The Eclectic Studio chooses to work with Epoxy Resin for the most part, we also promote resins which are water clear with long work times. This enables artists to spend time creating great colour mixes, imbedding and minimal air bubbles. Epoxy Resin for Jewellrey work often requires a totally clear substance, many resins on the market do not contain clarity, or has a slight yellow/straw coloured tint.

Epoxy Resins are used in all classes.

We do not recommend that jewellery artists or home users work with Polyester Resin due to its high toxicity and odour.

General Information:

Epoxy resin has similar properties and characteristics of polyester resin. Epoxies are tougher and have greater impact and compressive strength than the polyesters and will stick to virtually any non-greasy surface. Because of their adhesive properties they are excellent bonding agents for metal to metal, as well as for assemblages of mixed materials.

These liquid straw coloured ( or clear ) resins offer very low shrinkage during curing and are dimensionally stable once hardened. Like the polyesters, they are cured at room temperature by the addition of a curing agent or hardener, and are considered lightweight sculpture materials. They may be coloured with pigments or dyes, or extended by adding various fillers like silica flour,, sand, metallic powders crushed stone, industrial talc, glass beads and other organic and inorganic bodies. Generally speaking, up to 40% of filler may be added to the resin without weakening it.

REMEMBER SAFETY FIRST AT ALL TIMES, WEAR A MASK & GLOVES AT ALL TIMES WHEN WORKING WITH RESIN. YOU MAY ALSO CHOOSE TO USE A BARRIER CREAM.

TIPS FOR WORKING WITH RESIN:

STUDENT TIPS

Peak summer and winter temperatures will change the setting conditions of all your materials. The optimum ambient temperature for most materials is between 22°C-28°C.

Keep a good written record of all your experiments with different materials, brands of resin etc.

Always check the ratio you are using, too much or too little and your resin will not cure properly.

Always use clean containers.

Vaseline is a universal separating agent and can be used on a variety of materials.

Plasticene or Polymer Clay are great sculpting mediums, your sculpture can be left for months without drying out.

Plasticene and Polymer do not like higher temperatures, they may become too soft to work with ( in the 30’s especially ) you may need to refrigerate for a short period. The reverse is true in cold months, place it in a bucket of hot water.

Always cover your sculpture/model when not working on it, choose a non lint covering, ie. Plastic bag to avoid dust and dirt adhering to your work, remember that a silicon mould will pick up every mark.

If you use Plaster for your mould, remember to always add powder to water NEVER water to powder. Salt can be added to Plaster to speed up the set time.

Polyester Resin and water based clays aren’t compatible without using a good sealant on the clay. Shellac is a good general purpose sealer for plaster and clay.

Upside down plastic soft drink bottles with the bottom cut off make good funnels.

If using latex – this will not set against Vaseline.

Vibrating your mould will help in bringing any air bubbles to the surface.

Use a Heat Gun to help disperse bubbles, not a hair dryer as they will “blow” your work around. Be very careful if you use a Silicone Release Spray, it can contaminate your workshop rendering some work unable to be painted.