The Crazy Guide of Surfaces Resin Won’t Stick To

Surfaces resin won't stick toNews flash: Resin sticks to a lot of things. In fact, there aren’t many surfaces resin won’t stick to.

Ask anyone who’s made resin crafts. Drips of cured resin adhere easily to:

> hair
> carpet
> countertops
> favorite shoes

(yes, I’ve got personal experience with all of these scenarios)

And while it makes a pretty good glue,

Sometimes you need to know what surfaces resin won’t stick to.

Why?

Here are three reasons I can think of right away…

1. You need to know what protects your table while you’re using epoxy resin for art.
2. Knowing what resin doesn’t stick to helps get the resin to do some neat things.  Like making resin beads.
3. It’s how you get an even edge on canvas art when you cover it with resin.

What surfaces won’t resin stick to?

Mold release

You want to use mold release to keep your epoxy resin from sticking to molds. Plus, it is excellent for prolonging the life of molds. It lets you demold resin jewelry and crafts without distorting and pulling at the mold. This causes warping and tearing that impact future castings you make with the mold.

 

⭐️ BONUS: Here are three reasons why I always use resin mold release.

Wax

Resin will not stick to it, whether it’s candle wax or lost-wax casting wax. The same goes for car and furniture wax. This is useful if you want to create a void in your resin charm or casting. Pour the resin around the wax and allow it to cure. Then pull the wax away. But be careful. If you use a fast-curing resin, it can melt the wax and make a mess.

Polyethylene plastics

Disposable plastic sheets for painting and sandwich bags both contain polyethylene. Epoxy resin will not stick to these, making them a great protector for your resin art and crafting area. They are also inexpensive. You can throw them away if you don’t want to clean them up after making your epoxy art.

Anything with a greasy surface

Anything that has a waxy, oily, or greasy coating, will not bond to resin. But remove the grease, and you’ll turn the surface from one that resin won’t stick to into surfaces resin will stick to.

Silicone

So, this is a little bit of a trick answer because silicone is a resin itself. But the good news is that other resins will not stick to it, which makes it perfect for resin molds. The exception to this is if you pour more silicone into the silicone mold. If you don’t use rubber to rubber mold release, the silicone will stick to itself, creating a large block of silicone. Whoops.

 

Painter’s tape or packing tape

This resin hack is useful for creating open-backed jewelry with resin. Once the resin cures, peel the tape away.

⭐️ BONUS: See why the tape is essential when making open-backed resin pendants.

 

💡 Pro tip: Use painters’ tape to mask off a surface. If the resin spills onto the tape, let it partially cure. Then peel away the tape. You can see the technique in this article on resin cheese board.

Wax paper, parchment paper, or freezer paper

When taped to a surface, leaving the waxy side up, the jewelry epoxy resin will cure but peel away from the surface.

⭐️ BONUS: Use extra resin and wax paper to create a glass vase with decorative accents.

Have you found other surfaces resin won’t stick to?

Confused about all the details you need to know about resin?

I want to make it easy for you. I can take you from resin novice to resin expert in only an afternoon. Grab a copy of my ebook, Resin Fundamentals.  I share my 16 years of resin experience in an easy-to-follow read that will get you to expert status in no time. Even if you’re a newbie.

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Unpublished Blog Posts of Resin Obsession, LLC © 2023 Resin Obsession, LLC

Like this post? You may be interested in  What are the types of resin? And Why It Matters.

304 thoughts on “The Crazy Guide of Surfaces Resin Won’t Stick To

    1. I found out the hard way that it sticks to wax paper. Tried painting dry leaves and they stuck and broke. Would this have worked on a piece of polyethylene plastic ?

      1. Marie I just saw your comments on wax paper. Can I ask what you are planning for the dried leaves? I am presenting drying leaves with fall color. The plan in my mind, is to paint the leaves with resin and lay them over white lights on my Christmas tree.
        Any tips on materials to use, drying time your successe and failures would be helpful.

    2. ??? Can I put clear epoxy resin over cricut vinyl adhesive on a vanity counter top-the holographic vinyl adhesive- ???

    3. I was wondering if I could do a resin finish on a 6 foot folding table . The top is a bumpy plastic, I think . I want to make a lovely craft table . Does anyone know?

        1. I want to make resin tealight candle holders. Would the heat from the candle scratch/melt the resin in the long run?

          1. Hi Ritika, resin shouldn’t come in contact with a flame. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend it for candle holders unless you’re using flameless candles.

          2. As long as the flame never touches the resin and the heat can escape, tea light holders work well. I’ve been making candles for a very long time. A couple of things to watch out for:
            * If it’s something where you want the flame to shine through the resin, like a small lantern, make sure there is plenty of ventilation for the heat to escape.
            * Especially make sure that the top is open or has some fairly large holes for the heat.
            * Don’t burn anything bigger than a tea light. I never thought candles generated much heat until they were my only light source after hurricanes took out the power for days at a time.

