How To Cure Resin Flawlessly Without Bubbles

There are few things more satisfying than creating a flawlessly cured resin piece that is bubble-free. But there is nothing more frustrating than working tirelessly on a piece and being disappointed by the end result. A piece of art is not enjoyed when it comes out sticky, covered in jelly-like goo, or bubbled.

The good news is that there are steps you can take to ensure a smooth and bubble-free resin curing process. The key is in the preparation and execution, from measuring out your resin accurately to controlling temperature and humidity levels. It may seem like a daunting task at first, but with some practice and patience, you can achieve professional-looking results every time.

Here's our guide to ensure that your resin projects reflect the vision that you start with. If you've worked with resin before and want to perfect your craft. Or have recently discovered this mystifying medium and are attempting to build the courage to create your own.

TEMPERATURE IS KEY. The workspace and resin itself should be between 22°-28°C, ideally closer to 28°C. 

WARM YOUR RESIN & HARDENER. In order to prevent micro bubbles, place the epoxy resin and hardener bottles in warm water if the resin is cold. Using a warm bucket of water will prevent micro bubbles. In this case, the resin mixture work time will be reduced for example: 30 minutes instead of 45 minutes. Due to its thermosetting nature, the resin kit mixture begins curing sooner at a higher temperature. Note: As soon as the hardener and resin meet in the same cup, the working time begins.

POUR CAREFULLY . Pour carefully down the side of the measuring cup when pouring either resin or hardener. Pouring from high above can result in air bubbles.

RATIO BY VOLUME OR WEIGHT. Ensure that the resin and hardener are exactly to the product mixing ratio by volume or by weight, always confirm that the product mixing ratio is by weight or volume. Use our resin calculator for bulk resin pours.

MIX THOROUGHLY IN SMOOTH MOTION. To avoid adding air bubbles to the mixture, mix smoothly, thoroughly, and consistently. While mixing, press the stirring utensil against the bottom of the cup to prevent adding air.

REMOVE BUBBLES. Immediately after mixing and pouring the resin and hardener, wait about two minutes. Remove any air bubbles by using an artist's torch, heat gun, kitchen torch, lighter, toothpick, or straw. You should continue to check for bubbles over the next 1-2 hours to make sure they don't appear.)

CLOUDY OR MILKY MAY INDICATE A LOW TEMPERATURE. If the resin and hardener are ever milky or cloudy, this is a good indicator that the resin is too low in temperature.

It may seem intimidating to work with resin at first, but once you understand the elements of a successful pour, it becomes easier to retrace your steps and figure out where problems occurred.

Hopefully, these steps will give you the confidence to work with resin if you haven't already. If you already have experience working with resin, we hope that these steps serve as a guide to ensure that every pour you do leaves you satisfied and inspired to create more!