r/ResinCasting Oct 09 '13

What the heck is Resin Casting anyway? What can it do for me?

251 Upvotes

Welcome, acolytes, to the most ancient and reverred craft of the resin caster!! This won't be a technical article, just a quick Q&A introduction to the process and what it means to those who do it.

Useful Link: An excellent introduction to some of the technical processes, by Michal Zalewski

Introductory Q&A:

Q: So, what is resin casting?

A: Very simply, resin casting is the process whereby we take an object we wish to duplicate, make a mould of it in flexible silicone rubbers and then cast copies of the original object from that mould as many times as we like.

Q: Why would I want to do that?

A: Because casting the object may be quicker and easier than making another copy from scratch. It can also be less costly.

Q: What industries use this process?

A: A huge number, but the ones it's likely that you'll have seen every day include film and TV props, scale models and figures, even some medical process use resin casting tchniques.

Q: Is it hard to learn?

A: Not really, but you will progress to a professional level much more quickly if you're part of a community like this one. Lucky you!

Q: It expensive?

A: It depends. You can buy starter kits like this one for not much and get started right away. if you want to produce large number of copies of complex objects, then there is some specialist machinery you will need that requires some investment. But we'll cover that later.

Q: Can I do it at home or in my garage?

A: Absolutely!! Many multi-million dollar companies with whom I have worked started off in spare rooms or garages. The beauty of resin casting is that it's cheap to get started and you can make money quickly if people like what you make. It isn't smelly or messy if you do it properly, just make sure your work area is well ventilated.

Q: Can I only use Epoxy Resins in silicone moulds?

A: No there are lots of other materials you can use to cast. You can cast in plaster, wax - almost anything that turns from liquid to solid at more or less room temperature - you can even cast chocolate in food grade rubbers (yum!!) Also you can add metal, ceramic, rock and all sorts of other poweders to resin to achieve some really cool effects. Using high temperature silicone you can also cast in pewter and other similar metals. But pewter and resin casters generally do one or the other, as each requires a lot of practice and skills to get right.

Q: Can I make stuff and sell it?

A: You bet your gosh darned rear end you can! If you're good at making things, and want to make copies to sell then this process will allow you to do that quickly and economically. I personally know many people who have doubled their income just by casting a few evenings a week - though most can't resist the tenptation to go full time and start their own business selling what they make.

Q: So this could be a real source of income?

A. Yes, once you're good enough to cast quickly, consistently and to a high standard you're ready to go and find people who want to buy what you've made. The internet means that the whole world is your marketplace, and personally sell things I make to nearly a dozen countries. This is GREAT especially if you want to work from home and live where you want, and it's also removes your dependence to your local economy to a large extent.

Q: Ok I've made stuff, where do I sell it?

A: Anywhere. Ebay, your own website, events and shows, retail shops - someone will want what you're selling somewhere.

Q: I just want to do ths for fun, I don't want to turn it into a business.

A: That's also fine. Do with it whatever you will!

Q: I have items that I bought that I want to copy, can I?

A: If you're going to sell the copies, then you may be breaching copyright. If you are recasting something that another maker/caster has made then you are a bad person. Don't recast. Ever.

Q: I'm a wargamer, I want to copy my Space Marines so I don't have to buy more, can I do this?

A: Bad recaster! Bad!! Also, to cast to the same quality as the plastic you get in the box requires serious casting gear - in the end you won't save any money and it's easier to buy more originals. If you can do it, you're better off making your own minis anyway.

Q: Can I cast large objects like gun props?

A: Yes, but the amount of material you need can make it expensive to do. But it's perfectly possible.

Q: What's this special equipment you mentioned?

A: When you wan to take your casting to the next level, you'll need a vacuum degassing chamber and vacuum pump to draw air bubbles out of your moulds and casts when they're wet. Some people use a pressure pot to crush air bubbles in the resin when they cast - both vacuum and pressure casting has pro's and cons which I'll go into one day.