    4. I’m wanting to use a glass dome to preserve some wedding flowers in epoxy resin. If I line the dome first with parchment paper and brown packing tape to get the correct shape- then putting the flowers in and pouring on the resin would this work? Any advice much appreciated! Thank you

    5. Hi, once my resin coasters have hardened in the mould, would they be okay to remove and then place on a shiny
      ceramic tile to finish hardening for a couple of days or so please?
      Thanks, Sooz 😀

        1. Thank you! That’s great. I have so many spare tiles around – cheaper than using acetate sheets. Kind regards x

        2. I love to learn how to make jewelry with resin tho I love to wear earring and I guess I need a book to follow how it make off! I want to build a project of making jewelry yes I kindly love to learn how. First I want to buy the book and then I need to buy tools or suppliers before I start building my project making earring thank you and God Bless you………Pacita Quinsta

          1. Thanks so much, Pacita. I can’t wait to help you on your resin journey!

    6. I just made a mold from plexiglas the other nite and it stuck to it, bad! Getting it out of the mold was a pain, but didn’t affect the integrity of the resin, so I guess it’s half correct? Or I did something wrong, which is extremely probable!

    7. I want to create a sort of miniature sword in the stone. However I want the sword to pull out of the resin stone. How would I do this?

      1. You could try painting the a popsicle stick or something similar to the size of the sword in a thick coat of silicone paint anf putting it in whatever mold you are using for the stone. Not sure if it’ll work, but it wouldn’t hurt to try. And you could even use to the silicone paint to ‘glue’ the stick to the bottom of the mold. It should help keep it from falling over and make it easier to remove after the cure

    8. Does Resin stick to Resin? If I created a foldable game board that has epoxy resin across the entire top of each piece, but added barrel hinges between the pieces, would the tops eventually stick if I folded them onto each other? Thanks!

  1. My experience is most resins and glues do not stick to melamine the white shelving materials. so it makes it an easy surface to use as a work area or portion of a mold for reverse molding applications

    1. While that has been my experience sometimes, I haven’t been lucky enough to have that happen all the time. I use a mold release when using melamine.

      1. Hi I’m new to Resin. Haven’t done a project yet I saw a YouTube channel where the person instead of using mold release used some regular Vaseline is that possible. I guess my question would be can you use regular Vaseline if you cannot find or buy mold release and if not is there something else you can use?

        1. Hello. I haven’t used resin before but I am thinking of using it to restore the top of a 1950s kitchen table. The top is Formica. Would table top resin stick to the formica? Thank you.

  2. I preserve leaves and flowers in resin. Resin will not stick to leaves or flower petals that have a waxy or oily surface. However, this can result in cool looking resin leaves – the waxy/oily leaves basically function as a mold. This trait is something I plan to experiment with more in the future.

    1. Dawn Howard : Do you have any photos ? Would LOVE to see these. I collect rocks, pebbles, flowers, leaves from every place I travel. And now have leaves from my son/grandson’s yard that I would LOVE to preserve in resin. Any tips ? Thank you !

    2. I’m new at this but saw figurines made out of wire and then covered in resin. What I want to know is can you wrap the wire in material then paint the resin on and last paint with paint . Also does resin stick too PVA glued material, cloth.

  3. Will resin stick to whiteboard? Like the kind, you use white erase markers on? Could you use White Erase markers on resin and would they wipe off?

      1. Hi Claire, I don’t have any experience using vinyl with resin. I would expect it to work, but you should test it first.

        1. I used a clear vinyl shower curtain for a resin sculptor, when I went to remove it, I could not take it off. It was permanently stuck to it.

          1. I use a shower curtain to cover my work space all the time and have no problems with cleaning off the resin. That’s strange that it wouldn’t come off (?)

        2. Dollar Tree:
          Home Collection Clear PEVA Shower Curtain Liners, 72×70 in.

          This is the absolute best! I use on my floors and tables of my studio.
          You can use as a base (on a table or solid floor) and free hand different size shapes with GE Advanced 100% Silicone to make coasters and tray tables. It is the best thing that I’ve ever found that resin just comes right off. It’s great when I have extra resin bc I can pour on it and mold it before completely curing into an abstract bowl or whatever comes to mind (skins or resin droplets). It’s best to use release spray on the silicone mold outline I make (plastic shower curtain on table or floor is the base) when it dries before pouring my epoxy bc it’s so much easier to take out the cured resin.

          I like this Silicone bc it’s in a tube you can squeeze, not a cartridge.

