Understanding Epoxy Art Resins
Epoxy Art Resins: What You Need to Know
Epoxy resin comes in two parts made up of a resin and a hardener. When these two substances are mixed together. They create a chemical reaction. This causes the mixture to harden into a strong, durable plastic. Commonly used in the construction and repair of boats, cars, and formula one race cars. It's used to repair household items such as dishes and countertops.
Epoxy's strength makes it an ideal adhesive for bonding dissimilar materials together. A variety of materials such as metal, plastic, and ceramic, can be attached to each other with it. The hardening process of epoxy is exothermic. Meaning it generates heat as the cross linking occurs. This can be beneficial in cold weather conditions as the heat generated will speed up the curing process. It is important to avoid exposure to direct sunlight or high temperatures. This can cause the resin to soften and can lose its bond.
Epoxy resin is also gaining popularity in the art world as a medium for creating stunning pieces of epoxy art. Its clear, glossy finish and ability to be moulded into various shapes make it a favourite among artists looking to add depth and dimension to their work. Epoxy resin can be mixed with pigments, dyes, and other materials to create vibrant colours or unique effects such as "cells" or "lacing." This versatile medium allows artists to experiment and push the boundaries of traditional art forms.
Difference Between Epoxy Coating Resin And Casting Resin
Epoxy coating resin vs casting resin are often confused. You cannot use a casting resin for coating a surface. And visa versa. There are many differences between these two types of resin. You have to take this into account when comparing them.
Epoxy coating resins are higher in viscosity, used to coat surfaces. There are many surfaces that can be coated with epoxy art resin. Including wood, metal, glass, and plastic. Used in the world or resin art. Epoxy coating resin is known for its high gloss and clarity. Making it a popular choice for creating stunning and vibrant artwork.
Casting resin is generally very low in viscosity. Used to create castings and great for embedding objects. It cures to a harder, and more durable finish. That is also resistant to scratches, staining, and fading. Casting resin gets used in silicone moulds, to create a variety of objects such as jewellery, paperweights, and tabletops.
It is also commonly used in the arts and crafts industry. To create unique art pieces and sculptures. The versatility makes a popular choice among artists. And hobbyists alike. With its clear finish. It can mix with dyes or pigments to create vibrant colours. Or left transparent to give the appearance of glass.
Do You Need To Fill A Space Or Coat A Surface With Epoxy?
Casting and coating are the two main uses of art epoxy. Each resin kit has its own set of challenges. It's important to select the right one. Casting epoxy is often used to create jewellery, sculptures, river tables, and other small to large objects. It is great to be poured into moulds. But not great at coating surfaces. It can cure very quickly or extremely slow. Depending on the casting system. And it will be very strong once cured.
Not really suitable for coating as its viscosity is very low. Typically, castings are less glossy. And do not provide a flawless surface finish.
Coating epoxy is perfect for filling very small gaps/voids and coating surfaces. You can pour, brush, or roll it on, and it cures slowly so you can adjust it before it sets. It's also easy to sand and polish once it's cured, a great option for furniture coating and tabletops.
What Is High & Low Viscosity Resin
High and low viscosity resins are two types of epoxy materials with different consistencies. One main difference between high and low viscosity resins is their fluidity.
High viscosity resins have a thicker consistency. Better suited for filling gaps or bonding uneven surfaces. They also provide stronger and more durable bonds. High viscosity epoxy resins. Are ideal for projects where you want the finished piece to have depth.
Low viscosity epoxy resins. On the other hand, Have a thinner consistency and are primarily used for coating and laminating applications. They can penetrate deeper into porous materials to create a strong bond.
High viscosity has less movement and needs more heat for the resin to be more fluid.
While low viscosity is very fluid. Require little to no heat to move and by nature have a better air release. The downside is the epoxy will tend to drip off the surface. Incurring more waste and will take a lot more coats to achieve the same thickness.
Overall, both types of resins have unique properties that make them suitable for different applications and understanding their differences is essential in choosing the right resin for your project.
Slow & Fast Setting Resins
Slow setting epoxy takes longer to cure, typically 24 hours or more. This gives users more time to work with the resin before it hardens. Making it ideal for larger projects or beginners who may need extra time.
Fast setting epoxy cures much quicker, usually within a few hours. This is great for small projects that need immediate results. Or when working with materials that cannot be clamped or held in place for an extended period of time.