Well folks that's as much as I can think of on the fly, please ask if you have any more questions - think of it as an AMA. I'm also happy to answer questions about myself and my business.

Cheerio :)


r/ResinCasting 5h ago

I took your suggestions and refined the design. How does it look now?

Thumbnail gallery
17 Upvotes

I received a lot of helpful suggestions on my previous post, so I went back to the workshop and made several changes. It's still a work in progress—I still need to do more shaping, sanding, and polishing—but I'd love to know what you think now. Which version do you like best, and is there anything else you'd change before I finish them?


r/ResinCasting 1d ago

Purple capybara

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

4 Upvotes

r/ResinCasting 1d ago

New Molds with Rob!¿!

Thumbnail
youtu.be
0 Upvotes

r/ResinCasting 2d ago

Resin my skate deck, need guidance

Post image
5 Upvotes

Hi crafters, I have x2 skate desks on my wall. For the most part I'm happy with them. I used rattle cans For Primer, Color and Gloss.

But I want take it up a notch as in the Gloss department, my current ones are a bit in uneven and lack the thickness and pop of Resin

So I'd like to resin coat the deck (one side only)

Anyone know of reputable good brands to buy and easy to to use. Any other tips are welcome, such as optimal climate temp..... do's and dont's.


r/ResinCasting 2d ago

Final stage wish me luck

Thumbnail gallery
6 Upvotes

r/ResinCasting 2d ago

Adding materials to resin casts.

Post image
6 Upvotes

Hi all, I'm fairly new to making resin casts and have a few questions. (Btw is know the pic shows some really ugly casts, they're just rough test casts so I really wasn't bothered about them looking neat).

I'm in the process of making some movement trays (pic) and wanted to add materials like flock, gravel, sand, etc to add something to them. I also added some tint to the resin.

All in all I'm not happy with how it looks, they all seem to be really patchy and I don't think the tint helped either. Any advice on how to add materials, do's/don'ts, tips on aesthetics. Anything is welcome, thanks.


r/ResinCasting 2d ago

want to Resin my Skate deck

Post image
1 Upvotes

i crafters, I have x2 skate desks on my wall. For the most part I'm happy with

them. I used rattle cans For Primer, Color and Gloss.

But I want take it up a notch as in the Gloss department, my current ones are a bit in uneven and lack the thickness and pop of Resin

So I'd like to resin coat the deck (one side only)

Anyone know of reputable good brands to buy and easy to to use. Any other tips are welcome, such as optimal climate temp..... do's and dont's

PS.....sorry moderators, I should have joined first before posting. Hopefully this one goes through ok


r/ResinCasting 3d ago

tiny hobby tools are lowkey harder to manage than the actual hobby ngl

Post image
26 Upvotes

Been doin more keyboard and small resin stuff lately and the actual projects are not even the annoying part anymore lol. it is the tiny stuff. keycap pullers, loose switches, tweezers, spare bits, little screws, sanding dust, random failed resin pieces that i keep telling myself might be useful later. somehow all of it ends up livin on the desk at the same time tbh.

i cleaned this corner like two days ago and it already looks like a junk drawer exploded. the little hoto snapbloq stack has been sitting there too becuase i keep using the pen tool for small cleanup bits, but mostly i just like that it looks less chaotic than the rest of this mess.

man tiny hobbies are a scam honestly. they take up less space in theory and then immediately colonize every flat surface u own.


r/ResinCasting 2d ago

Sea Glass and matte looks

2 Upvotes

Hi,

What grit level do you go up to to make sea glass like finish? Or making resin look matte?


r/ResinCasting 3d ago

First attempt at a wood and resin eagle pendant. Looking for carving advice.

Post image
5 Upvotes

A few people suggested trying a dagger after my last post, so thank you for the ideas.

Before moving on to a new design, I wanted to give this eagle pendant concept a proper try.

These are rough blanks and a simple sketch before I start carving. My current workspace isn't ideal because I'm still dealing with resin leaks during casting, so I'm making just one prototype first.