          GE Advanced Silicone Kitchen & Bath Sealant, Pack of 1, Clear 2.8 fl oz Tube

      2. If using a vinyl shower curtain, etc. make sure it’s vinyl. Many of are made of other materials. Another option is plastic sheeting from a home improvement store

  4. I would like to use resin in little sterilized glass insulin bottles…are there any precautions you can offer or would it be completely safe

          1. I made keychains with IV resin and glitter onto round arcrylic circle blanks but cleaned one of them about a month later and noticed the water seeped between the arcrylic and resin and I was able to peel off the resin in one piece … maybe if I sanded it first?

        1. Yes, glue stick glue (hot glue gun) works great for making barriers, and also for sealing the gaps/joins in plexiglass or foamboard barriers. Resin doesn’t stick to the cooled hot glue.

        2. I’m actually trying with a high-heat glue right now, ill let you know tomorrow, so far no issues and it’s been setting about 2 hours so… make sure to do a bottom too.

  5. Hello
    Does epoxy resine stuck with itself !
    I have a silicone mold and i want to make it in two piece, with an empty space inside (creating it with plastic )
    Thanks in advance

      1. Hi, I want to coat my dot painted homemade stones with resin. If I coat them are they OK to sit on a silicon mat until dry or a clean plastic bag?

    1. My resin items never cure on the top. l am new to this.
      Am trying to report over them to see if it will harden them up. Will that work on the soft surface?

      1. You have to thoroughly stir the resin. Meaning scraping the inside of the container repeatedly I always stir mine for minimum 10 minutes. With the temperature being above 21 Celsius. And the day before and the day after With whatever you’re pouring in that room. The only reason why it’s not sticking is one of those two things. Or why it’s soft. You can do another pour over top. Usually that works. I have been doing table tops and River tables for 3 years. Used for different products. Find New Classic to be the cheapest and one of the best.

    1. You will need to cast it as two separate pieces if you don’t want them to stick to each other.

      1. I want to resin a butcher block counter top that’s already put in place with the cabinet what do I put around the sides so the radon doesn’t drip off the sides

    1. Hi, I’ve just tried to resin an acrylic/plastic chopping board and it didn’t stick leaving pot holes all over. Can u resting these chopping boards or not, if so, how. Ty

      1. It depends on the texture of the board and what it’s made of. Resin doesn’t stick to some plastics, but does stick to others. I don’t know which are which. If you find out it will stick to the type of board you have, you may need to sand the board also. Roughing up the surface increases adhesion or sticking in many different situations.

      1. I have a plastic box with a handle (looks like a lunchbox) that I am decorating with buttons and other items to embellish it including some glittery flat ornaments that I took apart. I was wondering if I can pour resin on top of it to give it a glassy finish?

  6. I would like to use resin in table tops as a thin strip between wood pieces, because of the cost of resin I was thinking of recycling old pieces of plastic cut into pieces and put in the gaps then resin poured over to bulk up the gaps, would the resin stay solid or would the plastic bits make the resin fragile?

      1. One problem…the plastic pieces will float in the resin so, two pours may be needed. One part way to suspend the plastic below the top and then the second after the first cures to cover the trapped plastic.

  7. If the plastic is a material that resin will stick to it could actually make the resin stronger. The plastic would act as an aggregate likes stones in concrete. Even if it doesn’t stick to the plastic you should be fine as long as you don’t fill the gap eith too much plastic

  8. Will resin stick to mica? Specifically could it be use to fuse sheets of mica to one another or to seal edges?

  9. i want to do a glass window with sea shells and glass dots and sand etc. once i have everything glued down and pour the resin will it matter that the sea shells etc will be taller than the flat glass and will i be able to get an even coat without it running off the top of the shells and onto the glass surface. will it cause mounds to form between the seas shells. thanks for your answer in advance

        1. Will epoxy adhere to melamine serving tray? Or is there a way to get it to stick say, paint and glitter then epoxy as a thin protective clear layer?

  10. I would appreciate any pics or ideasto make resincrafts that i can sell . due to my disabilty i need to find a way crafting to provide income until i find a job. I’m thinking of charms, vases, earrings ext. Thanks

  11. Will epoxy resin stick to abs(Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic? I’m not verse in chemistry. My plan is to use clear coat epoxy resin(Art n Glow) to coat the ABS plastic keycaps for my keyboard in as thin a layer as possible using a silicone brush. That way the keycaps wont start to shine or ever wear away after long use since they’re coated in moisture resistant epoxy resin.

