Resin Art – Finding the Best Epoxy Resin for your Project

Choosing the most suitable resin for your creative project can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for. But no worries, in this article, we’ll discuss the critical resin features needed for each type of project, so you can easily pick the perfect one depending on your needs. In addition, we’ll also discuss the most common pain points Resin Artists deal with so you can avoid disheartening failures and fully enjoy your creative process with this fascinating medium.

What are the different types of Resin?

Epoxy Resin is the most common synthetic resin used for arts & crafts projects and woodworking, so we’ll focus on it in this blog. But as you can see below, there are different sorts of resin available, and each type has specific applications:

• Epoxy Resin (surface coatings, resin art & crafts, woodworking, resin jewelry, adhesives, flooring)
• Polyurethane Resin (insulation, elastomers, sealants, and foam liners for clothing)
• Polyester Resin (construction, laminate, auto-repair of fillers, skis, fishing rods, plane and ship components)
• UV Resin (resin jewelry, polymer clay jewelry, nail art, crafts)

Most of them come in kits of two components: the base resin or Part A and the hardener or Part B (also known as the catalyst). When you mix these components, it causes a chemical reaction that enables the resin to set. Only UV resin is different, and it is only one component, as this type of resin requires exposure to UV light to trigger the chemical reaction needed to harden.

What is the best Epoxy Resin for Beginners?

With the versatility of epoxy resin for multiple craft works and applications, the demand has increased, and more cheap products have arrived on the market, targeting novice artists and crafters. While tempting at first glance due to the price point, the best & most predictable results are achieved when you rely on branded products from responsible manufacturers. They may cost a little more, but they assure the highest quality and take your health and safety more seriously than cheap resin brands.

“I learned quickly that using a high-quality resin is key. Starting with cheap, no-name brands proved stressful, especially for geode and ocean art. The resins were too thin or runny, and the bubbling was excessive. Also, working in a small space calls for a resin with minimal fumes and a fast curing time. Only good epoxy resin brands offer that."

@pearsonluxprojects, Beginner Resin Artist.

Selecting a brand that ensures Epoxy Resin Safety and meets the required quality standards is crucial for your well-being when experimenting with this medium. They usually lower or remove solvents and Volatile Organic Compounds, making their products VOC-free and reducing fumes during working time. In addition, professional epoxy resins are equipped with a UV filter of the highest possible quality to prevent the pieces from yellowing over time. Ultimately, at the beginning of your creative journey with resin, it’s always good to ensure you can experiment and enjoy the process minimizing worries or frustrations.

So we always recommend choosing a high-quality product specifically formulated for your application.

What epoxy resin to use for Resin Art Projects?

Resin Art is a creative discipline with numerous techniques to make decorative objects and artworks made of Epoxy Resin. The spectrum ranges from geode-inspired paintings created by pouring resin colored with pigments onto a canvas to jaw-dropping seascapes, a variety of resin jewelry, and even beautiful coasters.

Most of these applications involve thin resin layers mixed with pigment powders or glitters, so the most critical factor to consider is that the resin should not be too liquid. And here is why:

1. The individual colors would quickly merge, resulting in unattractive muddled color tones.
2. The resin wouldn’t stay in place, considerably changing the original design and intended result.
3. The constant waste of resin, time, and energy on top of the undesirable results would discourage you from experimenting more, enjoying the creative process, and getting better at it.

Epoxy Resin for Art - Essential Features Needed:

• Medium to high viscosity (relatively dense) ensures good color separation.
• It should be developed explicitly for coatings and thin layers.
• The working time should be long enough to pour or cast your project. The average is about 30 minutes.
• It should include UV protection to avoid yellowing over time.
• It should be VOC-free and BPA-free for your safety.
• Preferably a short curing time to increase productivity and not wait too much between layers.

Which epoxy resin to use for Casting Projects?

For large resin river tables, deep silicone molds, pyramids, and some woodworking projects, using a resin specifically designed for "deep pour/cast" is highly recommended. Casting resins are typically formulated to produce fewer bubbles and have a much longer working and cure time (12-48h) due to their low viscosity. The watery consistency is essential for making complex casts, as you need the resin to reach even the smallest and remote parts of intricate molds. In addition, the longer reaction time ensures that much less heat is generated, which is why you can pour larger quantities and thicker layers in one go.

Casting Resins- Essential Features Needed:

• Low viscosity and thin-bodied to perfectly fill any mold and avoid trapped air bubbles.
• Layer thicknesses up to at least 5 cm should be possible.
• Long working and curing time reduces heat development during the curing process.
• It should be VOC-free and BPA-free for your safety.
• It should include UV protection to avoid yellowing over time.

Air Bubbles in Resin

As you will have realized by now, layer thickness and viscosity are significant factors in selecting the type of resin needed for your project to be a success. The next step is mastering the game of getting air bubbles out of your Resin project, whether Casting Projects or Resin Art Pours, because they can ruin the final results.

Get Air Bubbles out of Resin

It may seem counter-intuitive, but the thicker the casting, the more liquid (less viscous) the resin should be. Not only does low viscosity resin heats up less quickly when poured thicker, but air bubbles can be more easily removed. As the layer remains liquid for longer, you will have enough time to remove bubbles by slowly and carefully moving a butane torch or hot air dryer across the surface. Heating the air trapped in the resin causes it to rise to the surface and escape, leaving your resin with solid and even consistency.

High viscosity epoxy resins are excellent when pouring thin layers or casting shallow objects like resin coasters around 1cm or half an inch in height. Since air bubbles don't have to travel a long distance to the exterior, they can easily be removed by applying some heat with a torch or heat gun across your project’s surface.

Epoxy Resin Safety

Watching resin art videos showing off beautiful resin art projects is mesmerizing. However, nowadays, many of those videos show the artist not using gloves at the bare minimum - which is highly recommended to protect your skin when working with resin!

Whether you’re just a beginner or an experienced artist, there are some resin safety guidelines you should follow anytime when working with epoxy. We have gathered a list of PPE and safety measures in this article so you can be prepared to start exploring this medium's endless possibilities with peace of mind.

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A post shared by Anna Quartz (@annaquartzartist)

"Respect your health, invest in proper safety equipment, experiment, and develop a unique style! ..." - @annaquartzartist - Resin Artist and creator of the Resin Cheeseboard in the banner of this Blog Post.

Final Thoughts

As discussed in this article, it’s crucial to know forehand what kind of resin project you’ll be working on, so you choose an epoxy resin with the specific features needed to succeed! For example, casting projects require a low viscosity resin, while medium to high viscosity is preferred for Resin Art Projects to ensure good color separation and shorter curing time. Top-notch UV filters are also a critical component of any Epoxy Resin to avoid yellowing and pigment’s fading over time.

We also recommend choosing a brand that guarantees your well-being regarding Epoxy Resin Safety and understands the required quality standards for your type of project. Check this article to learn more about Safety Guidelines and proper PPE when working with Resin.

Now that you know everything, just go ahead pick the right resin for your project and practice until you master this fascinating medium! We can’t wait to see what you create! Tag us @meyspring or use #meyspringpigments for a chance to be featured on our Social Media Channels, when you color your creations with our resin pigments.

See below a Pinterest-friendly photo you can save to your boards for future reference.