User Manual

Environmental Technology Inc. South Bay Depot Rd., Fields Landing, CA. 95537
Ph: [phone] Web Site: www.eti-usa.com Email: [e-mail]
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CASTIN’CRAFT CASTING RESIN BASICS,
INSTRUCTIONS AND TIPS
BASICS OF RESIN CASTING
Resin casting is an exciting and fun craft that allows you to
embed or encase almost any object in crystal-clear plastic. The
basic materials needed to get started in resin crafting are easy to
find and relatively inexpensive.
You'll need:
1. Casting resin and catalyst
2. Disposable graduated paper mixing cups
3. Wooden stir sticks
4. A mold
5. Objects you wish to embed
Color dyes and pigments are optional and can be used to create a
variety of special effects and backgrounds. Resin crafting
supplies are available at hobby, craft and plastics supply stores.
Understanding the basics of how casting resin can be changed
from a liquid to a solid will enable you to successfully create a
wide variety of both practical and fanciful projects that will last
indefinitely!
CASTING RESIN
A polyester resin noted for its clarity and ability to be cast in
mass. In its liquid form, casting resin has a consistency of corn
syrup and a slight color ranging from straw to light aqua. During
the hardening process the slight color bleaches out and the resin
becomes crystal clear. The styrene odor of casting resin is less
objectionable if you have good ventilation when pouring. Once
cured, your cast pieces will have little if any odor. Casting resin
should be stored at room temperature (72° F.), out of direct
sunlight, and out of reach of children. If stored properly, shelf
life is approximately nine to twelve months.
CATALYST
Added to liquid casting resin, catalyst (hardener) produces a
chemical reaction, which generates heat, causing the resin to
harden. The amount of heat generated depends upon four factors:
• Amount of catalyst used
• Thickness of the casting
• Air temperature and temperature of casting resin
• Amount of color pigment or dye (if used)
Increasing any of these factors alone or in combination changes
the rate of curing or hardening. For example…
• Increasing the amount of catalyst causes the resin to cure more
quickly. Over-catalyzing, however, can cause excessive heat,
fractures in the cast piece, fading of embedment’s, or distortion
of the mold. Under catalyzing may produce a cast piece with a
sticky or tacky surface.
• A thick casting cures more quickly than a thin casting.
• The higher the room temperature, the faster a casting will cure.
• Adding too much color will slow down or inhibit the cure.
During the curing process, the catalyzed resin goes through a
series of stages from a liquid to a 'soft gel' in about 15 to 20
minutes, a 'firm gel' in 20- 30 minutes and finally to a 'click-hard'
(cured) stage in 1 to 24 hours. The length of this cycle will vary
greatly depending on the four factors mentioned previously. The
period of time between the addition of the catalyst and the gel
stage is called the 'working time' or 'pot life' of the resin.
Generally this is about 15 to 20 minutes. Do not catalyze more
resin than you can pour during the 'working time' since catalyzed
resin cannot be poured once it has gelled. Do not pour catalyzed
resin back into your casting resin can. Catalyst should be stored
at room temperature, out of sunlight and out of reach of children.
Shelf life is indefinite as long as stored properly.
EMBEDMENTS
Here are some suggested objects that can be suspended or
encased in casting resin: • Crushed glass • Coins • Fabric* •
Flowers - dried or pressed • Glass jewels or marbles • Glitter
• Insects or biological specimens • Jewelry findings • Leaves -
dried or pressed • Mechanical parts, nuts bolts etc. • Metal-
coins or engraved plates • Paper* • Photographs* • Rocks,
pebbles, gravel • Seeds, peas, beans, pasta, spices • Sequins •
Shells • Smaller resin castings • Stamps, paper money •
Wood*
* Seal objects that have a tendency to 'wet out' or darken when a
liquid is poured over them. Ultra-Seal
TM
vinyl resin glue/sealer or
4 parts white glue to 1 part water works well. Brushed on coats
of glue or sealer should be allowed to dry completely before
embedding the coated object in casting resin. Any embedment
must be dry, wax-free and grease-free for the resin to adhere well.
Embedding plastic pieces requires experimentation as the heat
generated during casting may cause some plastics to distort. For
example ... acrylic, polyethylene and polypropylene plastic
pieces seem to be more heat-resistant than those made of vinyl or
styrene based plastic.
Any embedment must be dry, wax-free and grease-free for the resin
to adhere well. Embedding plastic pieces requires experimentation as
the heat generated during casting may cause some plastics to distort.
For example acrylic, polyethylene and polypropylene plastic pieces
seem to be more heat-resistant than those made of vinyl or styrene
based plastic.
COLORANT
Use only dyes and pigments designed for use with polyester
casting resin. Dyes are generally transparent, allowing you to 'see
through' the cast piece. Pigments are generally opaque, providing
a solid. Colorants may be used to color an entire casting or can
be used in the final layer to create a background. Keep in mind
that colored resin in your mixing container will look much darker
than when poured into a thinner area. As a general rule 2 to 3
drops of colorant per ounce of resin will produce the desired
intensity of color.