  12. does anyone know if resin will stick to polystyrene plastic sheeting? like the kind from a cheap poster frame from Walmart? or if so how to prevent its sticking to it once cured? im planning on making geodes on it if I can

    1. I haven’t tried this, but I expect it would. If you do try, would you mind letting us know how it worked?

  13. So, how about those plastic reusable bottles from walmart- the ones with the metal base and screw on lid that come in different jewel tones like teal, blue, purple, etc. for anywhere between 25 cents and a dollar? I want to seal on a vinyl saying so if it gets tossed in the sink(not dishwasher safe anyways) that the vinyl won’t peel off. Would I scuff? I had thought about trying htv but while it’s thick enough to not bend when squeezed, it’s still clearish plastic. Thanks for any insight!

  14. I have some cute metal cookie cutters that would be great for resin projects. Could I spray them with silicone spray and use as a resin mold?

  15. Hi
    I have made some resin trinket boxes.
    The problem is that the lids stick which makes the boxes unusable.
    I have tried spraying them with a gloss spray but the has not solved the problem.
    Do you have any idea what I can use to stop the lids stocking?
    Thanks 🙂

    1. Hmm. That’s a great question! Last time I worked with it, I don’t remember it being ‘waxy’ so I would guess yes. If you try, would you mind letting us know how it went?

  16. I have a project in mind, but I’m not sure it will work.
    I want to ‘glue’ pictures printed on regular printer paper to both sides of wooden disks and then put resin/ epoxy on both sides.
    Will it work? And do you have any tips? Thanks!

  17. does resin stick to thermoplastic? i thought about making a small mold with thermoplastic beads, since you can reuse them with hot water, but i’m scared it will stick.

  18. I need to use resin to layer sheets of fiberglass fabric to make a slightly stiff but flexible enough material to use for making lampshades. The same flexibility as rice paper used for Shoji screens but a little more translucent and of course more durable and resilient. What type of resin should I use to make sure the result can be bent to form a drum for my lampshades?

  19. Thanks, Katherine for answering my question but what I’m trying to do is to create a Shoji like or rice paper like fabric that once cured, it can be bent like rice paper or Shoji. I know people layer fiberglass with resin to make a hard and durable material but I am not looking for strength. I’m looking for flexibility and translucence so I can use it for lamp shades after the fiberglass layers are cured. So is this a matter of picking the right type of resin or is it a matter of the amount of resin used in between layers? The fiberglass material that I have is completely see-through and very thin and completely fragile. So I need to layer it to make it stiffer and less see-through. That’s why I’ll be layering that using resin in between layers but I’m not trying to build a boat or a car like all these fiberglass videos show!

    1. Won’t the fiberglass cloud up a bit if you lightly sand it with a high grit sand paper? Then lay your next layer on top?

  20. I have used flat river stone backsplash to tile my aquarium floor. I used black aquarium silicone as my “grout”. Can I pour resin over the whole thing to get a smooth surface now that the silicone has cured completely?

    1. I tried that and a couple f days afterwards my fish died. Once you caulk the rocks it will likely look smooth through the water. If not it will have an undulating surface like the bottom of the ocean.

  21. I have mistakenly sprayed Elmer’s adhesive spray on a drawing on thick water colour paper, thinking it was a setting spray. The spray won’t fully dry and is sticky. Can I pour resin on top to fix it? Will the resin set on top of the adhesive spray properly?

    1. Hi Anna, I’m afraid the glue needs to be completely dry before pouring resin, otherwise the resin will cure cloudy, if at all.

    1. I have a piece of plywood inserted into a bar top there used to be ceramic tiles there. Took out all the tiles and painted the plywood with a rustoleum paint, put the plywood back in using a paintable silicone (gorilla) under the plywood to ensure there’s no dripping it didn’t seem sealed enough so I also siliconed around the edge of the plywood on top and painted the wood and silicone with the rust paint. My ‘plan’ is to lay pennies down and pour epoxy on top. Will it adhere to the painted wood and silicone? Thanks in advance!

  22. I’m new to making stuff out of resin. Because I am so new, I don’t want to use lots of money on things to make molds out of. So just to start out I’m planning on using a plastic drink bottle for a mold. will it stick to to bottle? Thanks!

    1. I bought a very old wooden piece that was hand painted in the 1930’s
      It’s oblong piece of wood hand cut and painted with oil paints I assume
      Can I use export resin to bring the colors back to life. Should I pretreat with thin layer of expound resin
      Or something else
      The surface is porous in som areas where the paint has faded.

  23. Hiya, I am making a mold for silicon and I am wondering what would be the best to use as a barrier for the joints. I have been looking at masking tape, Polyethylene tape, and wax paper tape, but I am not sure. What do you suggest?

  24. Do you know if Epoxy Resin sticks to PETROBOND? Petrobond is a tightly packed, oily sand normally used in casting molten metal objects. Thanks

  25. What is a good product to use on an irregularly piece of wood to seal the end…I have a piece of live edged cherry I want to resin pour into large cracks

    1. I saw a tip to paint resin onto the live edge and end grain. There is a tutorial on here for painting on resin. Be sure to use very thin coats, but it seals wood very well.

