Bubbles are one of the biggest issues that resin artists have to deal with constantly. Today I am going to share my 7 tips for avoiding bubbles in resin with you.
Tip 1: Warm your resin.
Cold temperatures will cause bubbles. If you can't work in a warm environment and your resin is cold, put it in warm water for a few minutes before mixing. This way it'll get rid of a lot of small bubbles. But keep in mind that heat will accelerate resin curing. You'll have to work faster this way.
Tip 2: Stir slowly when mixing.
When you mix the resin and the hardener, you have to stir slowly. Stirring too fast will cause bubbles.
Tip 3: Wait for a few minutes before pouring.
This way a lot of the bubbles will rise to the top and pop on their own. Even if they don't pop, you can always scoop them out. But don't wait for too long. Otherwise, the resin will start curing in the mixing cup.
Tip 4: Pour resin gently and closely to the surface of your piece
When you are pouring, remember to do it slowly and gently and place your mixing cup very close to the surface of your work. If you position your mixing cup too high up and dump out your resin, it will cause bubbles to occur.
Tip 5: Spray the surface of the resin with alcohol.
Fill a fine mist bottle with alcohol and spray the surface of the resin. I use 99% alcohol. The alcohol will cause the bubbles to pop and it will evaporate very quickly without affecting the resin.
Tip 6: Use a heat source.
You can use a heat source such as a heat gun to pop bubbles. I use a torch for my large projects such as paintings and a kitchen lighter for my small projects such as coasters and jewelry. Be very careful working with a flame and remember to not heat one spot for too long, the resin won't cure correctly if you do that.
⚠️Warning: if you are going to use alcohol, DO NOT use fire at the same time as alcohol is highly flammable.⚠️
Tip 7: Pour in layers.
If your piece is really thick, I strongly recommend you pour your resin in layers. Not all resin is created equal. Some resin is not made for thick pieces. Working in layers will avoid a lot of bubbles.
Sometimes, even when you have done all of these, there are still bubbles in your resin! What can you do really? You just have to accept the imperfections in your life and try harder next time!
Let me know if my tips have helped you and what else do you usually do to get rid of bubbles in resin?
