow with time
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your clear resin castings will yellow over time. Resins with UV inhibitors and HALS stabilizers help extend the time before yellowing occurs. However, things such as mixing off ratio (even though it still can cure without tackiness), putting over an improperly cured lacquer, excessive heat, and/or constant exposure to sunlight can speed up the yellowing process. How long an epoxy resin will last in its clear state is very difficult to predict.
If this happens to your resin kit before you use it, here’s what you can do with yellowing resin.
There is no one size fits all resin
In other words, no resin will work for every single resin project out there. Resins that cover artwork surfaces don’t always work in molds. Resin for molds won’t evenly coat stainless steel tumblers. So how do you know what resin to choose? I wish I could tell you that every resin manufacturer and retailer was honest about how to get the best results with their products. Unfortunately, as I have found out helping resin enthusiasts for more than a decade, some businesses don’t always do this. Either they don’t understand their product or are more focused on making a sale rather than making sure you have a great resin experience. If it’s a resin sold on Resin Obsession, we have a downloadable PDF that details all the resins we sell, including their best uses.
Your technique is everything to avoiding resin problems
I admit that I tend to go overboard when I give resin instructions and teaching. Like I don’t have a Resin Obsession for nothing. But on the other hand, when you get done with a Resin Obsession tutorial, I want you to think, ‘Wow, that was easy.’ I know I can overload your mind with critical details in the instructions, but this will make you more likely to pay closer attention to what you are doing.
This is in contrast to tutorials I see that simply give you two to three steps to for a project. I cringe when I read those articles. I can easily see where someone trying to follow these directions isn’t going to get the same result as the person who wrote the article. Instead, s/he will blame the resin for the resin problems when it’s not the resin’s fault. It’s the fault of the person trying to teach you and not helping you where you’re at. If you are a beginner and are looking for a good place to start, we have resin books and resin classes to help you learn about resin in an afternoon.
What’s the best advice I can give you about achieving resin success?
If you are serious about becoming a skilled resin artist, you need to do everything you can to learn about resin. That includes surrounding yourself with useful resin information. Learning everything you can about resin before you take on a project will save you lots of time, aggravation, and money. But in the case that you do make mistakes, make them an opportunity to learn. I can undoubtedly tell you that I’ve learned more from my resin mistakes than my resin successes. Enjoy the journey!
Get more of my best advice from my decade-plus experience with resin. I wrote the book, Resin Fundamentals, the beginner in mind. I’ve included the essential things beginners need to know to create with resin!
Unpublished Blog Posts of Resin Obsession, LLC © 2021 Resin Obsession, LLC
Thankyou for honest information. God bless you
Wonderful advice and I truly love the details and all the quantity of information you give.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. As a beginner, I enjoy reading your emails and I am thankful for such service.
Thanks so much Pam!
Thanks for the information. When you mention resin will yellow over time, do you mean the raw material liquid or do you mean the finished product? If you mean the finished product, roughly how long should we expect the finished product to stay clear? Years? Decades? Thanks
Hi Tricia, both will yellow over time.
I’ve been actively moving forward to learn as much as I can before I step all in! On some level of all of this, it’s a little discouraging that my projects will yellow over time, no matter what I do! Is there a limit as to how much they will yellow? My concern is using resin on some personal artwork.
Unfortunately, no. Some resins can get quite yellow over time.
I love your newsletters, but you REALLY need to restock the store. It’s difficult to purchase when 3/4 of what a customer is interested in is sold out.
Hi Cindy, you’re right. We are out of stock of a lot of items at the moment. Unfortunately, the companies we work with are being affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Everyone is working as quickly and efficiently as possible during this rather unusual time, but I’m afraid that it’s taking us longer than usual to restock products. I appreciate that you are eager to get started with resin and please know that we are doing everything we can to get items back in stock as quickly as possible.
We update expected restock dates if we know them. If you click on a specific listing, that date will be shown with the product information.
Very appreciative of this information given.
I am new to resin – haven’t gotten the courage to start yet, but I want to use an old window to glue down flat glass pebbles and broken glass to create a beautiful window to hang on my screened in porch. I have researched until I’m tired of researching, and can’t seem to find anyone that discusses much about this technique – as in what type resin, tips on pouring resin fir this, etc. I know how to create the design, and that I glue all glass down first, but the last step – the resin, I just can’t find much detail and/or instructions. Can you offer any help? Thank you.
Hi Karen, welcome to the world of resin! We have a few resources that should help you get started:
https://www.resinobsession.com/forums/topic/making-a-sea-glass-resin-table
https://www.resinobsession.com/forums/topic/making-window-panes/
https://www.resinobsession.com/forums/topic/making-window-panes-2
Thank you, Katherine. I will look at the links you sent.
How do you clean resin from your skin?
Hi Chris, I like to use a baby wipe or pumice soap. Don’t use solvents because they can cause a reaction.
Hi there, I am new and at the stage of gathering information – I havent even purchased resin yet as I am not sure that I know enough yet to actually get started!
Hi Lee, what do you want to make with resin? That will help me direct you on what you need to get started.
Hi, I’m a beginner with resin and just loving the process of experimenting and learning at the moment and your site have been invaluable, thank you.
One of the problems I have is if I make a small tray or coaster they can often end up with a wrinkled effect in the middle. I’m trying to be so careful with the mixing, temp control etc. What am I doing wrong? And how can I avoid this in the future?