    1. That’s a great question Briana. I haven’t tried. If you do, will you let us know if it does stick?

      1. Hi Denise, I’m not sure I understand what you are talking about. What kind of angel plastic do you mean?

  26. Hi
    I’am Catherine McGee and I didn’t ask Will resin stick to thick plastic. Like a angel. that was someone else, but I did ask if you could make a mold out of hot glue and would the resin come off of it.

  27. Hello there. I want to ask a question with apologies. They used something to sculpt the resin in a video on Pinterest. I did not quite understand what it was. it was transparent and they folded it and placed it on the tape. (they created hexagons to make a jewelry box.) I’m new to these things. Sorry if it was in the previous comments, I couldn’t be sure. Thank you for your help.

  28. Hi.
    What is the best way to wrap orgonite for shipping. I have tried everything …paper, bubble wrap, now i use expensive parchment paper but STILL it leaves marks on my perfectly polished pyramids which is gut wrenching as I work hard to get a glossy finish for my customers. Anyone have any tips?? As I’m out of ideas. The strange thing is I thought the parchment was working as I have had no complaints from clients??? but I had to unwrap one and saw that it was full of marks. I could cry!! lol

  29. I am trying to build a base layer of bright white that will be able to be cut and sanded later to add glow powder on top of. Glow powder mixed with resin isn’t impressive, but I think a dense layer of glow powder or supersaturated base with glow powder poured over fiberglass painted bright white might work. Any opinions?

    1. It’s been a while, but someone else may be helped. There are some really good acrylic glow paints that would work well. Glow powder and paint are cases where cheap won’t give good results. The paints I just ordered dry clear, then glow once it’s dark. The only other thing to check on is whether your epoxy has uv inhibitors. They block the uv light, which is what charges glow paint or powder.

  30. Aromatic Red Cedar!
    I cleaned surface of small slab with Acetone then applied resin. Dimples
    formed and other spots became bare…

    1. Are you sure the wood was completely dry? Wood contains air that causes bubbles to rise in the resin. It also contains moisture., and water doesn’t mix with resin. You should put the wood in an oven at low temp (200degrees) for about an hour (depending on the size of the wood) to completely dry it, then when it’s cool, do a seal coat by brush with apoxy resin, getting into all cracks and crevices. Let dry and then do your final coat of resin. Check out Jake Thompson’s YouTube video’s.

    2. I also forgot to add, that if you leave dry wood laying around, it will absorb moisture from the air, so if you don’t plan on sealing it right away, wrap the dried wood in plastic wrap to keep the moisture out.

      1. Hello. I have a large rock that I want to display that doesn’t have a flat surface on which to sit. I would like to create a resin base that part of the rock “fits” into and stands upright. Should I cover the rock in tytek tape and suspend in the resin? Or is there another way to this that might work better?

        1. Hi Cathy, that would make a nice display but would require a lot of work. Have you thought about creating a resin base on which you can display the rock?

  31. I am wanting to wrap my desktop in a carbon fiber vinyl wrap, will epoxy stick as a protective pour over the vinyl?

    1. Hi Peter, yes, resin will stick to graham crackers, but it will produce the same effect as getting them wet in water.

        1. Hi Renee, the spray sealer would help, but I’m not confident it would keep them completely sealed.

  32. I need to resin a wood table that originally had a polyurethane finish. Do I need to sand that off before I pour the resin or can I pour right over it?

    1. Hmm. That’s a great question Tami! I would sand it off to make sure the surface is even before applying resin.

  33. I have a polycarbonate hard shell suitcase. Two of the wheels were pushed up into the body, leaving cracks around the wheel bases, and rendering the suitcase unusable. Rather than toss it I thought I’d try applying fiberglass with resin. Will resin adhere to polycarbonate?

  34. I ‘m trying to make a round resin bowl as candle holder. The bowl is big as dessert bowl and i’m not sure how i can make a mold for it.

    1. Hi Sahana, I’m afraid resin isn’t suitable for a candle holder. Cured resin can melt when contacting a flame.

  35. I want to fill hollow chess pieces, so they have more weight to them. They are plastic, would resin work for that?

  36. Hi, I don’t understand why you said you really can’t polish epoxy resin. I’ve seen it done with different grades of sandpaper or slightly reheating it very carefully. The kind of polishing would be different grit sander paper like you would do for wood. It’s even done 9n YouTube.

