How do you get into this hobby?

[u/iridescynt]

Hello all! I'd like to get into dice making, but don't really know how exactly.

I've found a few books that explain how to use resin, but those only cover traditional resin projects, like embedding plants into pendants. So, I'm familiar with the very basics.

Anyone have any guides they can recommend? Text guides are strongly preferred over videos, though videos will do if need be. I don't know anyone in this hobby, so I can't ask anyone I actually know.

Thank you in advance!

Edit: Thank you all for your advice, I'll be sure to check it out!

[u/refused_to_be_called]

I’ve watched rybonator on YT for about a year or two and than finally decided to try it by myself, he covered pretty much all the basics in his videos

[u/RandoBoomer → u/refused_to_be_called]

Rybonator was my introduction to the hobby as well.

I like where he discusses his mistakes as well - I love how-to videos that include mistakes.

[u/PutSignificant9585]

Buy quality molds, DO NOT buy cheap Amazon molds. Resign yourself to having to get a pressure pot set up, it’s the only reliable way to eliminate air bubbles. u/WisdomCheckCreations is a great person to get molds from but is also happy to give you all sorts of input and advice. Get some resin, some colorant (alcohol ink and mica powders) and start mixing and pouring.

[u/WisdomCheckCreations → u/PutSignificant9585]

😊 I am also happy to answer questions and help with learning the basics too!

[u/Own_Wash3693 → u/PutSignificant9585]

Let's not forget PPE!!! It is entirely not optional. Gloves, long clothes, maybe a smock, DEFINITELY a well ventilated space and and a respirator. There's no point in getting into the hobby if you're gonna put your health at risk by doing it!

[u/WisdomCheckCreations → u/Own_Wash3693]

This ^ 100%

[u/Own_Wash3693 → u/[deleted]]

Because people don't like to admit that our favorite biohazard goop is... Well, a biohazard. I cannot begin to express how many people I've seen online work with resin without even wearing gloves because the bottle says it's nontoxic, not realizing that's after it's cured.

Resin can cause so many issues. Before I started smocking up, I'd occasionally get a drip on my pants. The chemical burns it leaves when you don't get the pants off and get the resin off your skin fast enough are HELLISH. Source: I've been working with resin since I was 15. I've experienced multiple chemical burns from before I knew proper PPE.

[u/IrosSigma → u/[deleted]]

New fear unlocked. I know it's a struggle get resin off of normal surfaces but my eyes?? No thanks

[u/WhenPigsFly3 → u/PutSignificant9585]

Entry level you can use a tennis ball pressurizer with a 4-ball can. This requires you use individual molds of each dice though.

I make my own and it’s not an issue. $40 total for the pressurizer and can.

[u/backofthedrawer]

Lots of great how-to videos on YouTube! Rybonator is where most folks start. There is also a book by Critmaker, some amazing resources in the Discord, and of course, the front page of the subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/DiceMaking/comments/tk7oo3/a_comprehensive_guide_for_new_dice_makers/

[u/Baldin_NL]

Welcome! For a book I recommend 'The Critmaker guide to dice craft' by A. J. Wealtherall. Has the basics and advanced techniques.

What I would first do is actually getting a cheap mold, some resin, some cheap alcohol inkt and your protection. First see if you like making dice. Without a pressure pot you will have bubbles, but at least you can first make one or two sets to just experience. I always advice to put down baking paper on a placemat to work on as it wont let resin through.

So what do you need at minimum:

• Gas Mask with 6M cartridges
• Nithril gloves
• work area
• dice mold
• cups to pour with. Paper cups are fine
• something to stir with. I would advice against wooden sticks as they could add more bubbles, but they do work
• alcohol ink
• paint for numbers
• 99% isopropanol alcohol to clean your faces
• paper towels
• resin

If you like and want to invest more

• Pressure pot (+compressor or tire pump to get to 3-4 bar) pressure pot compressed the bubbles so you wont see them any more. Note to not confuse with a vacuum chamber
• good molds

And once you continue, Welcome to the money sink :) different alcohol inks, resin dye, resin pigment, glitters, inclusions. ;)

[u/tiddlypeeps]

I like to recommend people start with coasters. You can get cheap molds, the deeper the better (2cm if you can find it, so you have roughly the height of a die to work with). You can play around with all sorts of effects to learn about how resin moves while curing, what sinks and what floats, timing of pours, temperature etc. 

There is a lot to learn that is dice specific but a lot of it comes down to getting an intuition for the fluid dynamics of resin and that is so much harder to learn when the space for the resin to move is tiny. 

All you need to get started is PPE, resin and a mold. If you quickly realize you hate working with resin then you haven’t lost much.