Should I Seal My Artwork Before I Resin?
In most cases you don't need to use a sealant before applying ArtResin; however, there are some situations when sealing first makes sense: sealing over paper, sealing over loose materials and sealing over natural objects that may off-gas, such as wood. We always recommend doing a test on a scrap piece before you resin your masterpiece. If in doubt, it never hurts to use a sealant first.When To Seal:
Sealing to prevent absorption: It's a good precaution to pre-seal when applying ArtResin over paper that may otherwise absorb the resin, causing dark, wet spots in your work or causing your work to bleed. Typically, soft, matte, or low-quality paper can be prone to absorbing resin. You may need to seal more than once to prevent the resin from seeping into the paper.
Sealing over loose material: If you're resining over loose materials, like chalk pastel or glitter, you want to be mindful of loose particles. A sealant tacks down that material so that when you pour the resin over top, it won't float away with the liquid resin.
Sealing to prevent bubbles: Organic materials such as wood and paper may contain trapped air which can release into your resin as bubbles. There are many variables that can affect gas bubbles: the type of wood, how dry it is, and humidity can all affect how much air wood contains. With paper, soft paper and paper that has been layered into a collage can contain trapped air. Pre-sealing with a spray or brush-on sealant is a good option to help to prevent bubbles.
Which Sealant Should I Use?
Whether you use a spray or a brush on sealant, always choose a sealant that dries clear and is appropriate for your artwork. Allow the sealant to fully dry before you apply your resin coat. Always test first before you resin your final piece to make sure there is no reaction between the sealant and resin.Does Epoxy Resin Expire?
What is the shelf life of ArtResin?I found an old bottle of epoxy resin ... can I still use it?
How long does epoxy resin last?
We often get questions like this from customers asking if ArtResin has an expiry date. The answer is yes; like most art materials, ArtResin does have a shelf life.
ArtResin’s shelf life is 12 months unopened and about 6 months opened.
In this case, the shelf life refers to the clarity of the product and how long you can expect ArtResin to stay looking just as clear as the day it was made.
ArtResin's shelf life is shortened once opened because of oxidization: that is, when you open the bottle and the hardener comes into contact with oxygen, there is a yellowing effect, much like the browning of an apple or avocado once cut and exposed to air. Thankfully, this yellowing doesn't become apparent until approximately the 6 month mark.
💡TIP: to delay oxidization, always ensure you re-cap the bottle as soon as you finish pouring your hardener.
Keep in mind that yellowing hardener from oxidization is entirely different than yellowing caused by UV exposure, but not to worry ... we’ve got you covered there too! Even when cured, you can expect ArtResin to stay clear for the longterm: it’s chemically engineered to protect your work from the damaging effects of UV as well. Read more about it in our blog What Are The Benefits Of ArtResin.
What happens if you use expired ArtResin?
Even if you were to use ArtResin beyond its shelf life, the resin and hardener will still react and cure as expected.
In other words, the yellowing in the hardener will not affect ArtResin's ability to cure.
In fact, the hardener will dilute once mixed with the resin ( which stays clear. ) Although you may not want to use it on a white or very light piece of artwork, it's absolutely fine to use on darker pieces of art, on wood, or for tinting with a colorant like ResinTint.
So remember ... we always advise only buying as much ArtResin as you think you will need to ensure your resin is always as fresh as can be.
If, however, you do find yourself with leftover resin that has yellowed, not to worry! Make yourself a charcuterie board, some flow art or a petri dish and you won't have any wasted ArtResin!
How To Clean Cured Resin
The best way to clean cured resined is to simply treat it as you would glass: use a soft cloth and a gentle cleaner and polish just like you would any glass surface.For information on how to clean epoxy resin tools, see our blog How Can I Clean Epoxy Resin Mixing Containers?
ArtResin: Made For Artists By Artists.
How Can I Protect My Resined Work From Dust?
The best way to protect your resined work while it cures is with a dust cover, like a cardboard box or a plastic container, that you can slip over top to protect your piece throughout the curing process.Always ensure you have your dust cover on hand so that once you've finished torching, you don't have to leave your freshly resined piece exposed while you run around looking for a cover.
💡TIP: Spritz the air with a spray bottle of water to keep all the dust and particles tacked down to the floor while you work. Likewise, dusting off ceiling light fixtures or fans is a good way to prevent dust from floating through the air while you work.
For more information read our blog How To Reduce Dust Before You Resin.
ArtResin: Made For Artists By Artists.
Where Should I Epoxy Resin My Work?
Use ArtResin epoxy resin in a dust-free, well-ventilated space. ArtResin has no fumes or VOCs, so whether you use it indoors or outdoors is entirely up to you, but ensure you're working in a clean environment or you'll risk getting dust particles in your wet resin.Warm and dry conditions are best when when working with ArtResin. The ideal working temperature is 72-77F or 23-25C with 50% humidity, but you can work with anything below 80%.