  37. I am working to place my art on tatting shuttles. They are made of plastic. I need to coat shuttle first to smooth out surface, then cure with my uv light. Then add the art, which is on paper, and recoat and cure. What can I use to apply the resin to a small surface?
    Also, the resin I have is Urethane Acrylate, 2-Hydroxethyl Methacrylate, and it says Photochemical also. I will be doing one shuttle and seeing how it works and then tatting with it a lot before deciding if this is the right process and material.

    1. Hi Melissa, I haven’t used a resin like this so I’m not sure what you can use to apply it to a small area.

  38. Will resin adhere to already glazed ceramics? We customize soap dishes but I cant find a top coat that will adhere to glazed ceramic..

  39. Hi im new to resin work and was wanting to put an eraser bunny in a resin ball. Will it work or will the eraser distort

  40. Hi Katherine puck board is a HDPE product. The size comes in 4×8 sheets 1/4 inch thick. I was hoping to make my own epoxy forms out of it. As they could be reusable.

  41. I would like to fill cracks in checked wood rounds with a colored resin. How can I inject resin into the cracks without getting it all over the surface of the wood. Do I need to buy colored resin or can I color it myself?

  42. Can u put baby oil or vaselina in a metal or plastica container and the resin wont stick

  43. When I use white alcohol resin for a Petri dish look the white either stays on top or sinks and, in both situations, the white never dries! I’ll put a minimum of two drops of a colored alcohol ink and apply one drop of white on top and it inevitably screws up. I’ve tried multiple times with different brands and the white just sits there…all white and sticky. What am I doing wrong?!

  44. Hi,
    I have a pressure tank for my resin and I want to make shelves that I can easily remove for taller designs. My plan is to make little notches on the side of the tank with resin for the shelves to sit on. Has anyone tried this before and do you think it would work as the resin will be under more pressure with compression and weight.
    My only other option would be to make more than one wooden shelving unit at different heights. This would take up some space for the structure either through the middle or around the edges.
    Has anyone come up with an idea of their own that they are willing to share?
    Thank you.

  45. Hello! This one is an unusual idea. Well I have a metal outdoor table, with the finish that looks like wood on top. But it clangs when you slap your hand on it. So I thought about solving that issue, by turning the metal table upside down and pouring epoxy resin on it, as it has metal framing within. It also has some sort of paint there too. So it is not raw aluminum metal. I would say for a 44″ round table, pour only a 1/2 inch of the epoxy resin on the bottom surface of the table (meaning, the underside of the table). Will this stick well, after it dries, when turning it over top side? Just wondering, as it will be outdoors and I don’t know how that will hold under there, or will it actually fall out under it. The framing under it has creases (spaces), in which the epoxy resin could seep thru into, that would afix the layer to stick? Just wondering. I am not doing this as a design, it is just to get that clangy metalic noise out, when using the table outdoors. Thanks.

    1. Hi Linda, if you apply the resin to a fresh metal surface (you can lightly sand it), I would expect the resin to stick. I can’t guarantee though that twisting of the table won’t make the resin fall out.

  46. Hi, I would like to encase an object in resin, but I cannot locate a silicone tray big enough to fit it in. Is there a way you can create your own shape to put around an item. I’m happy with square but what do I use that the resin won’t seep out?

    1. Hi Julia, you can use the same material cutting boards are made from to make a box and clamp it together for your mold.

  47. Hey, I’m trying to make a resin mold with household materials/on a budget. What would be best to use?

  48. Hi I’m trying to make an outdoor accent table. I have a small metal table and I want to add seashells to the top and pour resin over it to make a smooth top. Could you give me any guidance on what works best for a project like this. Thanks so much

  49. Hi, I have made a door from Hardwood and want to fill a few knot holes with polyester resin to make the surface flat. After sanding flat, I was going to finish the door with a polyurethane varnish. Will the polyurethane varnish adhere to the polyster resin patches? or should I use epoxy resin?
    Thanks, Paul

  50. I want to make a sunken dystopian city. Could I use a plastic drinks bottle (like a cola bottle) as a cast, or would the epoxy resin melt it?

      1. Hi, new to resin but am trying to submerge pieces of wood inside clear resin to make a rectangular block bench. Do you know where I could find cutting board plastic large enough to make a mold thats 6’ long by 3’ wide by 3’ tall? Or do you have another material you’d recommend to make the mold?

        Also, which resin would work best? And would it warp/yellow in the sun?

        1. Hi Caylee, you can try a home improvement store to see about getting cutting board material. Unfortunately, resin won’t do well in the sun. It may warp and will definitely yellow faster with the UV light exposure. If you want to try this project and keep your bench covered, the Resin Obsession deep pour resin works great for big casting projects. You can buy it in our store here: https://shop.resinobsession.com/collections/resin/resin-obsession-deep-pour-resin

  51. Hi! Thank you for your article! I want to encase a rock that has pieces of regular tape on it in resin, but I’m worried the resin won’t stick to the tape. Do you think it would work better if I use mod podge over the tape first?

