Casting Resin Supplies – Everything You Need to Get Started

When first starting a new hobby, it can be tempting to go all out and buy advanced gear that you really don’t need yet.

It’s a much better idea to start with just the basics while you develop your skills and get a feel for the process.

The fancy stuff can wait until you’re further down the road in your resin adventures. Beginners only need a few essentials to get started:

• Casting resin 
• Mixing cups 
• Pigment 
• Molds and mold release 
• A heat source 
• Safety gear 

In the following, you’ll be presented with the best options for each of the basics as well as a few fun additives simple enough for beginners.

Once you select the essentials, you’ll be all set to begin creating.

Casting Resin

To start your resin project, you will need casting resin. A suitable casting resin is essential for a high-quality result in your project. 

Clear Casting and Coating Epoxy Resin – 1 Gallon Kit

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This epoxy resin dries quickly and clearly. A 1-gallon kit is a great way to start with an epoxy resin project.

This substance is compatible with nearly every surface. These surfaces include wood, canvas, and concrete.

With this product, you will receive two solutions that mix at a 1:1 ratio. The result is a beautiful resin cast that is easy to work with. 

Pros:

• Easy for beginners to use.
• Simple 1:1 ratio.
• Allows for a 40-minute work time.

Cons:

• The product may produce a lot of bubbles.

Epoxy Resin Casting and Coating Starter Kit

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This starting kit is a great kit for beginner epoxy resin users. With this kit, you will also get a pair of gloves and handy tool kit.

The epoxy itself cures at a fast rate and is easy to work with. This product works well for a wide variety of projects. It is also compatible with almost every surface.

Pros:

• High compatibility. 
• Easy for beginners to use.
• Money-back guarantee. 

Cons:

• The resin may have issues hardening.

Mixing Cups for Resin

To work with resin, you will need special mixing cups.

The following pack is just right for small projects and you won’t have to worry about running out any time soon.

Disposable Epoxy Resin Mixing Cups

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With this product, you will receive 50 disposable mixing cups. Each mixing cup holds up to 10 ounces.

The cups measure in both milliliters and ounces, making them useful for multiple projects and instructions. 

These cups are also good for general cooking and baking activities.

Resin should never run down the drain or go in a dishwasher, so having disposable cups is a helpful way to keep your plumbing system safe. 

Pros:

• Easy to read.
• Easy to use.
• Simple conversion.

Cons:

• Not environmentally friendly.

Colorants

Colorants are a great way to add color or design to your resin project.

Mica powders work great as a colorant and are easy to use even for beginners, but liquid pigments are great to use too.

Mica Powder for Epoxy – 25 Colors

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This product uses natural ground mica to produce vibrant colors that you can add to your resin projects.

The kit comes with 25 colors that you can choose from for your art. Not only are the mica powders beautiful, but they are also free of chemicals. 

Pros:

• Natural mica.
• Variety of colors.

Cons:

• Product packaging can cause a mess.

Epoxy Resin Pigment – 15 Color Liquid Epoxy Resin Dye

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These epoxy resin pigments are another excellent option for adding color to your project. This kit comes with 15 colors to choose from.

The best part about this dye is that it is nontoxic and safe for kids to use.

Pros:

• Safe to use.
• Wide variety of colors.
• Easy to control.

Cons:

• Ingredients may separate after sitting for a while

Be sure to check with my article “Best Pigments for Resins” to see more resin coloring options.

Molds

Molds are necessary to create a shape out of your resin. There are many different shapes and sizes that molds can come in. 

Resin Epoxy Mold for Tray With 2 Gold Handles

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This resin mold is great for a variety of different art projects. The tray itself is silicone and is compatible with resin epoxy. Cleaning the mold is easy due to the material. 

Pros:

• Easy to clean and use.
• Mold is flexible and simple to remove.

Cons:

• The bottom of the tray is thin.

LET’S RESIN Coaster Resin Molds

[amazon box=”B08PCFZDC5″ link_id=”32057″]

These resin molds come in a pack of four. They are round in shape and allow artists to create a variety of different projects.

The molds are highly durable and great for beginner artists. 

Pros:

• Durable silicone material.
• Easy for beginners.

