When you’re working with resin, preparation is key: you don't want to be midway through a project only to find you're missing a tool or that you’re short on resin. You’ll have to stop, wasting precious time, and it can really impact your final result. I know I've been there!
Every minute counts when working with resin, so staying organized will keep you on track so that your resin doesn't cure before you’ve finished your piece.
Resin is also pretty sticky - so working smart and having everything in its place and a place for everything keeps you organized and tidy.
In today’s video, I’m sharing the tips I've learned over the past 8 years working with resin. From organizing your workspace and planning your process, from setup to clean up, these tips will keep your resin session running smoothly for the best results possible.
Let’s get started!
1. Plan Your Work Space
The first step in working with resin is to plan your process out—before, during, and after your project.
Workspace:
The project(s) you're working on will determine the space you need.
- How many projects are you working on?
- How big are they?
- You can make a small space work as long as you plan ahead and stay organized.
Temperature:
Where are you working and will temperature stay consistently warm and dry?
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Resin cures best in warm, dry conditions (above 75°F or 24°C) so it’s important to factor this in.
- Will the temperature drop at night? If there are temperature fluctuations in the first 24 hours the resin may cure with surface imperfections.
Artwork Ready
Your artwork should be ready to go before you even open the resin and hardener bottles.
- Make sure artwork is completely dry
- If it’s mounted to a panel or sealed, ensure the adhesive or sealant is dry too
- Tape off the sides and back if needed
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Prop your piece on stands, and ensure it’s level
How Much Resin?
It's better to mix a little bit more than you think you'll need. Running out of resin midway through a project isn't fun.
- Use ArtResin's online resin calculator at artresin.com/calculator. Enter the dimensions of your piece (or the diameter if it’s circular). It’ll tell you exactly how much resin to mix and which kit you'll need.
- To measure molds, pour water into the mold and transfer it to a measuring cup. Make sure you do this the day before to give the mold time to air dry.
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You can also measure with rice - either way works well.
Waterbath
- If your resin or workspace is cold, warm your bottles in a water bath.
- If pouring into a mold, warming the resin thins it out so you’ll have less bubbles to deal with.
- Place the tightly capped bottles in warm water for 10-15 minutes. A tall, narrow container prevents the bottles from tipping over.
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Use a dry cloth or paper towel to wipe the bottles off before you open them.
Curing Your Pieces
- Can your freshly resined pieces sit undisturbed on your work surface for 24 hours? If not, set up a spot before you start that you can move them to.
- Working on a tray is a game changer—it makes it so easy to pick up your project and carefully relocate it without disturbing the resin.
2. Prepare Your Tabletop
Your Work Surface
- Line the table top with plastic or another non-stick surface. A vinyl tablecloth is a great, inexpensive option.
- Controversial take: Silicone mats and tools are popular, I know, but I find silicone really hard to clean - it’s a magnet for dust and pet hair, and you get stuck bits of resin you can only remove with tape, and paper towel sticks to it like crazy. If I use silicone mats, it’s only as a protective layer on my work surface and I’ll place a piece of parchment paper over top (which the resin peels right off!)
- Smooth plastic cutting boards from the dollar store work great, are inexpensive and easy to clean.
- Buy an off-cut of HDPE plastic from a plastics supplier. It makes a stable, durable, work surface that's easy to clean! Use plastic tools only to avoid scratches.
Workflow
- Create a work flow that feels natural—where you'll mix and pour, where your piece will cure, and where to place your wet tools.
- I work left to right: my tools and measuring and mixing stay on the left, my artwork goes in the center, and wet tools go on the right, out of the way while I'm still working.
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Once you’re set up, run through the process in your mind before you start - make sure it makes sense, flows smoothly, and that you haven’t forgotten anything.
3. Tools Laid Out
If you like to cook, you may have heard the term "mise en place," which means everything in its place. The same idea works here—having a space for everything makes the resin process smoother.
Gloves
- Gloves prevent a sticky mess and possible skin irritation.
- Keep extras within easy reach just in case you need a fresh pair. You can even wear multiple pairs so you can peel off a layer as needed.