  52. Hello, I have a large round silicone mold, I was for a table top, but I want to make a resin clock. How can I make a hole in the middle for the clocks mechanism without drilling my cured resin

    1. Hi Terri, I’m not sure you’re going to be able to do it without drilling. You can try adhering the parts with epoxy, but depending on how heavy it is, the epoxy may not hold it.

  53. Hello, will resin stick to ceramic. I want to put flowers in the bottom of a trinket dish made from ceramic and pour a thin layer of resin over it. Will the resin stick?

  54. Hi, I would like to use my stoneware clay to make my mold for pouring resin on them. Do I need to fire my clay molds first and if also need to apply a a specific mold release before applying the resin?

    1. Hi Vera, unfortunately, clay doesn’t work as a resin mold. It isn’t flexible enough to release cured resin.

  55. I have a question. I’m painting the inside back of my bookshelf with a resin tree. I wasn’t going to paint it, rather find a way to outline the tree, pour the resin in the outline, and once it’s dried pull off the outline. Just unsure of what I can use to do that. I think I’ve seen videos of it but I’m not sure what to google or even call it. Thanks!

  56. Hi I’m trying to mold some leather but the leather is soft. I wet it and molded it but I know it won’t hold for long. Is it possible for me to brush it with resin and it will hold its shape. I don’t mind if it gets hard …I just need it to hold in place and retain the current shape I molded it into.

    Thanks!

  57. I’ve been making some beautiful resin trays. Anytime I place an item on them ie: wine glasses, candle etc…they tend to stick. I tried a suggested light coat of furniture polish and buff and it doesn’t seem to stop it. Any ideas? Many of the ones I made will be gifts. Don’t want that issue. Thanks.

  58. Hi Catherine,
    Will resin adhere to wood that has been stained then coated with polycrylic? If not, is there something I can coat over the polycrylic that the resin would adhere to?

  59. Can’t seem to find the answer to this anywhere. Recently started pouring resin on to my canvases. past I used triple thick kryon glaze spray. The resin is so beautiful on my painted painted canvases. What a Beautiful Finish. My question is can I pour glaze resin epoxy over painted canvas that has been sprayed with the glaze triple thick Karon spray. Some of these sprayed canvases are years old so very dry I would be heartbroken to think I could not put a much better thicker and finer finish on these art pieces. can you help me with this answer.

    1. Hi Cathy, I’ve never tried this, but I think it would work. Is there a canvas you can test on?

  60. Someone suggested that Vaseline could be used to coat an item and resin won’t stick to the surface coated. Has anyone tried this? Thanks

  61. My kids are going to be making medicine vial lid murals on wooden plaques. I was wanting to possibly coat them with Resin to make them into useable trays. Will the resin stick to the plastic medicine vial lids

  62. I have not quite filled some molds I have done. Can I add more resin now. Ie. will resin stick to resin?

  63. Hi, I have been casting some acrylic painted and clear coated figures in epoxy but after a few months have started to have a haze come over the figurines kind of like the resin hasn’t stuck to the clearcoat. We even brush the resin onto the figure wet before inserting and pouring the casting. Any tips to stop this as we have luckily not started to sell these but have well over 100 made so far

    1. I’m not sure Stacie. I’ve never tried. You can always put clear packing tape over the label. Resin will stick to that.

  64. Hi Katherine, I hope you are well,
    A very interesting read/webpage indeed.
    Please may I ask a question.
    I’m about to attempt to use the inside of a glass dome, as the mould for my project, then use the release ageing you’ve spoken about, then put the item in the dome, and then pour the resin in, then when it’s all set over 72hrs, I can carefully break the glass, and I’ll have my item sealed.

    1. Hi Jase, I’m afraid that won’t work very well. It’s going to be impossible to get the glass to break away from the resin without breaking the resin. Have you considered using a silicone mold?

  65. Happy New Year Katherine.

    I have a dried block of wood with traces of termite tunnels. It is solid without decomposing. I’ve cut the block into shaped pieces that are going to be used as parts of coffee table legs. The blocks are flat rectangles with some curved cutouts, but have exposed channels and tunnels. I want to flood them with epoxy to fill channels and internal tunnels, but I want to maintain the shape they have been cut to. Is there a material that wraps and molds tightly that will adhere to the wood and maintain the flat edges of the rectangle block but hold the epoxy … and then separate from the wood when de-moulding. (the only thing I can think of to explain my thoughts … is something like cellofane wrap, leaving the top open to pour). Hope this makes sense

    1. Hi Glen, have you stabilized the wood yet? If not, it will be full of bubbles after adding resin. For a mold box, I’d use melamine board, then pour from the top.