Cons:

• Resin casting may stick to the mold.

20 Piece Jewelry Casting Molds

[amazon box=”B07VK9P74Q” link_id=”32058″]

This 20-piece mold kit is a great set for creating resin jewelry. If you are someone who wants to get into making jewelry with resin, consider getting this kit to start.

The kit comes with five different styles to choose from. 

Pros:

• Variety of styles.
• Molds include a hole for stringing finished pendant onto chain.

Cons:

• Molds may be flimsy. 

Mold Release

To remove the resin from your mold, a release spray may be necessary. The APEL Mold Release Spray is a great product to use. 

APEL Silicone Mold Release Spray

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This product is reliable in ensuring that your resin project does not break while removing it from the mold.

The spray is compatible with both silicone and rubber molds. As silicone and rubber can be prone to tearing, using this spray can help save you money in the long run.

Pros:

• Easy to use.
• Can help you save money.

Cons:

• Unpleasant smell.

Heat Gun

A heat gun is another critical tool for working with resin. You can use a small heat gun or a large one depending on the size of your project.

Below are two options for a heat gun based on size.

Mofa Resin Heat Gun (small)

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This resin heat gun is the smaller option of the two heat guns on this list.

It is a great option for removing air bubbles and accelerating cure time on smaller resin projects.

Pros:

• Great for small projects.
• Cord is nearly 6 feet long.

Cons:

• Not good for larger resin projects.

Wagner Spraytech HT1000 Heat Gun (large)

[amazon box=”B00004TUCV” link_id=”32061″]

This heat gun is the larger of the two options and comes equipped with two temperature settings.

The Wagner Spraytech is excellent for curing larger resin projects and can be used for a variety of other jobs around the house. 

Pros:

• Suitable for large resin projects.
• Lightweight and heats up quickly.

Cons:

• May not hold up to frequent or heavy-duty use.

Safety Gear

The most important supplies for working with resin is your safety gear.

Safety gear can come in many different forms and protect your skin and hands while working with resin. 

EROCK Reusable Half Face Cover

[amazon box=”B086ZZ7C5M” link_id=”32062″]

This face cover is a safe way to protect the face and respiratory tract while working with epoxy resin.

The components that are in contact with your skin are soft and comfortable and the filter cartridges are easy to replace.

Pros:

• Comfortable to wear.

Cons:

• May have problems sealing.

Heavy-Duty Nitrile Gloves

[amazon box=”B0192K9SAG” link_id=”32063″]

These heavy-duty gloves are great for protecting the hands while working with resin.

They offer adequate protection for your skin without sacrificing mobility and the sense of touch.

Pros:

• Comes with 100 gloves.

Cons:

• Glove sizes may run small.

Cool Additives

Additives are a way that you can spice up your resin project. Below are three different kinds of additives that you can add to your resin. 

KINNO Gilding Flakes

[amazon box=”B07T6DTV5Y” link_id=”32064″]

These gilding flakes are a beautiful way to add a level of depth and sparkle to your resin project.

This set comes with 10 grams each of silver, gold, and copper flakes in wide-mouth plastic containers.

Pros:

• Comes in a variety of colors.

Cons:

• Silver flakes may be challenging to work with.

LET’S RESIN Mixology Chunky Glitter

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This product is for glitter lovers and was designed with resin crafts in mind. Adding sparking glitter can add a fun element to your project and enhance your designs. 

Pros:

• Comes in 12 colors.
• Suspends evenly throughout the resin.

Cons:

• May cause a mess.

SUNYIK Fluorite Tumbled Chips Crystal Quartz Pieces

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Quartz pieces make a beautiful addition to any resin project and this set is full of eye-catching color.

You’ll receive just under 1 cup of small-size stones in vivid color, plenty for decorating several small resin projects.

Pros:

• Easy to work with.
• Pretty colors.

Cons:

• A small amount of product for the price.

Related Questions: 

A Quick Look Back

Now that you know what you’ll need to get started, you can select your favorites and begin planning your first resin casting creation!

Just be sure that you have all of the following on hand before you begin: casting resin, mixing cups, pigment, molds and mold release, a heat source, and of course, safety equipment. 

That’s really all there is to it!