Epoxy kits that cure quickly tend to produce more heat and are best used for small projects.
When To Use Slow or Fast Curing Epoxy?
Fast curing epoxy is ideal for very small castings. And coating projects when many layers are needed. If you need a fast curing resin for a quick turnaround project. Then a fast curing epoxy like ArtCast Fast is the best choice. The best resin for large areas and thicker pours. A slow curing epoxy like ArtCast Slow or RiverPour is the better option.
When working on a project requiring a lot of detail. You will want to use ArtCast Slow, a slow curing epoxy resin. Due to the longer hardening time. It is easier to work with. So you can take your time and make sure your masterpiece is perfect. Slow curing resins are great for projects that require thick multiple layers. Embedding and very large pours.
It's best to use a fast curing epoxy system such as ArtCast Fast if you need to apply a lot of thin layers quickly. Created purely for large deep pours. RiverPour has a low exothermic reaction. And is the best option on the market for pour depths measuring up to 50mm with a total weight of 40kg, any depth can be achieved when the total single pour weight is under 5kg.
Which Resin Is Best For Casting Art?
There are three main types of casting resin available for casting applications. Each type of resin has its own unique set of properties. Some are better suited for certain casting applications than others.
In order to choose the best casting resin, you need to consider the following factors:
The type of object you are casting
The level of detail you need
The size of the object
The quantity you need to produce
The hardness once cured
Functionality (Hard, Soft or flexible)
Your budget
Once you have considered all of these factors. Begin to narrow down your options and choose the resin kit best suited for your needs. If you are still unsure which resin to use, consult with the team at justresin.store who specialises in casting. And can help you make the best decision for an art piece.
Want to know more about casting objects, head over to our Casting Resin Project page.
How To Choose Resin For Art?
The Just Resin Project Helper does just that.
The Just Resin Project Helper can assist you in determining how to use the right resin in art.
Resin epoxy is a great medium for creating beautiful and unique works of art. Being an adhesive. It can also act as a coating. An embedding agent and a sealant. A resin art kit comes in two parts.
The resin and the hardener.
Mixing these two parts causes a chemical reaction that hardens the mixture. Our Resin Project Helper will walk you through the basics of using resin epoxy for art too. It will also help guide which resin art kit suits each type of project.
Although working with resin may seem intimidating at first.
We guide you through the process from start to finish. We provide detailed instructions. On how to properly mix the two parts together. We guide you to achieve different effects.
With colour additives and techniques such as layering and marbling. The possibilities are endless when it comes to using resin for art projects. If you're an experienced artist. Or just starting out in the world of crafting.
We have everything you need.
Are You Measuring Resin Correctly?
When measuring resin. It's important to remember a few things. First, you'll need to know the ratio of resin to the hardener product. This will typically be 1:1 or 2:1, 3:1 and even 5:1 by volume or weight. But it's always best to consult your specific product's instructions.
Once you know the ratio. You'll need to know if this product is measured by volume or weight. Then you can measure out the appropriate amount of each component.
For small to medium projects, this is a great option. Since measuring cups come in sizes large enough to fit the total volume in one cup. For large projects, such as river tables. It is much easier to measure by weight. Since any pail or bucket can be used.
Head over to our Resin Calculator page to help measure all your resin pour projects.
What About UV Clarity And Clear Resin?
Clarity is important with resin epoxy. Both for aesthetic and functional reasons. If you are going to use it as a clear coating or finish. You will want the resin art epoxy to be as clear as possible. Likewise, if epoxy is used for functional purposes such as adhesives or sealants. It should be clear to appear eye-catching.
There are several factors that can affect the clarity of resin.
Including the resin type, the curing process and the addition of any fillers or colourants.
However, there are many types of resins and hardeners that are known for their clarity. Epoxy/diamine (cycloaliphatic) and epoxy/polyetheramine.
If you need a very hard and durable clear coating or a finish that will last for years?
Then an epoxy/diamine (cycloaliphatic) resin and hardener is likely your best bet.
But, if you want a very high gloss with great effects. Then epoxy/polyetheramine would be best. Most manufactures will blend both diamines with polyetheramine giving a tougher (flexible) high gloss and clarity finish.
Just Resin recommends DiamondCote for high clarity resin top coats and ArtCoast Slow for resin casting projects.
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