  66. Hello Katherine, I need help seriously. I have never used epoxy resin before. I am planning on making a beautiful jellyfish encased in resin. It will be 24x12x3″. I have been ordering all kinds of sea life and scuba divers and sharks. I believe it has to be a deep pour in layers with wait time in between layers. I want to make the jellyfish out of durable Mylar 6mil thickness or should I say thinness. I have a jellyfish stencil I will lay on top of the Mylar and I will use resin paint to color it and then cut it out. I want to place it on my first pouring of resin after it has dried for 3-5 hours and is still tacky so the next pouring will blend in. On the next pouring I want to put all my little objects and pour the rest of it. My question is: will the Mylar jellyfish work in the resin? And how much resin should I make for each pouring, my size for mold is 24x12x3″ and do you sell large containers? Thank You

    1. Hi Mary, this sounds like a fun project! Unfortunately, I don’t know that a Mylar jellyfish will shine and sparkle as it does now once you put it in resin. If it’s a dark color, you’ll be able to see it better than light colors. For this project, you’ll want to use our Resin Obsession deep pour epoxy. It comes in two different sizes here: https://shop.resinobsession.com/collections/resin/resin-obsession-deep-pour-resin You can pour up to two inches thick at once. That means you’ll need to do your project in two pours.

  67. Thanks for getting back to me so fast. You said to do it in 2 pours, for the size I am using, how much should I use for each pour? The size of the mold is 24x12x3″ how do I figure out how much to make for each pour? I wish I could send you a picture of the jellyfish in resin that I am attemping to make.

  68. I want to make a round tabletop. Would this work?
    Base is plexiglass
    Sides are sheet metal taped at the seam with painters tape or plastic landscaping edging
    Silicone caulk to adhere the sheet metal sides to the plexiglass glass

    Suggestions would be appreciated.

  69. Hi! I am trying to do a project with dog food bags made of pet plastic. . They are glued down onto a primed and painted wood panel with e6000. I want to know if I pour a thin-ish top coating of resin over the top will the coating stay and not crack off? I’m thinking maybe a 1/4-1/2 inch thick coating of resin. I just want a nice layer to keep the piece protected. Thanks!

  70. I am trying to make an inverse casting of a 2l lemonade bottle thread. It’s a long story! But when I cast the thread, it sticks like crazy to the bottle thread, even though I coated it in silicone spray first? I had to destroy the thread by cutting it out, and so damaged my resin slightly too. Any ideas?

  71. We are wanting to make a table with all the tiny heart rocks we have found – what do you recommend sticking them down to the base with? Playdoh? Clay? Need something that will hold them in place when we pour resin on tabletop.
    Also, what would you recommend creating the table edge with?

  72. I would like to make small jewelry items from resin and glue onto canvas fabric bags for decoration. Could you advise me which glue is best to use for this purpose. So there is a strong waterproof bond.

    Many thanks

    Simon

  73. I would like to use resin as a top coat to protect the leather I am gluing onto metal. Will resin just dry on top since I am pouring onto a circle (on top the leather) mold?

  74. My cat spilled 8oz of 2 part epoxy, it oozed over the silicone mat. The only thing I had cat h it was me . It poured all over my jeans, both legs!! (Better than the carpet!) I left for work right after, when I got home, my pants were so stiff they could stand up all by their selves!!! I had to stomp them good to get them to fit in the trash!!!! #goodtimes

  75. Does anyone know if I can pour resin over liquid lead and alcohol ink? (I’m making stained glass wine glasses)
    Thank you!

    1. Hi Niki, I’ve never tried this exact surface, but I know that it would need to be sealed prior to pouring and then it should be A-OK.

  76. Hi! Thanks for all your wisdom on this topic and for sharing tips.

    I tried coating laminated insect wings in Uc resin and the resin peels right off pretty immediately. I saw a video that says I need to put a sealer spray on, and I wonder if you have any more information? I’ve asked at some stores for a sealer spray for plastic/resin, and they only have dealers to protect paint and metal—will this work?

    Thanks so much for your time!

    1. You’ll have a hard time get adhesion to such a smooth surafce without sanding it first. An acrylic spray sealer will be a good sealer after you have a rough surface.

  77. Hello!

    I want to create a texture on my resin that resembles sliced bread, but I figure sandpaper would probably stick to the resin. Is there a material like sandpaper that I could use that won’t stick or can peel off? Am I mistaken about sandpaper, could that peel off easily after?

    Thank you!

    1. Hey Abby, awesome idea! My first thought when you said bread was to make a mold using actual bread! You can use mold maker to create the mold, then use that mold for resin. It would give you that bread like texture! I wouldn’t recommend sandpaper because that would stick to the resin. Let me know how the project goes!

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