Hi Hazel, it sounds like you may not be mixing the resin well enough. This article explains more: https://www.resinobsession.com/resin-frequently-asked-questions/why-is-my-resin-wavy/
Thanks Katherine, I’ll check the link & try again tomorrow 🤞
I own deadwood creations by haram meeker ,, I’m just starting to build with epoxy ,,,my first sale was a seven thousand dollar table,,, so I had a lot on the line ,,if I made one mistake it was going to cost me ,,, so I made a few small tables to test myself and that where perfect ,,dut this one was 16’ long and 5’ wide. Had a lot of problems ,,the wood would not take stain,,,,, I put a seal coat of epoxy on but had a few bubbles that followed me to the end no matter what I tried that just kept following me as I prod ,,so when I was done I drilled them all the way threw and filled the holes ,,this was a river table ,,, and it came out ok you can see them if you look hard but no one has to date and I stay in contact to make sure they are as happy as that say are Just found your site wish I had it before this table. Thanks and god bless
I think a top one is that you must use PPE as eventually all resins will cause a reaction in some way. When I started I never knew about it until I specifically started to look and see if resin can cause reactions, low and behold.it is not uncommon.
Oh goodness, Jo. I hate hearing that you’ve had a reaction to resin. Yes, PPE is very important. I cover what I use in this article: https://www.resinobsession.com/resin-resin-resin/epoxy-resin-safety-precautions/
I have been covering acrylic artwork with resin but have a problem with the resin flowing over the sides and leaving the canvas exposed.
Hi Marti, I’m sorry this is happening to you. This article explains how it happens: https://www.resinobsession.com/resin-art/why-are-there-dents-and-holes-in-my-resin-painting/
Not a reply, but a question: How do you build a resin dam? I’m using a hollowed out piece of wood and want to put “water” into the hollow, but don’t want the resin to run out of the bottom of the piece. Also, is it possible to pour an initial layer of doming resin and add a casting layer on top? Thank you for any advice you can offer.
Hi Mary, you can apply tape to the bottom of your wood, then pour resin. Once the resin cures, peel off the tape. Yes, you can add casting resin to a layer of doming resin.
Question not a reply…
Haven’t started yet or purchased resin making products yet but I do wonder if your supposed to spray the molds with anything first or does the finished product really come out of those so easily like I see in videos
Hi Michelle, it sounds like you’re referring to mold release. I always use a resin mold release with resin molds. This article explains why: https://www.resinobsession.com/resin-frequently-asked-questions/resin-mold-release/
I love all the details in your instructions. A few times almost as soon as I have wondered what would happen if… You say. It was almost like you were answering me. 😂♥️
Oh goodness Elizabeth, thank you!
It’s quite discouraging to know my resin will yellow over time. I’ve been reading about it from your newsletter and wanted to make some crafts out of it to sell as centerpieces but hearing it will yellow over time has discouraged me as it will make me look like a fraud in the long run and considering how much will be paid for it , it has to last.
I am a beginner. I don’t know … may I ask you – Why does a item I made dry but somewhere there is a small place that stay sticky?
Thank you so so much
Mercia
Hi Mercia, I’m sorry you are having problems with sticky resin. This article will help: https://www.resinobsession.com/resin-frequently-asked-questions/why-is-my-resin-sticky/
Hello Katherine,
I just purchased your book and really look forward to receiving it. I’m really interested in making jewelry and using resin for clear coating some projects. I enjoy reading all your comments and your articles. Thank you for your personable training.
Joey
You’re so welcome Joey. I can’t wait to see what you make!
Are their allergic reactions to resins? If so, what kinds of symptoms should I watch for and what happens. Is it safe to work with?
Deb
Hi Deb, we’ve got some safety articles here that will help with your questions: https://www.resinobsession.com/tag/safety/
Hi, I’m a comparative newcomer to this type of resin. Am I correct in assuming that ArtResin is HALS ? I have been hunting through sites that served me well in the past, but it’s very confusing to try to get basic information about HALS, where to buy, or indeed any info, other than HALS are used to prevent yellowing on epoxy resin pieces
hi i need some help i have started my little resin project and i want to focus mostly on creating small pouches and fans (which are quite thin 2mm) i am using this resin Dipoxy-2K-700
I have noticed after several tries that even after repotting my fans or bag for a while, twist if I forget to put them in a good position. (Horizontal)
Do you think I should change to a more powerful product or change the proportions I use (100ml / 50ml)? Do you have a brand to advise me thank you I really need help
Hi Lobna, you shouldn’t change the proportions without talking to the manufacturer first.
Hi I’m new to resin and I got some dice moulds. How do you pour into the molds. The lids are difficult to put back on with resin in and if I put the lids on and use a syringe I’m still getting holes where air is trapped in please advise
Hi Sally, are you using a casting resin?
I think so, it doesn’t say. It just says clear self leveling, 40 minutes work time. It has a picture of a dolphin on the bottle. Hope that helps work out which type of resin
Hi Sally, it sounds like you are using a doming resin, which mixes thick. That’s why you are trapping bubbles at the top of the mold. For dice molds, I like to use the Resin Obsession super clear resin. It’s designed specifically for molds and cures hard. You can buy it in several sizes in our store here: https://shop.resinobsession.com/collections/resin/resin-obsession-super-clear-resin
Thanks