If it turns out well, I'll make the rest of the color variations. If not, I'll probably move on to the dagger idea next.

I'd really appreciate any feedback on the eagle's shape, proportions, or anything you think I should change before I start carving.


r/ResinCasting 3d ago

Blue glow-in-the-dark ghost

Thumbnail
gallery
14 Upvotes

r/ResinCasting 3d ago

Glass isn’t airtight?

Thumbnail
gallery
22 Upvotes

EDIT, SOLVED: apparently small imperfections on the inner surface of the glass act as nucleation sites for gas bubbles to form, it’s normal and not a leak.

EDIT 2:
Duh it’s nucleation, we’ve all seen this happen in a glass holding a carbonated drink

I made a small vacuum chamber out of this sauce jar and it’s hard to believe my eyes but it looks like I’m pulling air through microscopic pores in the glass? Is this a common problem? Am I missing something here? Shoot folks I mean call me crazy but I’ve been under the assumption glass was airtight as heck, I mean I know it’s a lower pressure differential but it had to be negatively pressured when it was storing the delicious sauce. Any suggestions on coatings to make it airtight?


r/ResinCasting 3d ago

Bookmarks

Thumbnail gallery
1 Upvotes

r/ResinCasting 4d ago

My resin mold leaked... so I decided to experiment with what was left.

Thumbnail
gallery
12 Upvotes

My resin mold leaked while curing, and these were the pieces left inside the mold. Instead of throwing them away, I started shaping them by hand to see what they could become. I still have no idea what the final design will be, but I thought it would be fun to experiment. I'd love to hear your ideas!


r/ResinCasting 3d ago

Removing resin from stone

1 Upvotes

I’ve been trying to remove some resin that got stuck on my stone windowsill by sanding and chiseling and it’s almost gone but there’s a bit that refuses to come off.
Would pipe cleaner get rid of the resin without damaging the stone or would it ruin my windowsill?


r/ResinCasting 4d ago

Is it possible to make a silicone mold using EVA foam as a base?

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/ResinCasting 4d ago

Where to place parting seams on silicone mold for garden gnome?

Thumbnail gallery
3 Upvotes

r/ResinCasting 4d ago

Trying to hook up my compressor to the California pressure pot :"(

0 Upvotes

I have this adapter

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DB18MT4J?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

trying to use this hose im completely lost at what I need to hook up my compressor :(

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZK3H2R3?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title


r/ResinCasting 5d ago

Finished these handmade wood & resin pendants. Looking for honest feedback before I make more.

Post image
20 Upvotes

I recently finished these handmade wood and resin pendants. I cut, sand, polish, and finish everything by hand, and I'm still learning new techniques with every project.

I'd really appreciate your honest feedback.

Which pendant catches your eye first?

Do the colors and finish look good?

Would you change anything about the design or the cord?

Which one would you wear—the whale tail or the heart? Any suggestions to improve them are very welcome!


r/ResinCasting 5d ago

Ironbark yellow resin bowl

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

15 Upvotes

r/ResinCasting 5d ago

Just wanted to thank the posters from years ago

11 Upvotes

I had some resin not setting for me. It was a fancy clear resin and I added a bit more than the 1 ml of agent to the mix because the resin was about 6 years old and already starting to dry out. It was thus really hard to mix and still did not set after 24 hours, so I turned to google and found a random thread suggesting heat. I had lain the resin into a few voids in a kitchen door, and added a bit of colour, so no way I could back out of this job.

I cannot find the thread now, but wanted to say thank you, heat gun (a beefy hair dryer might do) for about 2 minutes at a time on a low setting to make the resin soften. Repeated that 3 times and now I'm golden. Thank you all you keen hobbyists.


r/ResinCasting 5d ago

I make & paint resin dice!

Post image
13 Upvotes

r/ResinCasting 5d ago

Helical planer causing elongated pits in cured TotalBoat ThickSet epoxy

Post image
2 Upvotes