💡TIP: Make sure the temperature stays stable and does not fluctuate - if the temperature dips in the first 24 hours, you may end up with dimples in your cured resin.
For more information, read our blog What Is The Perfect Temperature For Working With ArtResin Epoxy Resin?
ArtResin: Made For Artists By Artists
What Makes ArtResin Safe To Use?
ArtResin is safe to use, which makes it unique because most epoxy resins on the market are highly toxic.Most epoxy resins are intended for industrial use, which means that you should be working in an environment with industrial ventilation, wearing a hazmat suit, and a full-on respirator to protect yourself from their noxious fumes.
ArtResin, on the other hand, has no VOCs, no fumes, no BPA, is low odor, non-flammable and food safe for direct food contact as per FDA 21CFR175.300 .
All of this is possible because we source only the highest quality raw materials, we add no solvents or cheap, non-reactive diluents, making for a clean, user-friendly formula. ArtResin is a clean system meaning everything in it reacts so nothing is free to become airborne and cause health issues.
Because of this, ArtResin is safety regulated by the American Society For Testing and Materials, as conforming to ASTM D 4236, meaning it's safe for home use when used as directed - no respirator required ( but don't drink it! ) For all these reasons, it is classified as a non-hazardous material and is shippable by air. Make sure you wear gloves to protect your skin and be confident that you're using a high quality, safe product for your artwork.
Read more about The Benefits of ArtResin in our blog.
ArtResin: Made For Artists By Artists
How To Thin Out Epoxy Resin
The best way to thin out ArtResin epoxy resin is to place the unopened bottles in a warm water bath before you mix. Warming it will alter the viscosity of ArtResin, making it more runny and greatly decreasing the bubbles.Do not attempt to add solvents to thin out epoxy resin: doing so will compromise the non-toxicity of the product and could cause curing issues by throwing off the delicate balance necessary to for the resin and hardener to catalzye.
💡TIP: Be aware that warming ArtResin will decrease the working time by about 10-15 minutes, as well as the cure time.
💡TIP: Always warm your resin before you measure and mix: warming the resin after you've mixed it may cause it to cure immediately. Place your unopened bottles in warm water and thoroughly dry them before you open them - even a single drop of water can cause cloudiness in your cured resin.
Is ArtResin Epoxy Resin Self Leveling?
Yes, ArtResin epoxy resin is self leveling, which makes it really easy to work with.After you mix the hardener and the resin, pour it out onto your clean, dry surface.
If you leave it alone, ArtResin will naturally self-level to 1/8"on a level surface but you can spread it exactly where you want it to go using a flat object, like our reusable spreaders. They're the perfect thing to spread the ArtResin evenly and efficiently.
You can also use a disposable foam brush if you only want to apply the resin to specific areas of your piece. This technique is known as Selective Embellishment and you can read more about it on our blog How Can I Selectively Embellish My Artwork Using Epoxy Resin?
💡TIP: You'll have about 45 minutes to spread epoxy resin before it starts to cure and gets too thick to work with.
@713resinart is our December #ArtResin Winner!
Every month we like to spread the love by sending a 1 gallon kit to someone who has used the #artresin hashtag on Instagram ... and then we share their work with the world!
Congratulations to Allison Esley ... our lucky winner for December!
Allison Esley is an mixed media artist based in Louisiana who creates the most gorgeous abstracts using acrylics, inks, gold leaf and resin.
Allison's agate pieces are created by dropping ink on multiple layers of resin, poured onto wood panels. Often, these pieces will have up to 7 layers of resin, which results in the finished piece looking like a slab of glass with agate slices floating within it at different levels.
Allison's love of both fashion and nature are clearly evidenced in her agates: colourful patterns reminiscent of rock formations found in nature.
Allison also offers her bright and bold agates in 10" singles and in 4" minis:
Congratulations on your win, Allison!
To see more:
Check out Allison's website: allisonesley.com
Follow Allison on Instagram: @713resinart
Don't forget ... hashtag YOUR resin work with #artresin on Instagram, and YOU could be our next monthly winner!!!
Is ArtResin Food Safe?
Yes, once cured, ArtResin is safe for direct contact with food.Not only is it food safe as per FDA 21CFR175.300, but ArtResin is also:
- non toxic when used as directed
- BPA free
- evaluated by the American Society Of Testing and Materials ( ASTM D4236 ) and designated as safe for use at home, with no respirator required.
So go ahead and resin your charcuterie board, cheese tray, serving platter and candy dish, and do so with complete confidence! Your serving ware will look gorgeous and it will be 100% food safe too!
For more information, read our blog ArtResin Is Food Safe Resin.