- Heavy-duty nitrile gloves from the restaurant supply store are easy to clean as you go. Wipe them down with a wipe or alcohol and paper towel while you're still wearing them.
Measuring Cup
- Choose a cup with clearly marked measurement lines. Plastic is easy to clean and polypropylene plastic—the frosted, flexible plastic is the secret to removing cured resin in one satisfying pull.
- Avoid splashes by sizing up with your measuring cup. If you need 8 fl oz of resin, choose a 16 fl oz cup.
Stir Stick
- A flat-edged stir stick is ideal because scrapes the sides of the cup very effectively.
- Use the right size stir stick for your cup. I love our reusable stir stick for large volumes and for small amounts, wood or plastic crafts sticks are perfect and easy to clean.
- Plastic tools are easy to clean after use with a wet wipe or alcohol and paper towel.
- Keep a timer or a clock within sight so you don’t get resin all over your phone.
Colorants
- If you’re working with colorants, have your palette picked out before you start.
- Don't forget mixing cups and sticks for each color you plan to use.
Spreader
- You'll need a flat edged spreader to guide the resin after pouring. You can use an old credit card or ArtResin's jagged spreader tool - it features 4 different sides to control the resin flow.
- For doming, I like using a more narrow spatula or a plastic take out knife to help control the amount of resin you're nudging up to the edges.
- Plastic tools are easy to clean after use with a wet wipe or alcohol and paper towel.
Stands
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Stands allows excess resin to pool on the plastic lined work surface below.
- We like plastic stands or painter's pyramids because resin can be easily cleaned or peeled from plastic once cured.
- Stands can be found with the painting supplies or you can buy them as part of our Accessory Kit. Plastic shot glasses or large toy building blocks also work well.
Torch or Heat Gun
- You’ll need a torch for most resin projects - nothing else is as effective for removing bubbles.
- If youre working with molds, a heat gun will be your go-to. It's less intense than a flame torch and will not damage silicone.
- For fluid art, you might also need a blow dryer.
Toothpicks
- Toothpicks are a lifesaver for fishing out little bits of dust after you torch.
- You can also use a pointed clay scoring tool.
Dustcover
- A dustcover protects your work while it cures. You can use a clean cardboard box (with the flaps removed) or a plastic tote.
- Have several dustcovers if you’re resining multiple pieces.
- Take the time to test the dust cover out beforehand. Lay your artwork out and make sure it's big enough to cover your piece with plenty of space around and above.
4. Clean Up
Wipes, Alcohol & Paper Towel
- Keep wipes or a stack of alcohol-sprayed paper towels ready for quick cleanups—especially for stir sticks or resin drips.
- Keep extra paper towels, a spray bottle of alcohol, and wipes within arm’s reach. It’s better to plan for the worst than be scrambling because of a resin spill.
Wet Tools
- One of the easiest ways to keep your workspace manageable and clean and organized is to designate a space for wet tools and clean as you go.
- I’ve trained myself not to place wet tools on my tabletop. Instead, I’ll give them a quick wipe, then set them down.
- I keep my mixing cup upright until I’m totally done, to avoid a sticky mess.
Garbage Bin
- Keep a garbage bin or a small plastic container nearby for wipes, paper towels, and other waste. It’s a simple way to keep wet sticky items away from your workspace.
Clean Up
- When you're done and the dust cover is in place, it’s time to clean up.
- Follow a “clean to dirty” approach—it makes everything so much easier.
- Start with the clean items: put away gloves, resin bottles, colorants, and tools like the level and torch.
- Wipe down stir sticks one by one with alcohol and a paper towel to make sure there’s no resin left on them, then put them away.
- Last, flip cups over onto a parchment paper or a plastic lined surface, making sure that there is plenty of space for leftover resin to pool and spread.
I hope you found this information useful! To be honest, I’m not the tidiest or most organized person in the world. Everything I just shared with you comes from a lot of trial and error — and some really messy resin sessions and sticky phones too.
Once I started putting these practices into place, they made a huge difference and I hope they’ll help you too!
I love learning, so if you have tips for me, please leave them in the comments below. We may just share them on ArtResin' social media pages!
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